oil leak with A sitting

MrTube

MrTube

Well-known member
I originally thought the rear main or pan gasket was causing the leak, however, the A has been sitting for well over a month since the last time I ran it.

It's sitting in a heated warehouse and has been leaking the whole time, the floor is very level.. Not fast by any means, but its certainly leaking.

When we ran it and it got hot it leaked quite a bit from the rear of the engine.


I have to assume the fact its still dripping that it sounds like a hole in the oil pan. Is there a chance its something else like the pan gasket? How common is it for an A pan to develop a leak?
 
Is the leaking oil coming from the hole in the bottom of the flywheel cover just in front of the wishbone socket?
 
Oil would be way to high to come from the oil pan gasket.Does the the drain plug have a gasket.? May be a pin hole or rusted pan.
 
Show me a Model A that doesn't leak some oil and there is a good chance the owner may have forgotten to put oil in the old girl. It is well worn but to the point, "A Model A doesn't leak oil, it's just marking its territory".
 
You need to get under the car and clean all the oil off the eng. the pan and trans. where you can see ex. where the oil is coming from, if it's leaking as bad as you say it should be easy to find.
after i drive mine... when i put it in the garage i always wipe around the rear of the eng. and trans. it will still leave a drop or two about the size of a nickle, then stops, if i don't wipe it down it will leave a spot the size of a half dollar, but always stop's.
 
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I just laid under it and looked and who knows where its coming from at this point.

Its got drips hanging from the radius rods where they bolt to the bell housing. Its got a drip hanging from the trans drain plug. The bell housing and trans are soaked.


Good chance i'm dropping the pan tonight regardless as the gasket is leaking for sure at points.

I just hope the rear main is in decent shape. :(
 
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Save yourself some frustration-wipe it down clean everywhere,run it and try to ID the leak points,

Good luck
 
How old is the motor? Sounds like it needs some main bearing work or the drain tube is missing or plugged. You have to understand, the valve chamber is full after stopping and that is when the main will leak and for a while. I don't believe I have ever seen one leak for a month.
 
Save yourself some frustration-wipe it down clean everywhere,run it and try to ID the leak points,
this is the best way !!! clean it very good , let it dry . start it & lay underneath with a flash lite . you will see it start leaking ........... steve
 
Another way to find the leak is to go to Autozone and buy some engine oil dye. They will lend you a black light that will show where the leak is coming from.
 
Pulled the pan and valve cover last night, it had to be done regardless as we had no idea what shape the engine was in.

Engine is spotless inside and even has a counter balanced crank. I'm fairly certain the valve cover was seeping and the oil pan was definitely leaking at the rear. The dripping while sitting is probably from the drain plug.

Now before I put the pan back I need to check the rear main. I guess I unbolt it and carefully drop the cap down?

I remember a thread about using plastigage and I think it had to do with oil but don't remember exactly what was said?
 
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O would consider taking the engine out and putti g it upside-down on a stand. Then pull the cap. An A engine isn't hard or even a long process to take out. You can have it out in an hour and work on it and then put her back in an hour. :D

Just my two cents tho.
 
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