Question?
 

I have recently been gifted a beautiful 31 coupe. I am quickly learning how to care for cosmetics and "mechanicals" and will no doubt be posting many more times in the near and distant future - Hello All -

Got the horn, brake lights, battery, battery kill switch all on-line again. Small potatoes really. Lovingly waxed and buffed. (Brakes need a look next)

After I go for cruises I notice droplets of what appear to be oil on the drivers side lower fender at the running board. These droplets foul up the polished finish...

As far as i can tell this oil is coming from either the breather or the dip stick. Subsequently finding its way past the hood louvers...

Does anyone know if they make a rubber gasketed dipstick (or is this a job for the do it your-selfer??)...

Best to All

Darren / Boston, MA

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Darren, welcome to Fordbarn. Pretty car.

There really is no need for a gasket-ed dip stick. The engine crankcase does not use a vacuum to control oil, so there will always be minor seepage. You might also check the oil fill tube to verify the baffles are there and the oil droplets are not coming from that area. If so, a 'band-aid' remedy is to insert a kitchen pan scrub pad (Brillo pad) down into the oil filler and then insert the cap over this. This will stop the oil from being "slung out" past the cap.

Also check to ensure the oil level is not overfull in the pan. Removing the oil filler cap while the engine is running may also tell you if you have excessive blow-by from the piston rings. Let us know what you find and we'll walk you thru the process. Congrats on your new gift!!

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Okey dokey - thanks

I am concerned about blow by - runs good but as u are well aware can run fine with worn rings
i have nothing to compare my specimen to so this forum seems to be a very useful place!

I will pull a lug or two (they are two month old now but should tell a story too)...

Thanks again

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Also make sure your dip stick is all the way in.

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My son got home just after last exchange so had him help run various rpms and check for blow-by with me.

I was also surprised to find the oil level at 50%

(This time) i witnessed oil rising up and passing the dip stick - not excessive but certainly occuring.

I then went ahead and sealed off the breather and it really did not have an impact - curious? There is evidence of blow-by - I could feel the positive pressure pulse a bit.

Looks like Ill be in the market for compression tester in order to quantify how significant.

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A few years ago I came across a brand new A owner, he had his hood open and the firewall, engine, hood was very oily. I noticed that the dip stick was not installed all the way down. I showed him the problem and I installed the dip stick all the way down. The long part of the stick and the short part BOTH need to be in the engine block hole.

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pm sent

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pm sent

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Being as the model A doesn't have a real crankcase breather , A Fumaze should help reduce crankcase pressure .

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pm sent

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Just an illustration for Mr. Hammers post:


Charlie Stephens

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You have too much oil in the pan. A dip stick that hangs up on the tang will lead you to put too much oil in. Drain it and put in only 4 quarts.
Too much oil can make a big mess. Good luck.

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Welcome Darren

You have a great Model A club nearby, was a member for close to 30 years.
Minuteman Model A club. Google it they have a great website.
And I bet they have members in your area to help you.

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Some who have worn motors with blowby, put a snug fitting sock over the breather cap.


It is normal for a little pulse in and out of the cap. If you loosely tape a Walmart type bag over the breather tube it should pulse in and out, but not be blown off the tube.

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Welcome to the Barn.

Darren, your A is an identical color clone to mine except for whitewall tires.
(I just looked in my garage to make sure it didn't drive itself to Boston)

Guess I'll post a picture on my page..

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pm sent

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Compression check and leak down check will tell you a lot about your engine condition.
But don't freak about oil leaks...if they don't leak then you need to start worrying.
And welcome to the Barn, very nice car by the way.

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When I was a young boy I was told by the only guy I knew that had a model A, a model A don't leak they just mark their territory.

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Perfect ! lol

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Still learning to use this messaging board. Thanks to all for feedback so far it is appreciated.