Oil Leak Mystery (and woes)

[Norm K]

New engine is leaking oil and I haven't figured out from where yet.

I was quite certain that it would turn out to be the scavenge-pump-to-oil-tank line I made so that I could have an in-line filter. I held this near certainty because when the scavenge pump wasn't pumping for the first 20 minutes of running the it there was exactly zero oil dripping from the engine.

Once I solved the silly pump issue and got it to start pumping the oil leaks started. It made seemed to make sense that the leak would be pump-related. I double checked the in-line junctions, making sure everything was tight. Still leaked. Found a fitting that was loose and figured I'd found the culprit, so I tightened it. Still leaked. I went so far as to remove the entire line I'd assembled and re-install the factory line, but to no avail - I'm seeing as much oil now (two-three tablespoons drip out after a drive of just a few miles, plus whatever is leaking while I drive) as ever.

The location of the drips is puzzling to me: wherever the actual leak is (are?) the vast majority of the oil is dripping from the bottom of the gearbox, some 6-10 inches toward the front of the car from the clutch lever/omega spring. I double checked to confirm what's dripping is engine oil and not the heavier gearbox lube. It's engine oil.

After thirteen months of rebuilding this thing, I'm getting considerable heat from The War Department because of the amount of time I'm still spending on the car. Might be time for someone to talk me off the just-effing-sell-the-car-and-have-peace-in-the-home ledge, `cause I'm not far from jumping. It's a great car and the new engine feels really strong (although I still haven't exceeded 4,800 RPM or 8 lbs of boost) but it's getting to the point where it might not be worth it anymore.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by nkowi

After thirteen months of rebuilding this thing, I'm getting considerable heat from The War Department because of the amount of time I'm still spending on the car. Might be time for someone to talk me off the just-effing-sell-the-car-and-have-peace-in-the-home ledge, `cause I'm not far from jumping. It's a great car and the new engine feels really strong (although I still haven't exceeded 4,800 RPM or 8 lbs of boost) but it's getting to the point where it might not be worth it anymore.

No no no. In all my years I have found that you just need to take a step back, relax & know in your mind that everything can be fixed. Its a grind & we have all been there. But in the end it will be fixed, and the wife can bask in the glory that is you / and what you have done.

You are on the right track. Get opinions, continue the process & knock it out.

Think of it this way... Look how far you have come. A new engine! Its a masterpiece. Now: This is it? This is ALL that you have left on your plate? A leak? Seems minor in the grand scheme of things.

[Ronnie's.930]

Norm, have you gone over that area with a flashlight and mirror with the engine running to try and see the source of the leak?

You're 100% certain it's engine oil and not gearbox juice? I ask, because if the gearbox is overfilled, oil comes out of the gearbox breather and runs down in/around the area you describe.

PS- if you sell the car over an oil leak, and/or "War Department" commentary, I'm going to send Paul to your house to "luv u long time"! How's that for motivation to stay the course?!?!

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by Ronnie's.930

PS- if you sell the car over an oil leak, and/or "War Department" commentary, I'm going to send Paul to your house to "luv u long time"! How's that for motivation to stay the course?!?!

Ummmm, pretty compelling, actually. I guess I'll just see where things go from here ...

[mark houghton]

Oil cooler, perhaps? Silicon seals got buggered in the re-installation? That's at the junction of the motor and gearbox, though a little farther back than where your leak appears to be and you would probably see drips off the heat exchanger. Pretty hard to tell after the downdraft from the engine fan blows chit all over the place.

Jack up the car, crawl under there with a can of your favorite stripper (Brakeclean works well enough) or foam-on Gunk, then hose her down nice and squeaky clean. When dry, fire that machine up (while still on the jack stands) - let her run a couple minutes - then shut her down before the fan has a chance to blow the oil around. Crawl around again, repeat as necessary.

It's just a leak after all, but I can understand the pissed-off quotient.

[krasuskyp]

Normster-

War Department is a simple management issue - and you need to manage it. That's a full-time job here, unfun but what the hey.

So, yeah... about this sell talk - um, yeah... let me help you out with that:







If it's running all the way down the tranny spine (insert Ronniesm here), it's likel coming from up high. Check all triangle of death connections - I assume you regasketed all dat, but mebbe you left something loose?

I get the frustration, certainly - I was under mine last night installin ze Zork (you need this, btw - score B's other spare, bizaaaaaaatch). I've got a cam box minor drip straight onto the header which emits a tiny white poof of smoke every 30 sec's, and my main oil feed line from the tank to the crank has a drip @ the ginormous 26mm or whatever nut despite my heaving it w/ torque - wtf.

Yeah, I think I'll sell it?

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by Ronnie's.930

You're 100% certain it's engine oil and not gearbox juice?

I'd prefer not to answer but thanks for getting me to double check my original findings.

[krasuskyp]

Originally Posted by nkowi

I'd prefer not to answer but thanks for getting me to double check my original findings.

Ahhh, in that case... please then allow me to repost my initial response:







There. ^That^oughta set you straight?

[Ronnie's.930]

^^^ Probably not much left of Norm's nutz by now - ha!

Originally Posted by nkowi

I'd prefer not to answer but thanks for getting me to double check my original findings.

Excellent!

Many moons ago, I overfilled my car's gearbox (seemed like perfect oil level when it was on a stand, but was overfilled by about 1/3 a cup once back in the car and sitting at it's more natural angle) - and experience the ole' "oil out of the breather" situation.

BTW - Paul has problems with oily substances in and around his "breather", only it's NOT oil, and he doesn't consider it a problem!

[Alan L]

Follow Marks advice. The leak is prominent enough, it must be traceable. Jack the car up and run it. Follow the new wet area until something obvious occurs. And as per earlier advice. Stick with it. It is worth it - esp after your rebuild. I spent about 6 mths solid on my car when I first got it and still had only managed about 20 miles up and down our road - each run finding more problems. I thought of throwing it in the bin. Wouldn't change it for anything now. It is ALL fixeable. Just a temporary mindset in the way now. After doing my latest rebuild, which was slightly hurried, I ended up with a leak spraying oil all round the back of the car. A day in the shed, cam housing cover off, and I think I have fixed it. These things happen. But are fixeable.
Persevere - or else someone else is going to get a stupid cheap good car and spend a day in the shed fixing it.
regards
Alan

[turbo ride]

I have heard of people adding dye to the oil and using UV(??) light to see where is coming from (while running, up on jackstands per other advice) if you can't tell otherwise.

I should take my own advice as I'm having a hard time finding the source of a leak on mine - and I wouldn't car if it wasn't dripping right on to the HE and exhaust causing all kinds of stink - mental and real.

[Ronnie's.930]

^^^ The OP (Norm/nkowi) already figured out the leak source - see post #7. He was being funny about not wanting to admit "something", so might be hard for other readers to catch that he found the problem.

[Alan L]

Originally Posted by turbo ride

I have heard of people adding dye to the oil and using UV(??) light to see where is coming from (while running, up on jackstands per other advice) if you can't tell otherwise.

I should take my own advice as I'm having a hard time finding the source of a leak on mine - and I wouldn't car if it wasn't dripping right on to the HE and exhaust causing all kinds of stink - mental and real.

Behind the cam chain tower is a good place to look (but not easy to fix). The seal in the back of the chain box.
Alan

[aerochip]

I thought for sure my scavenge pump gasket was bad and replaced it to no avail. Pretty sure my leak is coming from a rocker shaft and plan to tackle this project sometime soon this spring.