oil dripping from inside SS exchanger

[Steve Thacker]

To all,
I have a slight oil leak "well imagine that on a teener". This one is a little perplexing. I have a 73 1.7L complete rebuilt approx 35 miles on it. I have a "small" oil leak coming out of the back of the SS heat exchanger right before it goes into the monza exhaust. The engine runs like a dream, plenty of power and no smoke. What gives, is this a sign of doom or is it something simple?
Many Thanks in advance

[campbellcj]

Are you sure it's not dripping from the valve cover gaskets into the heater box? The valve covers and/or their gaskets is probably the most common leakage point on the 914. Often caused by pinched or mangled gaskets, and easily fixed if that's what it is.

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Chris C.
73 914 2.0
70 911E Targa
campbell.chris@gte.net

[Dave Bell]

You did not tell us what side the oil leak was on... Clean up everything in, around and further "up wind" of the oil stains.... then go for a short drive, park and trace the oil streaks back to their source. Perhaps your tranny hub seals are leaking and the oil is flinging/dripping out onto the heat exchanger? Hub seals are an easy fix even with the engine and tranny in the car.

- Dave

[Conrad W Peden]

Maybe oil from previous leak?

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CWP/VIR
72 914 L20E in rusto.
73 914 L20E 2.0L in resto.
http://members.rennlist.com/a914lover

[Steve Thacker]

Thank you all for the quick response and help. Heres the low down I failed to mention the first time. I replaced the valve cover gaskets with the rubber Felpro gaskets last week and that took care of the leaks from those areas. I took a hot power sprayer to the engine and removed any and all grease /oil deposits , allowed the engine to dry off and then took her for a spin around the block a couple of times. The little sucker is still leaking! By the way it is on the passenger side. Apologies, forgot to put that in on the first post. Oil is no where to be found anywhere else, of which tickles me to no end. Its like it is running inside the pipe and down the length then just drips. Not alot, just some about the size of a coffee cup bottom which takes about a day to accumulate. I double checked to make sure it wasn't getting slung from anywhere else or running down the top of the SS exchanger ,..good there also. OK I'm stumped ! Time to sacrifice a chicken to the Porsche gods that be, this sucker needs some mojo.

[scotty914]

here is a bad thought

have you checked for cracks in the head from the rocker arm area in to the exhaust port or maybe a bad seal on an exhust valve

[Steve Thacker]

You know what ? I haven't thought to check those areas. I hope to goodness that I don't have those problems, I think I'm starting to feel sick. I may have to pull her out and go back over the rebuild" smells like a partial re-do with Mo money attached". I replaced everything in her, performed numerous bench tests, all went very well! I guess new does not mean perfect. Please cross your fingers and say a prayer to the Porsche gods for me....

[Harold H]

When you pull the valve cover check to see were the gasket sealled. I had a hard time recently with the rubber felpro gaskets. They keep slipping out of the seal area. My leak was on top so it only leaked in hard cornering.

[Steve Thacker]

Thank you Harold for the tip. I'm going to pull the engine this evening and look this bad puppy over real good. I think this is the only way to find the source. It is funny that it didn't leak when it was being bench tested and I used a custom built engine lift to slide it up into the car, to minimize any chance of damage. Strange indeed.......

[Steve Thacker]

FOUND THE LEAK! The little bugger was leaking from on top of the valve cover. I wished that the designers of these engines would have used bolts to secure the valve covers, what a pain in this wire tensioned / pressed design.
Thank you for all the help!!!

[John Rogers]

If you have trouble with the rocker cover gaskets moving you might want to check out the article (here on PP) I wrote for putting the tabs on the steel valve covers to keep the gaskets from moving. I bought a set of new rocker covers and was surprised to see how much better they fit than the old ones. I imagine the rocker covers get a little distored over the years? Good luck.

[TimW]

Hey Steve, do you have any info, pics, etc. of your "custom built engine lift"? I'm sure we'd all be interested a better mousetrap...I know I am.

[Steve Thacker]

Tim,
The engine lift came on loan from a aquaintance who runs a VDub shop. I'll make a earnest effort to ask him if it is ok to draw a rough sketch of the design. It is one pretty wild but simple layout. Small hydraulics powered with a electric motor /pump does the labor, with a scissor type design to lift the engine and gearbox into place as a unit. I saw something like this a few years back to lift trannys into cars.