Oil leak - Easy clean sump tank?
I've been unsuccessfully chasing an oil leak in my Crossflow powered '72 Mallock 11b for quite some time. The short version is I finally took the car to someone who pulled the engine, found a pin hole in the steel pan and a fitting mismatch, resealed the pan (way better than I had), and thought I was all good. No leaks when just starting and running - which was true before I had this work done. First race and it's leaking like a sieve - again. But, no oil on the back of the flywheel, no drip line from the main seal area.
I've pulled the engine again, and decided that maybe it's a line leak, or a fitting leak, or the dry sump tank, which is placed behind the engine right in front of the firewall.
The tank is a two piece easy clean. My question is, how tight should the clamp be (I know, tight enough so it doesn't leak :))? Sometimes over tightening can create a leak. I've ordered a new o-ring.
Thanks.
Steve
It was leaking everywhere!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mont7
Offcamber - Interesting. When it wasn't scavenging, was there a particular place it was leaking due to the high pressure in the sump? I haven't had any oil in my overflow tank, which is coming off the valve cover.
And you checked it by measuring clearances, and visually? It's a front mount pump, FWIW.
And I mean Everywhere! So the motor was rebuilt several times, checking end gaps on the rings, valve guides, and so forth. It was really frustrating. I bought a new Titan cast pan (that wasn't it), a new cast rocker cover, tried multiple gasket kits. Front seals was definitely a weak point. I chased the problem for several years, but in fairness, it was not a pro built motor, one I put together myself. If Exxon wasn't my sponsor, then GUNK engine cleaner should have been!
When I thought about it, prior to the problem I had holed a piston going down the main straight at IRP and could not get safely parked until after turn 5, so I must have run a bunch of shards from the piston through the rest of the motor. IN retrospect, the problem made sense, but the oil pressure was always great so, what could be wrong, right?
When I pulled the pump apart the scavenge side was very obviously scored and the clearances where way, way beyond spec. If it is junk you'll know it. Front pumps are getting scarce if I'm not mistaken. I hope yours is ok and it is something else, but it is worth a look for sure.
Kip