Oil everywhere! Fuel pump?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 29
From: The Netherlands
Oil everywhere! Fuel pump?
After a bit of spicy driving on the highway (80, 90 mph) I was greeted by the smell of burnt oil and a puff of blueish smoke from under de front passenger fender.
A peek under the hood revealed quite a mess; the oil even managed to reach the hood!
Search revealed this may be caused by a defective fuel pump membrame and/or o-ring seal, which I think may very well be true.
It's not the front bolthole that can be used to hold the pushrod in place as far as I can see (it's bolted shut with sealant on the threads). The gaskets are fine too.
Questions
1) Besides removing and disassembling the pump, are there other ways to verify?
2) I have rather high oil pressure with the Melling HVHP pump I have installed. I borrowed a mechanical oil pressure gauge, but have yet to check the actual pressure: could high oil pressure have shortened my pump's life?
Pics:
A peek under the hood revealed quite a mess; the oil even managed to reach the hood!
Search revealed this may be caused by a defective fuel pump membrame and/or o-ring seal, which I think may very well be true.
It's not the front bolthole that can be used to hold the pushrod in place as far as I can see (it's bolted shut with sealant on the threads). The gaskets are fine too.
Questions
1) Besides removing and disassembling the pump, are there other ways to verify?
2) I have rather high oil pressure with the Melling HVHP pump I have installed. I borrowed a mechanical oil pressure gauge, but have yet to check the actual pressure: could high oil pressure have shortened my pump's life?
Pics:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
The little plate behind the fuel pump was leaking around the gasket on my car. I changed the pump, fuel line, and all gaskets. I still found oil on my fuel pump. Turns out my harmonic balancer had a groove in it where the timing cover seal rides. It was throwing oil directly towards the fuel pump. I pullled the balancer, installed a sleeve, and new timing cover seal. Every thing is clean and dry now.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
The fuel pump pushrod is splash oiled; no pressure. Oil splashes down the pushrod and is returned to the pan via a small passageway in the block below it. The bolt on the front of the block that you can see on your second photo goes to the fuel pump pushrod passage. When you change the pump, you can hold the pushrod in place by temporarily replacing that bolt with a longer bolt or piece of threaded rod. Hand tighten it only. After the pump is in place, replace the origional bolt with some pipe joint compound on the threads.
The timing chain cover oil seal is known to be a leak issue with high milage Chevy smallblocks. That's why the repair sleeve is available.
The timing chain cover oil seal is known to be a leak issue with high milage Chevy smallblocks. That's why the repair sleeve is available.
Last edited by gcusmano74; Jun 3, 2013 at 09:46 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Another place to look is the front crank seal, especially if you have an aftermarket (chrome) timing cover.
Haven't seen one in a while but they used to have those seals come loose (sometimes right out but that's a different set of problems) and leak out there, then the fan blows it everywhere
Pretty tuff to see in there but it's worth a look
M
Haven't seen one in a while but they used to have those seals come loose (sometimes right out but that's a different set of problems) and leak out there, then the fan blows it everywhere
Pretty tuff to see in there but it's worth a look
M
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 29
From: The Netherlands
Thanks for the quick replies guys! I'll look into that soon. Other ideas and suggestions still welcome!
Oh, I should add: it's all relatively new as I built this stroker myself 1,5 year ago (5k miles on it). It reused my original waterpump and fuelpump though.
Timingcover is aluminum, yet a no-name Summit model.
Oh, I should add: it's all relatively new as I built this stroker myself 1,5 year ago (5k miles on it). It reused my original waterpump and fuelpump though.
Timingcover is aluminum, yet a no-name Summit model.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 259
Likes: 5
From: Valrico Florida
On the back/left hand side of your pump there are 2 holes that vent the diaphragm of the pump. When this starts to leak you will get 1 of 2 problems It will leak oil or gas. This happened to me with a Barry Grant 6 shooter pump. I was lucky and got oil instead of gas. Looked like a Nascar had blown a motor @ 70 mph and very messy.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 29
From: The Netherlands
Haven't throw anything on it, except for some brakecleaner just now 
Only to find out that Mooser is right: the front crank seal has popped right out!
So... I suppose there's no easy fix for this one? Say I remove fan, shroud, radiator, etc. and of course the balancer; how do I make sure the (new) seal stays put?
Only to find out that Mooser is right: the front crank seal has popped right out!
So... I suppose there's no easy fix for this one? Say I remove fan, shroud, radiator, etc. and of course the balancer; how do I make sure the (new) seal stays put?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 29
From: The Netherlands