North Park Oil Leak Help?

[emptyo]

Hi all,

I've just ordered a slew of hoses and gaskets from Pelican, in order to track down and squash this big oil leak I have on the passenger side of my engine. It ends up spitting oil all over my right rear brakes, and makes quite a mess otherwise. I don't have a ton of experience identifying the leaks, and am unsure if I have to do a full engine drop (It's partially dropped right now) to fix what needs to be fixed. I was wondering if I could get some experienced eyes to pop over and let me know the best plan of attack. I'm in North Park, and of course, Beer and Pizza provided.

Ps...I'm also looking for an oil hard line. The longer one that has the curve around the bottom of the transmisson.

Thanks!

Michael

[Dan Chambers]

Michael:

The dreaded oil leaks on an SC are tough, hidden, and many. I might suggest you give a call to Dieter's or Black Forest for some insight. There is a trick of adding fluorescent die to your oil and, using a black light and special glasses, finding the culprit at its source. Do you have a 3.0L engine? It could be hidden under the intake manifold at the oil pressure switch, thermostat o-ring seal (I think that's what's up there). There is also the possibility that your cam housing is leaking, or the pesky valve-covers, or ....?

My 3.0 leaked near the #6 cylinder due to the case being poorly casted. The only fix was to goop it up with sealant.

Call the shops to get it done right.

Good luck.

[Steve Grosekemper]

Dan is right (Did I really say that?)

You need to clean the engine and then add dye to the oil so you can find the source of the leak before you start digging in there so you can make one trip in.
I saw you reference your car on your wheel post as a 69 911, What motor do you have in it? Knowing that is important in pointing you in the right direction for leaks.

A 69 911 is the first year for a magnesium case and a real oil leaker w/o upgrades.

I have done several oil leak tests for DIY members here at Dieter's and given them the car back to do the repairs themselves.
About an hour of shop time and the cost of dye and you are on your way.

Good Luck

[emptyo]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the help so far.

Yes, that would have been a key piece of the puzzle. The engine is an 82 Euro SC, with about 10k on it. It was previously leak free until this most recent swap. I suspect (hope) that it was this patched together oil line I had connected to the breather tube that connects to the top of the motor that wasn't securely fastened. I've got it in a partial engine drop, and the new hoses coming from pelican.

Where does one get the dye?

[ChuckS]

Michael,
Just having the dye is only part of the solution. Knowing where the leaks are typically from and quickly checking those areas is key.
I had an extremely frustrating oil leak that several attempts to fix it failed. One trip and Steve not only found it, but gave me a picture of the where the flourescent dye was leaking from. I had been assuming it was from a different spot. Problem solved quickly and inexpensively!

[emptyo]

I have done several oil leak tests for DIY members here at Dieter's and given them the car back to do the repairs themselves.
About an hour of shop time and the cost of dye and you are on your way.

Good Luck

I missed that last part...that sounds like a GREAT idea. I'll have all the seals and such delivered tomorrow. I should be able to bring it by next week.

[emptyo]

Steve, when you do the oil leak tests, do you degrease the underside of the motor?

How much time do you need to schedule an oil leak test?

[Steve Grosekemper]

Steve, when you do the oil leak tests, do you degrease the underside of the motor?

How much time do you need to schedule an oil leak test?

Michael,
The answers to both of these vary from car to car.
The actual leak test does not include cleaning as that can vary greatly depending on the car and the area and volume of the leak.
As for scheduling we usually just need the car for the day.

You should call me at work and we can discuss scheduling and particulars of your car's leak.

[emptyo]

Ok, sounds good. I may just hit it with degreaser and take it to the local car wash to hit it with the high pressure hose. Or would you rather see it prior to that so you can tell where it's coming from?

[Steve Grosekemper]

Probably best to see it first and formulate a plan.