The fordo in my '58 custom 300 is leaking where the dipstick attaches to the side of the pan. I tried installing an o-ring, Teflon tape and even RTV. The manual just says to tighten it up if It's leaking. I've used a cheater bar to tighten and it still leaks. Any suggestions???

58 Ford Custom 300 - San Pedro, CA (So-Cal)

maybe the pipe has fine split in it? wheres the obvious leak coming from, where in the picture.


  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

The threads, it was leaking from the pipe but the RTV fixed it. Was thinking of putting RTV on the threads too. Not sure if that's the way to go. Something is obviously wrong.

58 Ford Custom 300 - San Pedro, CA (So-Cal)

I stuck an o ring between the threads and the pipe flange but it didn't help.

58 Ford Custom 300 - San Pedro, CA (So-Cal)

Does that flange on the end of the pipe seal against anything or are the threads supposed to do the sealing?  If its the flange, like an inverted flair then sealing the threads won't help much as there is nothing to stop the fluid leaking between the tube and the nut (except the RTV you applied).  Are the threads on the nut pipe threads or standard threads? Since you mentioned that the manual says to tighten the nut I suspect that they are either pipe threads or the flange seats against something.  Perhaps there is a nick in the seat or in the flange.  Personally I am not a big fan of silicone bast sealants.  Once they fail, and inevitably they will, nothing else will stick to it not even more silicone. 


Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Looking at the picture I don't think those are pipe threads.

I believe it's suppose to seal at the flange but It's not. I checked everything and it looks all good. No nicks, cracks, etc. I hate using silicone as well and that's why I didn't the first time but it seems to be the only answer at this point. I just put in a new gasket on the pan and smothered it with silicone. I also smothered the dipstick tube and threads with silicone as well and I'm crossing my fingers. This is the 3rd time I drained the tranny to fix this. Third time a charm right?

BTW, thanks everybody for the feedback.



58 Ford Custom 300 - San Pedro, CA (So-Cal)

it is a flair type fitting, go to a hyd tube store they should be able to re flair. probly over tightend, and now the nut cant press the flair enough to stop the leak.if THer is not enoug room to re flair the shop should be able to make a new tube.

Thanks meteor. I think that may be the next step. It's weird that it's not seating as there is plenty of threads once it's tight.

58 Ford Custom 300 - San Pedro, CA (So-Cal)

Something's deformed between the two sealing surfaces. No amount of tightening will fix a boogered up surface.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles