A newly aquired oil leak


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By BFOOTER03 - 15 Years Ago
I have aquired an oil leak and need help locating the source.  I might be a bit windy but here is what I know. 

I have checked the motor all over top to bottom and front to back and the oil appears to be isolated in one particular area of the engine.  The leak appears to be in the area of the back of the oil pan and the front of the fly wheel cover.  I noticed the leak this morning while changing the exhaust out.  I was thinking the rear main seal might be the source but when removing the fly wheel cover I noticed only the 4 back bolts of the oil pan had oil on them all others were clean.  I checked and they a little looser than the others so I tightened them a bit.  Only the front of the cover appeared to have oil on it and when it was removed the clutch and inside of the bell housing appeared to be oil free.  I cleaned everything up before putting it back together but after coming back from the show (15 minutes drive) the leak was back.  I could see the front of the oil pan had oil on it and it was dripping from the bottom of the cover.  I am thinking a bad oil pan gasket but am open to other opinions.  Thanks for the help.

By charliemccraney - 15 Years Ago
There should be studs which are threaded into the rear main seal retainer. If they had been removed or you are now using bolts, you may just need to add some thread sealant to those bolts or studs
By Y block Billy - 15 Years Ago
Somebody could have overtorqued those two bolts that go into the rear main seal  retainer, which is aluminum, then they will not tighten. I was on my way home from St louis to Maine with a new purchase and those bolts started leaking on me around Saracuse NY, an old farmer who had a can of bolts let me dig through them and I found a couple of slightly larger metric ones with self tapping threads,  wound them in there to get home and that engine never leaked again and drove it for 5 years after that.
By Metal Ghost - 15 Years Ago
Y block Billy (8/29/2010)
Somebody could have overtorqued those two bolts that go into the rear main seal  retainer, which is aluminum, then they will not tighten. I was on my way home from St louis to Maine with a new purchase and those bolts started leaking on me around Saracuse NY, an old farmer who had a can of bolts let me dig through them and I found a couple of slightly larger metric ones with self tapping threads,  wound them in there to get home and that engine never leaked again and drove it for 5 years after that.

Syracuse, thank you very much! Wink

By Richard - 15 Years Ago
I used helicoils, with the crank shaft in place but motor out on a stand upside down. In a car will be a challange.