HELP, I'm an idiot...or something.

R

Ross6860

Senior Member
I hope it's the or something.

I claim to be a good mechanic, at which you may immediately start laughing, but really, I've rebuilt everything from a small-block Ford to a 10,000 hp Colt-Pielstick. Really, I have...

I drained the oil from my flathead. OK on that part. Now the fresh oil won't go in? WTF?

I assume the oil fill is through the crankcase breather? I guess you could fill it through the dipstick tube...but that's kind of small.

When I put oil in the breather hole (breather removed, obviously, it actually runs out the back of the aluminum fitting that bolts to the top of the intake manifold.

I'll fill it through the dipstick, but I would appreciate any enlightenment.

Oh, and feel free to snicker and guffaw at my expense. I deserve it.
 
Ross6860 said:
I hope it's the or something.

I claim to be a good mechanic, at which you may immediately start laughing, but really, I've rebuilt everything from a small-block Ford to a 10,000 hp Colt-Pielstick. Really, I have...

I drained the oil from my flathead. OK on that part. Now the fresh oil won't go in? WTF?

I assume the oil fill is through the crankcase breather? I guess you could fill it through the dipstick tube...but that's kind of small.

When I put oil in the breather hole (breather removed, obviously, it actually runs out the back of the aluminum fitting that bolts to the top of the intake manifold.

I'll fill it through the dipstick, but I would appreciate any enlightenment.

Oh, and feel free to snicker and guffaw at my expense. I deserve it.
Click to expand...
What year is the engine? What's this fitting your talking about on the top back of the intake? Some engines in the 40's had an oil filter return fitting in one of the fuel pump bolts. A pic would be nice. Walt
 
Walt & Cecil, Ross's car is a '36, so I'm assuming he has the air scoop filter on the fuel pump stand. With filter lifted off, there are baffles inside to prevent oil from splashing up and out, as well as the baffle on the pump rod itself. These baffles can slow down the input of fresh oil, but that's where it goes. If oil is escaping below the stand, the paper gasket is missing. There should also be a gasket behind the fuel pump for the same reason.

I'm an idiot more often than not, but someone way back invented questions, which tend to make idiots into people who think they know some stuff sometimes.
 
Thanks guys.

Yep, a '36. Yes 180° scoop breather on the rear of the intake manifold.

Thought maybe a missing gasket or something, but better to ask than tear things apart for no reason.

That's why God made Ultra Blue and Ultra Copper:D Seen water pumps put on with no gaskets. No leaks either. Wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it.

Didn't take that long to fill through the dipstick either.
 
The oil filler base casting is probably warped. You can sometimes dress them flat or normally it's not too hard to find a better/newer one. The base can be distorted if the fuel pump pushrod is too long and puts extra strain on the part. A nice new gasket and plenty of the sealer of your choice will get it sealed. There may be an oil return tapping in the casting that will need to be plugged if it is not being used.

Mart
 
Like above,you are missing the gasket under the stand,and or the bottom of stand is warped. There is a correct order these parts are to be installed. First the gasket must be installed on the manifold,then the rod is dropped in,then the 4" or 5" baffel tube must go in/ 4" is for alum intakes an 5" is for cast iron manifolds. This order must NOT be changed it must be done this way. Suspect no gasket,warped stand bottom.This is a common problem with these.ken ct.
 
Let me get this straight--you have somehow shoehorned a Colt-Pielstick marine engine into a '36 Ford, and now it won't hold oil....?? :)
 
If you have removed the breather, the oil should go in through the hole, without coming out of the fuel pump adapter. It goes in slowly and may back up if you go too fast, due to baffles the oil has to pass. If it doesn't go in even slowly then look for the baffles to be blocked. The oil filler tube is part of the engine breather system and has to be open or the engine may pump a lot of oil out.
 
Has someone made up a homemade manifold gasket, and only made a hole big enough for the push rod?
If turns out to be sludge in the valley, it would be made worse by not running thermostats.
 
Bluebell said:
Has someone made up a homemade manifold gasket, and only made a hole big enough for the push rod?
If turns out to be sludge in the valley, it would be made worse by not running thermostats.
Click to expand...
Bluebell may have something there.or someone put the gasket and baffel tube in backwards,the gasket has a hole in it big enough for the baffel to pass through it. Call me if you want a better explaination. 1-203-260-5945 cell. ken ct.
 
40 FourDrDlx said:
Me too....what's a Colt-Pielstick??
Click to expand...

The one I worked on was a propulsion engine for a ship. It started on #2 fuel and once warmed up and loaded it ran on residual oil (bunker C). Looks like oil you drain from your car when it has 50,000 miles on it:)

They are also used for power generation.

Looks like this...

http://www.fairbanksmorse.com/engines/colt-pielstick-pc25-stc/

Also have a bit of experience with these,

http://www.fairbanksmorse.com/engines/fm-alco-251f/

and currently have about a dozen of these...

http://www.cat.com/cda/files/98298/7/lehq6163.pdf
 
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