Help with leak.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 545
Likes: 8
From: Murphy Texas
Help with leak.
Finally got to my leaking oil pan when I rebuilt the front suspension. Well its still leaking. Even after redoing the gasket twice. First tried the nice and thick FelPro blue, one piece gasket but couldn't get bolts on because that thing is so thick. Stupidly tried to trim the half circles down. Then it leaked like a siv. Then I went back to the cork 2 piece one, and I am still getting a few drips on the floor, not bad, but frustrating. Is there a trick I'm missing or is it a problem that's always been a pain. 71' 350 270hp, leaking above drain plug.
Any help would be appreciated, although I don't want to go under again...
Any help would be appreciated, although I don't want to go under again...
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Did you make sure the surface of the rail on that pan was flat before you tried to re-install it? Most stamped steel pans are distorted at the bolt holes due to PO's over-torquing the bolts to "make sure" it will seal. Once the rail is deformed, it will not seal...until it's made flat again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
When you used the 4 pieces cork, have you used a silicon sealer on the 4 corners? , thats almost mandatory for this type of gaskets, otherwise it will leak from there.
I'm using the 1 piece type from felpro and I had the same problem with bolts length, I just used a taller bolts.
I'm using the 1 piece type from felpro and I had the same problem with bolts length, I just used a taller bolts.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Are you certain that the leaks are from the pan rail and not from leaks eminating from the valve covers [at the rear of the engine]? Use some lacquer thinner to clean off the engine just above the pan rail to make sure that area is 'dry'. Then run the engine for a few minutes and use a tissue on the area you cleaned to see if oil is present. If it is, then the leak is higher up.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
I don't understand why you couldn't get the bolts on with the Fel-Pro one-piece gasket. The one I bought had bolts, star type lock washers, and neat little blue plastic things that hold the gasket and pan on the block until you can get the bolts started. The included instructions are very detailed including torque values for the two different size bolts. I put mine on last summer from under the car and cured an annoying leak I had with the cork gaskets. I put that one on with the engine on a stand with the engine upside down so I would get it right. I guess I didn't LOL.
Perhaps as 7T1 says, the leak isn't even the pan gasket. Good luck!
Cheers,
Pete
Perhaps as 7T1 says, the leak isn't even the pan gasket. Good luck!
Cheers,
Pete
