bad oil leak and transmission problem

Benvprov · 06-28-2009, 08:25 PM

hey all, i finally got my car back together. starts great but there is quite the leak on the car. The leak seems to be coming near the back of the engine on the passenger side. I cant locate it or any sign of it, all i know is its leaking through the exhaust\heat exchangers. I added a video, it doesnt show much but give a slight idea of the location of the leak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSOLdPJM77s

Also another thing is the transmission. I can change gears without using the clutch while the car isnt running. Im not sure if thats normal. Another thing is im not sure i can get into all 5 gears. Are the gears just really close together? i cant really tell the difference between 2 and 4. I also added a video of it. Any help would be great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WTjSCFQo8U

Joe V · 06-28-2009, 09:07 PM

Benvprov,

Not sure about the oil leak, but check your valve cover gaskets. The other items to check are the thermostat, breather gasket, and oil pressure dummy switch.
As far as the shifting goes, check your shift coupler bushing and shift lever ball socket. When I first drove my 84, I didn't know if I was in 1st or in 9th!!! It was loose as a goose. Snugged it right up with some bushings.

Benvprov · 06-28-2009, 09:35 PM

thanks Joe v,

i dont suppose you could post a link for the bushings you mention. I just took a look on pelican parts store and im not sure which i need. Aslo would i need the ones from a 1976 or from a 1971 which is what my engine and tranny are.
thanks

Porsche Head · Porsche Head's Garage

I have a similar oil leak, I did my lower valve cover upgrade to turbo with silicone gaskets. Still there, I searched a lot and think it is the rocker shafts. Haven't had time to fix it yet just completed interior work.

What I would like someone to answer is why the car leaks when parked? Can this come thru the rocker shafts? I there is no pressure it should be very limited as to where is is coming from. Sitting a long time and still leaks means..what?

I hope you find your cause of the leak, then at least you can plan for the repair, good luck.

Joe V · 06-29-2009, 04:57 AM

Benvprov,

Try this link:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/POR_911M_Tshift_pg1.htm

That's the kit for all 911's from 1969 thru 1988 according to PP, so it should not be an issue.

Wayne's book 101 Projects shows exactly how to replace these. I'll bet they're toast. The hardest part is adjusting it all when your done. A friend (or girlfriend) helps here, since all they have to do is move the shift lever while you dislocate your spine by sitting in the back and tightening the coupler clamp when the adjustment is done.

Good luck!

Benvprov · 06-29-2009, 12:35 PM

so does this sound like a leak that ill have to pull the engine to fix? I just had the engine out 3 weeks or so ago and could see no sign of a leak. Though i didnt have any history on the car and had no idea if it had previous leaks.

Another weird thing its doing is when i run the engine and put carb cleaner in the carbs, the 3 on the passanger side dont react, nothing happens. When i do it on the 3 on the drivers side one will make it revs higher and the 2 others make the revs go very low to nearly dying.

hessel1974 · hessel1974's Garage

Benvprov,

I have the exact same thing, but on the drivers side. I know my valve cover is leaking on that side and that caused the drops of oil on the bottom of the heat exchanger.

I would take the cover off, clean everything up, attach with the correct torque (8NM) and let the car run and try to see if it still leaks and from where.

I have installed RSR seals in the rockershafts, so a leak there is not very likely.

Hope this helps.

And regarding the shifter, replace the shiftcoupler bushings, the bushing on the bottom of the shift rod and the guiding bushing beneath the shifter. Cost a couple of $$, but makes a world of difference.

Good luck!

Benvprov · 06-29-2009, 03:06 PM

ok. ill oder up all the parts for the shifter.
The thing about the oil leak is its not consitent, sometimes it wont leak sometimes it will drip and other times it will literally leak and leave at least a 10 inch by 10 inch puddle. Seems to leak very little or not at all when just sitting and idling but when i give it gas or go into gear and drive it leaks very badly. does that sound like a valve cover or something else? thanks

tnchris · 06-30-2009, 01:23 PM

I have the exact same leak. I am in the process of pulling my oil cooler and replacing the o-rings to see if that stops the leak.

mhunter · 07-01-2009, 10:57 PM

Looks like we are in good company. I hAve same leak. My question to you all does your clothes smell kind of oily after driving your car?

Mh

Winter · 07-02-2009, 06:23 AM

Glad you are sorting out the car! I can change gears without the clutch when the car isn't running, so you should be fine.

As someone else said, replacing the shifter bushings should help a lot with the play (but it will still be a lot "looser" than a modern car). Get the bushing kit from our host, I just did this and it made a big difference. Be forewarned, you will want to use the "vice" trick to push the pin of the coupler (which attaches the shifter to the tranny). Don't try a hammer! You will break something. Mine was really, really tough. I couldn't believe how much force we had to put on the vice. Maybe use some sort of liquid wrench before working on it? Do a search on this forum and you'll find a lot of info on this repair job.

Not sure about why your oil leak is sorta intermittent, but if it was your lower valve covers I'd think they'd leak when the car was parked, just drip, drip, drip. At least that's what mine did. I replaced with turbo valve covers and new gaskets, it's better now but not perfect.

---

Tom '75 targa

Benvprov · 07-05-2009, 06:23 PM

ok, i found the source of the major oil leak. The only problem is im not sure what it is or how to remove it to see whats going on with it. I added a picture of the location if anyone can tell me what it is and how to remove it that would be great.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh41/benvprov/engineleak.jpg

Joe V · 07-05-2009, 08:04 PM

That's the oil cooler. It's easy to remove especially with the car off the engine (or is it the engine out of the car?...)

First remove the shroud from the top of the cooler. It's a collection of 10 mm bolts. You'll find some sheet metal along the front edge also. Same bolt sizes. Now you should see a pair of 12 or 13 mm nuts along the top of the cooler. There is a pair just like those 2 along the bottom. You'll need an extension to reach them and they are right above the heat exchanger.
Before you pull it off, make sure you have a pan to collect the oil that will drain from it.
Check it for cracks and check the seal (3 of them) which will become evident once you pull it.

Benvprov · 07-05-2009, 08:46 PM

thanks alot, hopefully this will be the last of my problems for a little bit. I would like to take the car out more then just around the block.

Joe V · 07-05-2009, 08:52 PM

Benvprov,

I feel your pain, brother. Mine is down for some hoses that I should have replaced when the engine was down last month. Parts should be here this week, I hope.

Good luck with your leak repair!