Cascade Crew

RSFreak · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 5:55 pm Post subject: Massive oil leak

My T/A has a massive leak that I can't locate. It is somewhere on the back of the engine. My first thought was a leak between the intake manifold and the china wall. But there was oil on top of the manifold at the distributor so I figured it was the dizzy gasket. Replaced the gasket and it still leaks. It will go though a quart of oil per day at least. That seems like alot to be coming from the intake manifold. Is there anywhere that pressurized oil could be coming from? I don't wanna pull the intake if I don't have to.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 6:00 pm Post subject:

We just had a post about this lol

Oil pressure sending unit behind the dizzy. If yours is located above the oil filter, it's possible your plug is leaking but very doubtful.

RSFreak · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 6:04 pm Post subject:

Funny you should mention that. When we first got the engine in the T/A the first time I turned it over oil came gushing out all over the driveway. Turns out Ian had taken the oil pressure sending unit before selling me the engine. We put a pipe plug in the hole sealed with teflon tape.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 6:05 pm Post subject:

Thoroughly clean the area and run it without driving. Use a mirror, whatever, to see if it's coming from the dizzy or china or that plug.

Or a valve cover gasket Wink

RSFreak · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject:

I've used that green dye with good results in the past. I may give that a try too. Cool

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 8:34 pm Post subject:

John, I put a pipe plug in the lower port (by the pump) on that motor. I never touched the upper one. Buck says thats where your leak is.

91camaro_rs · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 9:20 pm Post subject:

haha this reminds me of when that happened to me, thought the intake manifold was leaking so i pulled it off just to figure i was missing an oil pressure sending unit Laughing

iansane · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 12:45 am Post subject:

I'd be really surprised if that upper port was the culprit. I seem to remember trying to put my autometer sending unit in that little port and I couldn't get the square head plug out of the block and eventually gave up. But, I have never had the best memory.

RSFreak · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 8:00 pm Post subject:

aaron_sK · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 8:23 pm Post subject:

Totally busted. Laughing

RSFreak · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject:

That damn thing wouldn't come out for nuthin'! We used penetrating oil, heat, and the candle wax trick all to no avail. Even with the dizzy out it was very difficult to get a wrench back there. We managed to mangle the crap out of the plug too. Sad

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 12:46 am Post subject:

I have a welder.....

RSFreak · Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 10:28 am Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 9:43 am Post subject:

Use a magnet and make sure that plug isn't brass.

You'll need the dizzy out. Are you guys sure that's the culprit?

iansane · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 11:25 am Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 2:01 pm Post subject:

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

Pull distributor, clean up area as much as possible, move anything that will move out of the way. Get a oil priming tool and prime engine with a drill. If it's the plug in the sender hole it should start to leak pretty quick. If the plug doesnt leak then move on. I'm betting china wall, and I don't think that will leak when using the priming tool. It will need to be running for the china wall to leak.

RSFreak · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 9:30 pm Post subject:

Got the dye. Put it in the oil. Ran the car. Oil was seeping out past the plug. Pulled the dizzy. Had no luck removing the plug. Rolling Eyes

We were thinking the same thing. Oil was able to get past the plug, but we couldn't get it out. We were using a magnetic pointer when trying to identify where the oil was coming from and it stuck to the plug.

91RSVert · Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 12:59 pm Post subject:

Can you post a picture of this dye? I need to get some for my oil leak.

BluFbdy · Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 2:01 pm Post subject:

IIRC I had a hell of a time getting that,out as well, thats where my oil pressure sending unit is tied into, I had to use a special tool to get it out