Oil Leak Help?

Houston Rodder

Houston Rodder

Member
My Fordor Sedan has an oil leak that is getting worse. The leak is very bad right after the motor has been run and slows after it cools off. What are some typical types of oil leaks these engines develop? I am wanting to have everything I need to fix before the vehicle is tore down although I realize it is impossible to know before pulling the pan. Besides a pan gasket what are some pieces I should inspect or replace with the oil pan off?
Thanks
 
I recently resolved the oil hemorrhaging on my 1929 by dropping the pan, removing the valve cover and cleaning out all the passageways including the oil return pipes. I wasn't expecting all my oil leaks to go away, but they did. A clogged oil return apparently is one of the big causes of leaks.

With the pan off, you may want to do an overhaul on your oil pump (which comes our when you drop your pan and requires an occasional screen cleaning and change of gaskets -- this is EASY albeit messy) and check bearing clearances (you can access the rod and main bearings with the pan down and make some adjustments if needed). I documented my trials and errors in dropping the pan (including some video and photos) on my blog and recently posted MANY questions on fordbarn. I am no expert, but am happy to share my experiences.
 
sethkestenbaum said:
I recently resolved the oil hemorrhaging on my 1929 by dropping the pan, removing the valve cover and cleaning out all the passageways including the oil return pipes. I wasn't expecting all my oil leaks to go away, but they did. A clogged oil return apparently is one of the big causes of leaks.

With the pan off, you may want to do an overhaul on your oil pump (which comes our when you drop your pan and requires an occasional screen cleaning and change of gaskets -- this is EASY albeit messy) and check bearing clearances (you can access the rod and main bearings with the pan down and make some adjustments if needed). I documented my trials and errors in dropping the pan (including some video and photos) on my blog and recently posted MANY questions on fordbarn. I am no expert, but am happy to share my experiences.
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This is really helpful information. Thank you.
 
Please specify the location of the leak .
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as said above, we need to know from where the leak originates to offer any constructive help. For that matter, so do you. Many leaks are from the valve cover, and they run along the pan rails and drip off the rear flywheel housing, giving the appearance of a rear main leak. The oil pan can leak in similar fashion. Then there are leaks from excess crankcase pressure, a missing oil return tube, clogged oil pipe, etc etc

this article is a good one for starters:
http://www.antiqueenginerebuilding.com/REARMAINLEAK.html
 
Is it dripping off of the carter key ? If so it is probably the rear main and/or leak from back of cam shaft . If it is coming down the front of the fly wheel housing it may be leaking from the pan gasket or from the front seal running down the pan and dripping off the housing plus what pat in sana cruz mentioned .
 
Most rear main oil leaks on a model A are due to too much clearance on the rear main. Drop the pan, remove the rear main cap inspect the Babbitt, if it is intact use palsti gauge to check the clearance. Should be about one and a half thousandths. If it is greater remove shims to get the one a half thousandths. Then check the center and front mains. All should be well when the pan is reinstalled.
 
What mark are you using on your dipstick ???

You could be over filling it .

It will spit out what it don't want .
 
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