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Old 03-13-2012, 05:38 AM   #1
Pat Martone
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Default Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

I am trying to determine why, when my engine is running, engine oil is leaking out of the rear driver side, cylinder head stud/nut. Oil is slowly oozing out between the stud itself and the nut. This has been occurring for quite a while, as the tell-tale signs are there with the rear of the engine from the cylinder head down being wet from the oil dripping from that stud/nut.
There are no other engine issues that I am aware of.
Should I be worried about this?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you.
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Old 03-13-2012, 06:14 AM   #2
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

Right now, it's just a nuisance, it won't heal itself.
Replace the head gasket.
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Old 03-13-2012, 06:35 AM   #3
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Default Curious...

How can oil even make it to a stud hole or to the head or head gasket unless the engine block is compromised? All the oil galleys and pipelines are in the lower half of the block. The upper block is water galleys with the exception of the distributor hole on the passenger side.

What might I be missing?

Thanks in advance
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Old 03-13-2012, 07:02 AM   #4
BRENT in 10-uh-C
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

I would venture a guess it is mixed carbon & combustion gasses that are leaking. As mentioned above, the headgasket is likely leaking. For me, I would do more investigation as I would suspect that cylinder is running extremely "rich" where the plug is fouled and that cylinder is making little or no horsepower. The next thing one needs to determine is whether the deck of the block and/or the head is level too. To fix it correctly may involve more than just R&R-ing a headgasket.

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Old 03-13-2012, 07:06 AM   #5
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

I had the same problem but it was definetly coolant when I added antifreeze it really showed up. New headgasket should fix it.
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Old 03-13-2012, 07:13 AM   #6
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

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I am with Brent on this one. I would suspect either the head or the block is compeomised at the rear right corner. If so the head gasket replacement is only a temproary fix - it will reapear. Check everything out once the head is off. ken
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Old 03-13-2012, 07:22 AM   #7
Pat Martone
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

It is definately black-colored oil coming out of that number 10 stud/nut when the engine is running.
There are no other head gasket leaks or weeps that can be seen around the cylinder head.
I have been told by a Model A friend that drove the car for me that it has plenty of power and it sounds very good, but he did notice lots of carbon build-up on the spark plugs and also carbon build-up when peering into the cylinder chambers. All four spark plugs and cylinder chambers looked the same. Although the engine doesn't smoke through the exhaust while it's running, we do see some dry carbon deposits on the floor under the tailpipe on the garage floor.
I was hoping that the previous owner was running the fuel mixture too rich and that was the reason for the carbon build-up in the combustion chambers.
I certainly hope the engine block has not been compromised, as one person has suggested.
What would you recommend as a course of action?
Thank you.
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Old 03-13-2012, 07:39 AM   #8
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

Could be water mixing with the carbon and pushing out and the Head is hot so the water would evaporate as it comes out making it thicker like oil?
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Old 03-13-2012, 07:54 AM   #9
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

run a compression test before you disassemble
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Old 03-13-2012, 08:28 AM   #10
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

1. About the carbon on the floor. In my experience it is common for water to condense in the muffler, mix with the carbon from the rich mixture while the GAV is opened up and for the mixture to drop out the tailpipe. This happens in the first couple of minutes after start up, in cold weather, while muffler is cold and is not a problem. If the engine is run for short times and never gets hot enough, more water will collect in the muffler.

Now if the dripping continues after the muffler is hot then that is another problem.

Modern cars would do the same except that they warm up much faster and have tighter control of the mixture than the Model A.

2. If you can collect enough of the black liquid (from the stud area) it might be worth it to send it to one of those labs that test motor oil (the labs usually say how much they require to run tests). They could tell you whether it is oil or anti freeze so you know more about where to look for the problem before taking anything apart.







Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Martone View Post
It is definately black-colored oil coming out of that number 10 stud/nut when the engine is running.
There are no other head gasket leaks or weeps that can be seen around the cylinder head.
I have been told by a Model A friend that drove the car for me that it has plenty of power and it sounds very good, but he did notice lots of carbon build-up on the spark plugs and also carbon build-up when peering into the cylinder chambers. All four spark plugs and cylinder chambers looked the same. Although the engine doesn't smoke through the exhaust while it's running, we do see some dry carbon deposits on the floor under the tailpipe on the garage floor.
I was hoping that the previous owner was running the fuel mixture too rich and that was the reason for the carbon build-up in the combustion chambers.
I certainly hope the engine block has not been compromised, as one person has suggested.
What would you recommend as a course of action?
Thank you.

Last edited by Benson; 03-13-2012 at 11:11 AM.
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Old 03-13-2012, 10:20 AM   #11
Pat Martone
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

Thank you for the replys.
Maybe I will get lucky and a new head gasket will fix the problem?
(I don't think I would handle it very well if the block has been compromised.)
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Old 03-13-2012, 10:31 AM   #12
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

Based on the responses to a thread of mine, I'd suggest carefully checking the head for warpage. Or bite the bullet and have a machine shop resurface it. And I would check the block to make sure the deck is flat. I understand not wanting either the head or block to be involved, but if one or both needs fixing, it will still need fixing if all that's done is to replace the gasket.
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Old 03-13-2012, 10:39 AM   #13
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

I am with Brent also. Worked on one with the same symptoms several years ago. Owner insisted on running it rich ("helps keep it cool") and was a habitual overuser of Marvel Mystery Oil. The leaking fluid was clearly carbon and condensed motor oil from cylinders 3 and 4 where several head gasket leaks were clearly evident. He had several loose studs (the leakers) and two with poorly fitting helicoils on which the installation tangs were never removed. Head gasket replacement fixed the motor but not the owner!
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Old 03-13-2012, 10:48 AM   #14
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

Carbon and water can make you think it is oil. I had a 46 flathead in a truck a few years ago and coming back from a show, it started blowing what I thought was oil out the driver side header. Replaced a few valve seals that I thought were the problem, re-ringed the motor, and still the same thing. Replaced the head gasket each time to no avail. I ended up giving up and sold it. Next owner called me up and said the head had cracked and it was not oil, it was a mixture of carbon and water.
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Old 03-13-2012, 11:19 AM   #15
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

All good replies...I just assumed that a block and head surface check would be part of every head gasket replacement, because that's how we do it, always.
In place of a compression check, we live by the cylinder leakage test. It not only will tell you that you have a problem, it will tell you what it is. Invalualble on the Porsches, and very handy on the rest!
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Old 03-13-2012, 01:32 PM   #16
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

Thank you again for informative the replies!

What is a leakage test and how do I do it?

It sounds like my first approach should be to re-torque the head nuts to 55lbs each, in the proper sequence and with the engine cold, to see if that fixes the problem, before jumping into cylinder head removal, etc.

Is that the correct first step?
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Old 03-13-2012, 06:34 PM   #17
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

Re-torqueing isn't going to cost you anything and might fix it. Nothing to lose.
Paul in CT
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Old 03-13-2012, 06:44 PM   #18
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Martone View Post
Thank you again for informative the replies!

What is a leakage test and how do I do it?

It sounds like my first approach should be to re-torque the head nuts to 55lbs each, in the proper sequence and with the engine cold, to see if that fixes the problem, before jumping into cylinder head removal, etc.

Is that the correct first step?

Re-torque it, add a coulpe cans of Bars Leaks and your good to go.
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Old 03-13-2012, 07:04 PM   #19
Pat Martone
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

Thanks again for all the advice.
What is a couple of cans of Bars Leaks?
What does that stuff do?
Where do I get it, and is it added to engine oil, gas tank, or cooling system.
Will this cure the symptoms or the problem?
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Old 03-13-2012, 07:35 PM   #20
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Default Re: Why is oil leaking out of a cylinder head stud/nut?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Martone View Post
Thanks again for all the advice.
What is a couple of cans of Bars Leaks?
What does that stuff do?
Where do I get it, and is it added to engine oil, gas tank, or cooling system.
Will this cure the symptoms or the problem?
Bars Leaks is a coolant stop-leak the you add to the cooling system. It will plug small coolant leaks though out the entire engine/cooling system. Bars Leaks is just a product name that I have used in the past with good sucess. Alumi-Seal is another good one. These stop-leak products are available at any auto parts stores (i.e. AutoZone, O'Rilleys, Advance Auto, NAPA, etc.). Just follow the directions on the can. Give it a shot, it just might work and save you some $$$$$ too.

Joe,,,
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