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I'm considering buying a C3 that has a 383 crate motor. Had it inspected and despite the engine being newly installed (by a shop) a little over a year ago, there appears to be oil leaking. There's also what appears to be a device that's not connected just on top of the oil filter, and just next to it on the engine block a receptacle of some kind. It is just me, or should I be concerned about a crate put into a car this recently that is showing seeping issues? Would be interested in opinions/thoughts.
I will take a stab at it. The gold colored thing on top of the oil filter appears to be a oil gauge sending unit. Depending upon what year car you have, this may be needed or not. Most oil gauges connect to the engine via plastic/nylon line behind the distributor. The other arrow on the left points to a freeze plug. It looks suspect to me and I would change it out. Lastly, the fluid dripping on the last photo (pink) appears to be ATF from the power steering unit. It is hard to tell. So, you may have a few things going on here. You may want to have the car inspected to determine if these are easy fixes. Does not look like a deal breaker to me if everything else looks OK. Jerry
Did he/she recommend purchasing the car knowing of the leak?
To me, I'm not as inclined to take the inspector's opinion as the only data point when making the buy decision. I paid him to provide a service, which he did- car's leaking oil, which is something I wanted to know up front.
Now that I know that, I'd rather take this as an opportunity to learn and make a fully informed decision. I know cars of this age have problems, but this one sent up a few red flags- I find it odd that a newly installed crate would have this type of issue, but then again, this could be as simple as someone not seating the oil filter correctly (or maybe that's completely improbable). Recognizing my relative inexperience with this, I'm resisting the temptation to dismiss the car outright.
So I'm really not asking for advice as to how to decide nor is that why I went with an inspector. Right now, I'm put off by a car that has such a new engine with 'leaks', but that's subjective thinking. What I'd rather do is consider the possible causes for this, understand severity of each, then figure out if it's worth working with the owner to resolve.
<---SNIP--->There's also what appears to be a device that's not connected just on top of the oil filter, and just next to it on the engine block a receptacle of some kind.<---SNIP--->
Correction: The one on the right is the oil pressure sensor. The one on the left is an expansion plug.
Also, I'd check the valve cover gaskets for leaks. Common problem due to improper install.
Last edited by CFLVette; Jun 24, 2016 at 12:46 PM.
If you look on the cylinder head in the pic, you can see where oil has been leaking most likely from the valve cover, or perhaps the breather, and flowing along the valve cover rail and dripping on the heads.
The oil could also be leaking from the "china wall" where the intake manifold and the block join.
The steering linkage leak is very common, this old crap steering assembly just keeps on leaking. I pulled mine out last week after trying 3 Power steering control valves.
Steeroids is partially in now.
Hopefully that leak is gone.
I also replaced the rear main seal and the oil pan gasket "while I was at it".
Leaking is a common thing with 40+ year old cars...you have to get used to it or repair it.
To me, I'm not as inclined to take the inspector's opinion as the only data point when making the buy decision. I paid him to provide a service, which he did- car's leaking oil, which is something I wanted to know up front.
Now that I know that, I'd rather take this as an opportunity to learn and make a fully informed decision. I know cars of this age have problems, but this one sent up a few red flags- I find it odd that a newly installed crate would have this type of issue, but then again, this could be as simple as someone not seating the oil filter correctly (or maybe that's completely improbable). Recognizing my relative inexperience with this, I'm resisting the temptation to dismiss the car outright.
So I'm really not asking for advice as to how to decide nor is that why I went with an inspector. Right now, I'm put off by a car that has such a new engine with 'leaks', but that's subjective thinking. What I'd rather do is consider the possible causes for this, understand severity of each, then figure out if it's worth working with the owner to resolve.
The freeze plug just appears to have black paint on it from painting the block.
The oil leak is not related to the engine. It's power steering fluid from the power steering control valve.
The canister above the oil filter is a pressure sending unit for oil pressure.
None of those issues would cause me to hesitate on the purchase. They are minor and do not reflect on the condition of the engine or the build quality of the engine.
The last time I installed a new motor it took two or three tries to clean up a couple oil leaks. That is not uncommon, my issues were valve cover gaskets and once I switched brands the problem was solved.
My power steering has been rebuilt twice and always starts leaking again after a couple of years. The last time this happened I sucked out most the PS fluid and replaced it with Lucas PS Fluid with stop leak. That was three years ago and it hasn't leaked a drop since. I don't usually believe in snake oils, but that made me a believer in Lucas PS fluid.
Try tightening your valve cover bolts.. your gasket is leaking.. with any new engine, a bolt tightening procedure should be followed after a few heat cycles. That is not uncommon for a leak to occur there ..
Help Identifying Oil Leak Source
