59A oil leak

[Old Henry]

My 59A, which was rebuilt 7,000 miles ago, has just sprung some kind of serious oil leak on the front end of it. Front of oil pan is soaked as well as the whole underside and the bottom of everything to the rear of that. It's losing a quart about every 300 miles. (Drove that far on a joy ride today.)

What likely gave way and can it be fixed without removing the engine?

All ideas and suggestions will be appreciated.

[41ford1]

The list of likely causes:
Front seal leak.
Pan gasket leak.
Timing gear cover gasket leak.
Or
Blocked crankcase breather. Could cause oil to be pushed out the road draft.

[37 Coupe]

Also check the water pumps if they are the original type that require oil to the bushing. I had a lot of oil leak out of mine after engine rebuild with rebuilt pumps some issue with the oil seal or felt or something,Skip had oil leak issues with this on some pumps but he made it right and I was happy that it was not a front seal and an easy fix

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by 41ford1

The list of likely causes:
Front seal leak.
Pan gasket leak.
Timing gear cover gasket leak.
Or
Blocked crankcase breather. Could cause oil to be pushed out the road draft.

All good info.

So, which, if any, can be fixed without removing the engine and which can't?

[41ford1]

Originally Posted by Old Henry

All good info.

So, which, if any, can be fixed without removing the engine and which can't?

All can be addressed without pulling the engine. You might need to unbolt the front motor mounts and jack up the front of the engine to get the pan off. Only if you need to replace the pan gasket.

[JM 35 Sedan]

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Do you know what type of front crankshaft seal was used during the last rebuild? Two piece rope or a modern one piece lip seal?

[Kahuna]

41Ford1 has it covered for you

[JM 35 Sedan]

Also, It would be helpful to know exactly where that oil is leaking from. Have you tried looking under front of car while the engine is idling? If you decide to do this be careful. I don't mean to insult your intelligence, but it would be best to have the car on level ground, emergency brake on, wheels chocked, etc., while you do this.

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

Also, It would be helpful to know exactly where that oil is leaking from. Have you tried looking under front of car while the engine is idling? If you decide to do this be careful. I don't mean to insult your intelligence, but it would be best to have the car on level ground, emergency brake on, wheels chocked, etc., while you do this.

Good idea. I looked under there the best I could at a gas station on my road trip today but all I could tell is what I've said so far - that the front of the oil pan in soaked and the bottom of everything behind it. I would probably need to get the thing in the air to see more. I'm thinking all I could tell is whether it's coming from the timing cover or where the oil pan is supposed to seal to the block in front. Anything else to look for?

[Lanny]

Henry, you can get an oil leak detector additive (oil dye) from NAPA.
Make sure to clean the oil, that has already accumulted, off the engine.

Run the engine with the dye, and use a black light, and the oil leak
can be seen easily, as it shows up as a yellowish colored oil.








.

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by Lanny

Henry, you can get an oil leak detector additive (oil dye) from NAPA.
Make sure to clean the oil, that has already accumulted, off the engine.

Run the engine with the dye, and use a black light, and the oil leak
can be seen easily, as it shows up as a yellowish colored oil.

.

Thanks for the idea. If I can't see the leak without the dye and black light I'll get it and use it.

[G.M.]

Originally Posted by Old Henry

Thanks for the idea. If I can't see the leak without the dye and black light I'll get it and use it.

Mr. Guessbert the first thing you have to do is clean the mess real good so you can see the leak. If it was a water pump it would be slung all over the inner fenders although if the water pump gasket to block was loose or damaged at the oil hole it could leak. You can change the pan or timing gaskets without removing the engine. Sounds like you need a good mechanic. G.M.

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by G.M.

Mr. Guessbert the first thing you have to do is clean the mess real good so you can see the leak. G.M.

Looks like you'll need to have your mother read #22 to you again for description of my diagnostic process. You weren't listening the first time. I don't think even you could have done any better to diagnose the problem and source of the leak.

Originally Posted by G.M.

Sounds like you need a good mechanic. G.M.

If I could find a good mechanic to keep my car on the road I would pay him to do it in a heart beat. Any that I've let try though have messed it up even worse than I do. I much prefer driving to fixing but have to fix to drive so I do it with the help of the kind and knowledgeable folks here on the barn. OK, some are knowledgeable even if unkind. I listen to them too although it's a lot harder.

If you have a "good mechanic" in mind convenient to my location let me know. Or, was that just a snide remark not really meant to suggest that you might be helpful in some way.

[Old Henry]

I apologize to V8COOPMAN (and any others that might be offended) for this report of my repair contrary to his very valuable advice to fix it right but I didn't have time to pull the pan to fix this problem the right and best way as he instructed (much appreciated) before I went on my road trip so I just used 2 part 5 minute hobby epoxy to glue the fitting in place.



Worked just fine on the 641 mile trip with 30+ miles on washboard off road, the ultimate test of strength and solidarity of all connections. Fitting stayed solid without any leak. I expect that it will continue solid until I have to remove the pan for some other reason at which time I will definitely fix it right. (Shine in photo is epoxy, not oil. Yellow is the Rector-Seal I tried first.)

Sometimes the "wrong" but easier way works out OK (if you're lucky).

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by G.M.

Mr. Guessbert the first thing you have to do is clean the mess real good so you can see the leak. If it was a water pump it would be slung all over the inner fenders although if the water pump gasket to block was loose or damaged at the oil hole it could leak. You can change the pan or timing gaskets without removing the engine. Sounds like you need a good mechanic. G.M.

Henry, Don't mind old George. He must have been having another of his frequent bad days.

George, If you drove your car(s) as much as Henry, you'd show some respect.
On second thought, why would I think that?

[G.M.]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Henry, Don't mind old George. He must have been having another of his frequent bad days.

George, If you drove your car(s) as much as Henry, you'd show some respect.
On second thought, why would I think that?

I only put 130,000 on my 39 convertible plus over 100,000 on my other old Fords in the past 32 years. I have driven many 1,200 mile trips in 2 days in the 39 and several others. You don't see me with all these problems. In fact I have had very few minor problems on any of my old Fords.other than with this new gas. I live where it's 90 or more most of the year and this fuel problem shows up more in heat. Do it right the first time and these engines will run trouble free for years we have better oil today than in the 30's, 40's and 50's. No sludge. G.M.

[ken ct]

Originally Posted by Old Henry

My 59A, which was rebuilt 12,000 miles ago, has just sprung some kind of serious oil leak on the front end of it. Front of oil pan is soaked as well as the whole underside and the bottom of everything to the rear of that. It's losing a quart about every 300 miles. (Drove that far on a joy ride today.)

What likely gave way and can it be fixed without removing the engine?

All ideas and suggestions will be appreciated.

Boy are you having a run of bad luck. All of the above are possible. Good luck, ken ct.

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by ken ct

Boy are you having a run of bad luck. All of the above are possible. Good luck, ken ct.

I guess it kinda goes with the territory when I drive my car as much as I do (1,500 miles in the past week). Won't stop me from drivin' though. I'll just keep dumping the oil in until I decide what to do to fix it. I'm not sure it's much different than when the car was new 65 years ago. It was only guaranteed for 90 days. My last rebuild lasted just slightly more than that. I expect Ford made a lot of money on their repair garages.

[moonshine runner]

Wow Prof. Henry, I hope you can figure out where it's coming from. As one of the guys mentioned, if possible, wash off the front of the engine, or use Purple Power in a spray bottle (I like this for cleaning my farm tractors when I need to wash off grease), and then it should be easier to tell where your leak is coming from.

Let us know what you find out.

Kevin

[Mtn Wudy]

So,,We are all waiting......
Where is your leak,and have you fixed it ??? We wouldn't want a little oil to "Ground" all your adventures...Signed : Wondering..