oil filter still leaking

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 11, 05 3:49 pm

Dave, if you have the patience can you describe how you prime the motor yourself? Two engineer friends of mine that i've consulted over these leaking gaskets are convinced that as presure rises (but engine not turning) the gasket blows by as the weakest link.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Thu Aug 11, 05 4:13 pm

I thought I just did that?

I get the engine ready to run. I make sure I know the engine is at TDC on the compression stroke of #1 so I can line the dizzy up to fire the engine. Pull the dizzy out, pull the cap off, put the dizzy to one side.

I squirt fuel into the fuel bowls on the carb(s).

It it is an electrical gauge I switch on the electrics and then give the oil pump a whirl with the electric drill until the gauge shows some pressure.

Then replace the dizzy with the rotor in the right place, replace the cap, squirt some fuel into intake, and fire it up! Or try to. It never quite works out right first time. But that is probably just me.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 11, 05 4:21 pm

Thanks Dave, it was how long you spent priming that i was focused on becouse the latest attempt had the gasket leaking within moments of the gauge showing oil presure.
Surely if I start the car its going to blow the damned gasket again?

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Thu Aug 11, 05 4:48 pm

If it is happening that quick there must be something wrong.

Is it actually physically pushing the gasket out?

If not it is either not tight enough or not flat or not seating due to an obstruction. There has to be something. But if you really cannot find anything try firing it up. You can always switch it back off.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 11, 05 5:01 pm

probably the worst part of this project I have come across. I have checked everything, i even have a spare block and plate to compare with. i can reduce but not stop it leaking. Currently sorting carb and timing. set up the latter with your article in 'connected', very helpful!

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Thu Aug 11, 05 8:16 pm

If it leaks when you are priming it it is going to launch out if you try and run it.

If the motor is fresh I prime them as follows.

Set everything up at TDC No1, mark and pulle the dizzy, prime until the drill slows down under load, check the filter is not leaking, prime up again until max oil pressure reading then rotate the motor slowly until oil comes out the rocker area on both banks, stop drill, rotate to complete 2 turns to return to No1 firing, double check all the odds and ends, prime carb float bowls, quick whizz with the drill once more to make sure the bearings are set, stuff in dizzy, fire it up.

Sounds drawn out but it works for me.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 11, 05 8:29 pm

Sounds like what I intend to do Alex if I can only sort this leak out. About 9 hours and dozen attempts and it wont seal. i really dont understand, i mean its manufactured to take pressure, why the heck does it not do so?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 11, 05 9:33 pm

Just a quick thought

I've just done Wildmans mains and Big ends, BB i know, shells are in the right way round are they, ie oil holes in the upper mains, I presume SB are the same????

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 11, 05 9:38 pm

As far as I know mate, it was asembled bya machine shop with a decent reputation who checked with me if they had a query.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 11, 05 9:55 pm

Just a thought Miles.

I've never seen a Small Block oil pump in my life so bear with me here

I've read through the posts and what your saying is it's leaking past a gasket between the block and a plate?

If the relief valve was stuck i'd have thought the filter would split first as thats the weakest bit

If it's getting past a gasket in the volumes you suggest then I'd agree with what Dave said, either the block or the plate aren't flat or something is stopping the plate from clamping the gasket, are there any blind dowels or anything that could stop the plate from evenly clamping the gasket.

properly clamped and torqued a gasket can stand some pressure

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 11, 05 10:27 pm

Running through this simply,
Im assuming your using right angle adaptor
Mating surfaces clean and straight,
Use one large diameter gasket for housing to block,
one small diameter gasket for housing adapter and special bolt to block,
one small diameter gasket between special bolt head and housing
housing adapter special bolt must be in very good order, anything less might cause it not to do up properly (there are tougher replacements on the market, as apparently originals didnt always seal properly)
Never use two gaskets on top of each other, no sealers (vaseline ok)

Terry has a point aswel, are you over priming the pump. taking into account the motor isnt turning.
I would use Daves advice, get it ready for running, and start. Have someone around to turn off quickly. Oill the valve gear before hand.

One thing done on Rover V8s was to pack the oil pump solid with vaseline before first start, not sure if that can be applied here?

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Thu Aug 11, 05 10:33 pm

Wil, the problem is the gasket sit is a slight recess from memory and is about 3 mm thick or it should be, the adaptor then sits on this, I can't remember if he is using the 90deg plate or not but I have had loads that dont seal, they are a pain I usually run the bolt in untill it is just starting to nip the plate then rotate it one way and the other to seat it, then nip it up, it really is a hit miss afair, worth checking there is no flash causing the plate to fail to seat.

Good luck Miles, keep at it and it will come right, next time you have it off, look at every part really closely and you will finf the problem.

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Fri Aug 12, 05 12:37 am

If it leaks on priming I'd say DO NOT FIRE THE MOTOR

It'll just waste oil and preclude the Cam break in. Sort the oil leak first, are you all stoopid? How many times have you heard of a small block (or any engine in the world!) fire up routine where the pre check oil leak was fixed. NONE. Live in the now! (You get my point???

)

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 12, 05 7:13 am

thanks again to all. advice is being taken on board. For the record I am not using a right angle adaptor. i am using the original generic 4" plate. it has a hollow centre screw that bolts the plate to the block and the filter to the plate. I have used at least 4 different gasket combinations.
I returned to 1 gasket (as alex and CP describe). bolted it up, primed lightly (30 secs on the drill) and it leaked again.

I have woken every morning this sweek between 4 and 5 am trying to think what more i could do or change. Its driving me to distraction. I just want to (but wont, Kev) fire this motor up

Time spent working on this one problem12-15 hrs and stil it leaks!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 12, 05 5:09 pm

You been near the refridgerent again Kev I dont get your point?
I was very reluctant to join in this thread cos I saw it slipping horribly out of control, where me rope!