The sending unit is typically right there and is probably more prone to leak because it doesn't really have a gasket, it has threads.
Oil leak at distributor
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Hometown The best
Oil leak at distributor
I just developed an oil leak on my new engine. It appears to be coming from the distributer shaft where it goes into the intake. I have a gasket on the shaft of course. I'm planing on removing the dizzy and putting an extra gasket on the shaft. Has anyone else had this problem and what was the solution.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,003
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From: hickory NC
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
I wouldn't go adding another gasket. May not mesh right with the cam gear. Just pull dist. back out and see what the gasket looks like. Replace if need be.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Hometown The best
Is a leaking distributor gasket a common problem or is this something that only happens to me. I guess two gaskets might not be a good idea after all. Has anyone else had this happen?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 48
From: hickory NC
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
It's not that uncommom. Happened to me also, couple years ago when I replaced my distributor.
Also like qwank mentioned it could be from back of intake. If, when motor was put back together, a gasket was used instead of sealer it could be leaking.
Also like qwank mentioned it could be from back of intake. If, when motor was put back together, a gasket was used instead of sealer it could be leaking.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i seem to recall they sell shims as opposed to gaskets for that area also. i think one of my vette engines had one.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MOR-26150/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MOR-26150/
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: New Baden Illinois
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Hometown The best
To be honest I don't know for sure where the oil is coming from. I do have oil on top of the manifold in front of the distributor. I wraped a paper towel around the shaft today and I did not get oil on the manifold but did get some on the paper towel so I know some is coming from the dizzy shaft gasket. I also had a small puddle under the car dripping from the corner of the bell housing. To much to have come from the dizzy gasket with the paper towel around it. The plug by the dizzy is not leaking. It could be coming from the rear of the manifold, no gasket there, I used rtv and can see that it is squeezed out some. The engine was on a stand when we built it and it looked like it was sealed pretty good. I guess I will start with a process of elimination starting with the dizzy gasket, valve covers, and if that doesn't stop it I will try smearing a bead of rtv on the back of the intake after cleaning the oily residue off. I'll pull the intake as a last resort. Opinions !!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,229
Likes: 656
From: Thunder Bay
I had a leak in the same area that gave me fits a couple of years back. I ended up losing about a quart aweek before I found it. It was my oil pressure sender. There's really only three possibilities in the area. The distributor, the intake gasket, or the oil pressure sender. In order of likelihood, I would suggest pressure sender, intake gasket, and distributor. Fortunately none of them are a big deal to fix. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Here's what ya do: clean the heck out of the general area, and get yourself a can of that spray-on foot powder. Dust the area fairly well with the foot powder. Turn the whole general area white. Fire it up, and you will see EXACTLY where the leak is. No need to thank me, just pay it forward,
Scott
Scott
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
To be honest I don't know for sure where the oil is coming from. I do have oil on top of the manifold in front of the distributor. I wraped a paper towel around the shaft today and I did not get oil on the manifold but did get some on the paper towel so I know some is coming from the dizzy shaft gasket. I also had a small puddle under the car dripping from the corner of the bell housing. To much to have come from the dizzy gasket with the paper towel around it. The plug by the dizzy is not leaking. It could be coming from the rear of the manifold, no gasket there, I used rtv and can see that it is squeezed out some. The engine was on a stand when we built it and it looked like it was sealed pretty good. I guess I will start with a process of elimination starting with the dizzy gasket, valve covers, and if that doesn't stop it I will try smearing a bead of rtv on the back of the intake after cleaning the oily residue off. I'll pull the intake as a last resort. Opinions !!!
The oil in the bellhousing could be coming from a leaking rear main seal, a leak in the rear oil pan gasket/bolts.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Hometown The best
I replaced the distributor gasket last night and the old one was somewhat distorted so I hope that is the problem. I'll take it for a drive later today and we'll see what happens. I have a plug in the oil sending unit location by the distributor as my sending unit is above the oil filter. If I still have a leak I'll try the spray on foot powder to locate it. Nice tip !!!
