What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

[Scott Danforth]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

$1000 for a $40-$100 DIY fix. you figure it out? if you do not want to do the labor, then you have to pay someone to do the labor. I myself would pull the intake and go from there.

However if your leak is on the left side of the rear of the engine, you may want to really double check your oil sender first to see if your leak is not coming from there vs a manifold or head leak.

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

$1000 for a $40-$100 DIY fix. you figure it out? if you do not want to do the labor, then you have to pay someone to do the labor. I myself would pull the intake and go from there.

However if your leak is on the left side of the rear of the engine, you may want to really double check your oil sender first to see if your leak is not coming from there vs a manifold or head leak.

It's definitely coming from the joint where the head/block/intake manifold meet. (rear starboard side). The oil sender does have a TINY bit seeping thru the brass fitting, but the other leak you can clearly see it flowing down the block from that joint.

Is there a guide how to remove the heads and intake the correct way ? I don't want to screw anything up and end up paying even more money to correct the mistakes.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

Im with scott...check/double check to make sure it not the sender.........It's a pipe thread in the bock and they are prone to leak!

Best bet...down load a merc manual for the sticky's that Don S posted....... Also go to a Eldebrock web site and they have vides and such to view and read. MSDS video on how to time a engine...very good video

Then you have you-tube but cant beleive everthing you see......Unless it's a name brand maker doing the video

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

Well, had some time today to dink around the engine and being an impatient guy that I am, went ahead and got the intake manifold off, put on new gaskets and hi-temp RTV silicone, and bolted the baby back up again.

Didn't have a chance to connect all the wires, etc because of darkness, but all in all, not a bad job. Not as tough as I though it'd be.
Will get back with the results in the a.m.

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

The good news: The intake manifold doesn't leak anymore oil after I re-sealed it.

The real bad news: There is an even bigger leak (one drip every 5 seconds) at the back of the oil pan. Not sure if it's the pan gasket or worse, the rear main seal (maybe?!). I suppose the engine WILL have to come out one way or another.

Just wondering if a cracked block would also leak oil ?

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

Thats good news..........but now the bad!

See if you can get a socket on the oil pan bolts to see if they are loose.......The 2 bolts at the rear and 2 bolts at the front are bigger bolt head than the middle ones. I think 7/16" socket on the big ones and 3/8" on the middle ones.

Note: do not over tighten them becouse they will snap off.. just snug them up

If the pan is rusted or the gasket is bad...time to R&R the motor!

 

[Bondo]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

Thats good news..........but now the bad!

See if you can get a socket on the oil pan bolts to see if they are loose.......The 2 bolts at the rear and 2 bolts at the front are bigger bolt head than the middle ones. I think 7/16" socket on the big ones and 3/8" on the middle ones.

Note: do not over tighten them becouse they will snap off.. just snug them up

If the pan is rusted or the gasket is bad...time to R&R the motor!

Ayuh,.... It's 1/2" on the end 1s, 'n 7/16" on the side rails,...

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

I was way off on the size........And to think i just my oil pan last week!

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

If the pan is rusted or the gasket is bad...time to R&R the motor!

The pan is like new, the short block only has 45 hrs on it. Although the previous owner was probably a knucklehead as I'm finding more and more "shortcuts" he or the shop did.

While you guys were replying , I was busy disconnecting all the junk out of the way to get the motor out.

Now time to bring it into the garage and start chainin' the b1tch up. Hopefully tonight she'll be a-hanging from the chains.


One big question I DID have. Should I lift it out with front mounts attached, or will it be easier to set it down if I leave them in the bilge ?
I just don't want to screw around with the alignment aspect of the job when re-installing and wondering if I could cheat a bit. Otherwise I'd have to wait till next weekend for the alignment tool to come in.

 

[Bondo]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

The pan is like new, the short block only has 45 hrs on it. Although the previous owner was probably a knucklehead as I'm finding more and more "shortcuts" he or the shop did.

While you guys were replying , I was busy disconnecting all the junk out of the way to get the motor out.

Now time to bring it into the garage and start chainin' the b1tch up. Hopefully tonight she'll be a-hanging from the chains.


One big question I DID have. Should I lift it out with front mounts attached, or will it be easier to set it down if I leave them in the bilge ?
I just don't want to screw around with the alignment aspect of the job when re-installing and wondering if I could cheat a bit. Otherwise I'd have to wait till next weekend for the alignment tool to come in.

Ayuh,.... Pull the lag bolts, 'n keep the full mount assembly on the motor,....
Way easier, 'n they serve as a blockin' point to set the motor on the floor,...
Usually, a 4x4 under 'em, 'n the flywheel cover flange on the floor is 'bout right,...

'n there Ain't no cheatin' the Alignment,...

Anytime the motor is "Disturbed", the alignment should Most Certainly be Checked,...

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

Ayuh,.... Pull the lag bolts, 'n keep the full mount assembly on the motor,....
Way easier, 'n they serve as a blockin' point to set the motor on the floor,...
Usually, a 4x4 under 'em, 'n the flywheel cover flange on the floor is 'bout right,...

'n there Ain't no cheatin' the Alignment,...

Anytime the motor is "Disturbed", the alignment should Most Certainly be Checked,...

Thanks again for the quick reply Bondo.... I'll see if I can get something locally here, maybe even load a tool from someone.
I've seen them on ebay but I know Alpha1 Gen2 are different I believe. Something about one of the "Steps" being less diameter.

Any other parts I should replace while I got the outdrive and engine out ?????

 

[Bondo]

Re: What is the trick to find an elusive oil leak ?

Thanks again for the quick reply Bondo.... I'll see if I can get something locally here, maybe even load a tool from someone.
I've seen them on ebay but I know Alpha1 Gen2 are different I believe. Something about one of the "Steps" being less diameter.

Any other parts I should replace while I got the outdrive and engine out ?????

Ayuh,.... I think ya might be mistaken,...

They're All the same now a days, even the later OMC's, 'n Volvo's,.......

It's well covered, with pictures, 'n drawin's up in Don'S Adults Only section, at the top of the forum,...