Can crankcases seep oil?

[bobspace]

I have a 1969 911T that I'm in the process of sorting out. It leaks oil – you see a couple little half-dollar sized pools wherever you park it. My mechanic told me it's likely from the crankcase seeping oil. That the chemical bond between the two halves dries out over the years and it can't be fixed without a rebuild.

Is this true? And more to the point, should I just accept that my car leaks oil, or should I try to hunt down the leaks until it's leak-free?

Cheers!

[john walker's workshop]

They can. Clean with brake-kleen so it's dry and see where it comes from.

[bobspace]

If it is seeping is a rebuild/reseal the only recourse? Is there a way to "manage" the seeping from the outside of the case?

[proporsche]

hi Bob..
the best for us here to judge is a picture of the problem..where is the oil leak coming from is the best when you put a large paper under the car and take a pic.many of us will tell you then the culprit of the oil leak.
As John W..suggested...do this...
What i used to do in California where there is a self car wash everywhere . I took the car there and clean the bottom with -option tire clean on the board- some car-wash have option with hot water.
Then you drive it and record the leak and tell us with pictures....

Ivan

[Trackrash]

Leaking mag motors, yea, it's a problem.

I seriously doubt that the case is "seeping" the amount of oil you are describing. There are numerous threads here on oil leaks. Spend some time searching.

The main culprits will be valve covers, are they flat? Then oil return tubes. On top of the motor search for the "triangle of death", or the thermostat, oil vent and pressure sender. After that there are any number of suspects.

You need to get the motor clean and figure out where it is leaking. If you have good compression and are not burning much oil, a rebuild is probably not needed.

Be aware of the reseal offer by many repair shops. As soon as your motor is out, it will turn in to a top end rebuild, then a complete overhaul.

Post some pictures of your car, and share some history. You will get MANY opinions.

[Bob Kontak]

My 81 was seeping because one of the washers on a case thru bolt had been installed backwards. If I remember they are flat on one side and convex on the other.

When I did the top-end in the mid 90's I replaced the o-ring seals on the through bolts and corrected the problem.

Do what John suggests. Clean it off and observe.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Trackrash

I seriously doubt that the case is "seeping" the amount of oil you are describing.

Good point, mine was simply seepage.