Help finding oil leak source 1985
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Help finding oil leak source 1985
I can't seem to find the source of an oil leak that seems to have recently started. After taking a drive I could smell a little smoke. After stopping I noticed a 4 inch wide oil spot on the drive way. There is oil all around the oil filter area and some is dripping from the trans pan cover. It is definately motor oil. I can't see behind the valve cover end, but they seem to be dry. I tightend them up a little to be sure. I think it seems to be coming from the top part of the motor where the filter is located?? What type of seal would be in there?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
IS there an engine oil cooler option?If so that seal could be bad,causing a bad leak there.Happened to me once.Its very similar to a oil filter seal and easy to replace.
Let us know if you think thats what it is...there are also UV dyes you can add to your oil and then use a black light to find where the leak is coming out of.If theres a leak,the color in the leak will glow under the black light.Most are a yellow color.Works wonders..I think autozone sells a kit.
Let us know if you think thats what it is...there are also UV dyes you can add to your oil and then use a black light to find where the leak is coming out of.If theres a leak,the color in the leak will glow under the black light.Most are a yellow color.Works wonders..I think autozone sells a kit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 1,352
Buy some engine oil dye or universal dye. You can buy it in a kit that will come with the dye and a black light " U.V. light and yellow U.V. enhancing glasses" this will make it easy to find. You pour the dye into the engine then run it. You use the light to find the leak. The dye will GLOW like crazy. Autozone sells it as well as good parts stores 
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 189
Likes: 2
From: Hinckley Ohio
Check the oil pressure sending units. They are located at the back of the motor near the distributor. I had one of mine rupture and it pumped out 2 qts of oil in about 4 miles. Lucky that I noticed the smoke off of the exhaust before I ran out of oil.
Pro
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Oslo, Norway
Hi I have an 85 with oilcooler. This is a unit sitting between the oilfilter and the engine block. I ahd the whole car oiled underneith the c which came from the exhaust.
It was a rubber ring or gasket between the oilcooler and the engine bloc. It was difficult to get. But it solved the problem having a new one
It was a rubber ring or gasket between the oilcooler and the engine bloc. It was difficult to get. But it solved the problem having a new one
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Still have the problem. Tightened down the valve covers and inspected with a mirror. No oil leaks. I had cleaned up the motor ran it and have the same problem. Motor oil dripping on the exhaust. Smoking at the stop lights. Is there anything above the oil filter that can cause this type of leak?
How do you know if you have an oil cooler? I only see some type of oil sensor above the filter location.
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How do you know if you have an oil cooler? I only see some type of oil sensor above the filter location.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
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From: Indianapolis IN
pull your distbutor cap and look to the right of hte distributor at the sender with the 2 prong fitting, mine leaked around the top of the sender
its a weird soccket size is all I remember, I can email you a pic of it if you like
pm me your email
its a weird soccket size is all I remember, I can email you a pic of it if you like
pm me your email
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Just finished replacing the oil pressure sender/switch as you suggested. I had to buy a special socket and it came out with no problem. I have small hands and was able to sqeeze enough space to get to it without having to remove the dist. cap. That fixed it. Just ran it for about five miles and came back to look at it. No more oil leaks
. Thanks for everyones help and LD for the picture. Made it real simple.
. Thanks for everyones help and LD for the picture. Made it real simple.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
From: North Bay Ontario
Since pearlvette seems to have found a fix to his problem, I'm hoping that you don't mind a little bit of a hijack. My oil pressure reading on my 85 is showing 80 psi at any rpms above an idle. Pretty sure it is a faulty oil pressure guage sending unit. I have a FSM and have tried to figure out which switch is my guage sending unit and which is the oil pressure switch that is integrated with the fuel pressure cut off. I'm seeing switchs in the catalogues with 1 blade, 2 blades and 3 blades. Anybody know which is which? Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Single blade. Looks like a small cannister. I had the exact same problem and a new sender fixed it.
Sensor on right. The other one is a oil pressure switch to provide backup power to the fuel pump.
Sensor on right. The other one is a oil pressure switch to provide backup power to the fuel pump.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Can high 80psi oil pressure readings affect anything else, like send any codes? I am trying to chase down a code 44 and have the same oil pressure readings you have. I know a code 44 is not related to the oil pressure, but just curious if a faulty oil seser affected anything else. Going to change out the oil sender later today.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 898
Likes: 1
From: Pearland Texas
Get some simple green, spray it behind the distributor area, let it soak. If you use a pump up garden sprayer it is easy to control water overspray when rinsing. Once it is really clean you can monitor the oil leakage, if it stays clean its fixed. Spray it underneath and get that oil of the undercarriage and exhaust, Good as new, smells good too.
