severe oil leak

[mark 69 912]

Driving my car yesterday, everything was running great and stopped to get gas and check the oil. I left the station and one block away the car started smoking badly. (not from the ehaust pipe.) I pulled over and oil was pouring out of the left side of the engine compartment as if someonewas pouring it out of a bottle. The engine compartment was not sprayed, and the rest of the engine was clean. It was coming out up behind and around the top side of the motor. The engine was running in the normal temp mode and the low pressure light never came on. No pops or noise of any kind came from the engine. I am towing it in tomorrow. Any idea's, is there a oil pressure line that could have come off? Thanks so much, Mark

[Duke]

Hello Mark: Could be an oil line or it may be an oil cooler seal. The oil line leaks are quite obvious behind the dist. Is the leak coming from above or down below? Leaks from the valve cover gasket drip down on the exhaust pipe & causes quite a bit of smoke. Good luck. Duke, 69 912.

[mark 69 912]

Originally posted by Duke:
Hello Mark: Could be an oil line or it may be an oil cooler seal. The oil line leaks are quite obvious behind the dist. Is the leak coming from above or down below? Leaks from the valve cover gasket drip down on the exhaust pipe & causes quite a bit of smoke. Good luck. Duke, 69 912.

It appears to be coming from the top of the engine. The valve covers are ok and in place so I am guessing it's the oil cooler. Thanks for your reply

[Rich Lambert]

Mark,

Check the cheesehead screws that hold the sheet metal to the heads. Some of the holes go all the way through to the rockers. I had one of these come out at a PCA track day and oiled down a 914 that was behind me. If they're loose, use some thread locker.

Rich Lambert

[johnjk99]

I am not sure if this will help. I have a 912E and occasionally (about every 12,000 miles) I get an oil leak from the area you specified. It leaks from the top of the oil pressure sending unit. It is an annoying leak but, not tremendous. The replacement part costs about six dollars and takes about 15 minutes to install. Although the 912E is a type 4 engine there might be a chance something similar is going on with your engine.

John

[mark 69 912]

Thanks for oyur help, I will!