[FC] Oil Pan Leak Woes

[Scott & Cyndi Wilson]

Thanks to all of you for all of your suggestions.

I'm going to re-investigate the source of the leak, but I suspect that it is 
the bellhousing bolts/gasket.

Scott

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Hand" <vairmech at aol.com>
To: <corvanatics at corvair.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 12:59 AM
Subject: Re: [FC] Oil Pan Leak Woes


>
> ??? First off you need to see where the oil is coming from. Clean the are 
> very well so it is dry using some kind of cleaner. Brake clean comes to 
> mind. Once the area is clean and dry start the engine and see where the 
> oil starts to come from. You will need a light and be under the FC while 
> it is running so you can see the start of the oil rather than the 
> aftermath.
>
> ??? If the oil seems to come from farther up that you can determine then 
> you know where you are headed.
>
> ??? Now, that being said, I have seen the bell housing gasket leak and 
> come down the side of the engine, and the reason the gasket was leaking 
> was the bell housing bolts were loose.
>
> ??? If the crank seal was leaking you would be seeing oil come out of the 
> bell housing hole on the bottom.
>
>
>
>
>
> Ken Hand
> 248-613-8586
> www.corvairmechanic.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott & Cyndi Wilson <scwilson8126 at wowway.com>
> To: corvanatics at corvair.org
> Sent: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 8:41 pm
> Subject: [FC] Oil Pan Leak Woes
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hey everybody;
>
> I'm chasing elusive oil leak(s) on my Corvair and am becoming very 
> frustrated at
> not being able to stop them.
> Specifically, I'm trying to stop an oil  pan leak (front) and possibly a 
> front
> bellhousing seal leak.
> I can't seem to stop the oil-pan from leaking near the front of the 
> engine.   I
> leaks bad enough that I don't have enough time to get out of the car and 
> place a
> piece of cardboard under the engine before it stains the cement.
>
> Here's what I have done up to this point:
>  a.. Stock oil pan gasket: Installed new cork/rubber pan gasket (2X) 
> including
> flattening bolt holes.  Used non-hardening permatex both times.  Tourqued 
> bolts
> to specs.  Did not stop leaking at front of oil pan (around front 3 and 
> second
> row of 4 bolts).  Second time I tightened bolts to just tight, let dry 
> overnight
> and tightened to torque specs.  Same leaks.
>  b.. Purchased vendor aluminum oil pan (very nice piece of cast aluminum) 
> and
> thin paper gasket.  Used permatex and torqued to 7-8 ft. lbs. per vendor. 
> Still
> leaks in the same spot.  Then purchased and used a thinner cork/rubber for
> aluminum pans and have the same area leaking.  The main part of the oil 
> pan does
> not leak.
> I may also have a bellhousing seal leak, but I can see the oil leaking 
> from the
> front of the gasket and it looks like it could also be leaking from the 
> bolts
> themselves (I did have to helicoil some of the bolt holes).  I have 
> previously
> replaced pushrod tube and oil-cooler seals.  In both cases, I have 
> continued to
> tighten the front bolts, but this does not stop the leaking.    I know 
> most
> Corvairs leak some oil, but my car is leaking worse than it ever has.
>
> I am planning on changing the top cover gasket but want to eliminate all
> possibilities before changing the bellhousing gasket.
>
> Am I doing anything wrong or missing anything?
>
> Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Scott Wilson
>
> '63 Rampside
> '63 Monza Convertible
>
>
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