Oil leak and issues

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Thu May 12, 16 1:59 pm

Chaps,

I've replaced the Distributor seals twice now, and after last weekends shakedown I'm coming to the conclusion that its oil running from the underside of the Intake (Valley gasket).

Of course this will happen as soon as it gets close to an event, so the question. Is it risky to drive it?

The oil is running off the top of the block and down the sides of the bellhousing onto the floor. Slight runoff onto the collector on the drivers side..........Its minimal loss just after the car is parked then nothing.

I have no chance of sorting it prior to Garys Picnic and fed up of not being at events with it!

Dodge by name Dodge by nature.............My concern is cross contamination or any other issues?

I'm at the point where i've replaced most things that can cause issues, but the Dart is still trying my patience with new issues..........

Thoughts please?

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Thu May 12, 16 2:03 pm

As far as I know the oil that comes out there is just spray from the lifters and a bit o windage from the crank

as long as you have enough

don't mind the mess

and its not spraying onto you tyres

you can enjoy your weekend

Dave

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Thu May 12, 16 2:06 pm

Dave, what Dave said!
Check with a mirror. See if its the rockers leaking at the back of the heads. I had your situation on my Runner and couldn't see the leak until I used a mirror and torch.
Sometimes the rocker cover crimps the gasket allowing it to leak.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu May 12, 16 4:11 pm

Could be coming from the valve covers, have you got cast aftermarket ones?

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Thu May 12, 16 8:58 pm

Thanks Chaps.

I checked the valve covers as best I could but couldn't see many signs. The coverage is quite uniform by the dizzy and oil pressure tapping, hence the belief that it probably coming from under the Edelbrock intake.

Blue wrote:Could be coming from the valve covers, have you got cast aftermarket ones?

Aluminium MT covers Jon.

Will bring some additional oil and make the trip........it can underseal the car as I drive

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu May 12, 16 9:50 pm

In that case Dave, the covers are probably hitting the intake before they are sealing to the head, my M/T's, cal custom and Mopar performance covers all hit 3 different intakes so it's clearly a common problem. Doubling up on the gaskets might fix it, otherwise you need to grind the covers or intake to clear.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu May 12, 16 9:51 pm

In that case Dave, the covers are probably hitting the intake before they are sealing to the head, my M/T's, cal custom and Mopar performance covers all hit 3 different intakes so it's clearly a common problem. Doubling up on the gaskets might fix it, otherwise you need to grind the covers or intake to clear.

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Thu May 12, 16 10:18 pm

Also, check the oil pressure take off isn't leaking. I had that on my first Dart

Carl · Post by **Carl** » Thu May 12, 16 10:42 pm

Dave did you mastic the cork ends of the inlet gasket? I had a bit of an oil leak in the same place and it was the cork gasket had moved. I assume you trimmed the ends of the cork gasket too?

ANTON · Post by **ANTON** » Fri May 13, 16 7:49 am

I had this happen to me. I cleaned that area as best as I could and put some sealant in there to slow the leak till I had time to fix it. If I drove slow it wasn't to bad but if I floored it the is was bad.

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Fri May 13, 16 12:56 pm

Blue,

Gaskets were fine from 2011 to 2015 (no leaking), but will check the lip.

Miles,

Yes had heard that that's the other common leak spot!

Carl,

Intake, Carb and covers have never been off the car under my ownership. I'd guess underuse and drying out may have contributed to the issue i'm now seeing.

Anton,
Yea.........Was giving it some stick last weekend, so guessing that hammer down has increased the loss of oil. Will take it easy and for now.........may also put a bead of sealant on the rear or the intake to see if it slows it.

Post by **MattH** » Fri May 20, 16 2:26 pm

I call it rust proofing.

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Sat May 21, 16 9:39 am

Its a nuisance Dave, but won't stop you getting to Shakey and back. My first ever trip to Shakey involved me adding a litre of oil every 50-60 miles because the ass that had worked on my car failed to get the sump front gasket sealing correctly.
Just to add to the fun the camber was out and one tyre went down to the wire on the way back

I've learnt a bit since then

Then there was the occasion I overfilled the trans and it decided to vent out fluid all over the exhaust at 70mph. Also coming back from a trip to Shakey!

I learned some more after that

..