Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-31-2019, 11:57 AM   #1
Bill S
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: H.B. So. Calif
Posts: 411
Default Oil leak from drain plug

On a 1950 Ford. I have a oil leak from the drain plug. I have used a crush washer. Still leaked. I also annealed a washer. Did not fix the problem. Do not know if the problem is the plug or the pan. Any ideas how I can fix the problem?
Bill S is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2019, 12:41 PM   #2
A bones
Senior Member
 
A bones's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CLAYTON DE
Posts: 1,280
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

It would seem to be the pan. Any objection to trying gasket sealer?
__________________
Enjoy yer day. Tom
Hate can't fix what it started.
A bones is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 07-31-2019, 01:04 PM   #3
19Fordy
Senior Member
 
19Fordy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Coral Springs FL
Posts: 10,872
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Wrap a piece of soft 1/16th in dia. solder around the drain plug just underneath the hex head where plug contacts the oil pan and then tighten it up. The idea is that the solder will crush and seal at same time. Or make a leather washer out of an old belt and use it to serve the same purpose. Must use leather. Add some non hardening gasket sealant or shellac to washer for extra good seal.
19Fordy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2019, 04:33 PM   #4
drolston
Senior Member
 
drolston's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Posts: 1,622
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

#2 (non-hardening) Permatex.
drolston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2019, 05:00 PM   #5
Jack E/NJ
Senior Member
 
Jack E/NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,171
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Assuming you're running the engine, it may be one of those 'sneaky leaks ' . Actually coming from someplace else with oil wicking/adhering to the pan's surface on down to the drain plug. Thoroughly clean a wide area around the drain plug so it's relatively dry. Then see if these surface areas get wet before the plug starts dripping. Jack E/NJ
Jack E/NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2019, 09:58 PM   #6
Tinker
Senior Member
 
Tinker's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: MN
Posts: 7,053
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Use a bit of pipe tape on the last few threads. If that bothers you could try a felt/cork gasket with your crush washer. Think some did use a cork. You can buy cork gasket sheets from napa and make them.


Maybe first; Indian head should stay soft for a longtime or anti-seize. won't hurt anything. Old cars really leak a tad of oil, whether we admit it or not. A drop or too is fine, a quart is not good.
.
Tinker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2019, 11:47 PM   #7
Liam
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Quote:
Originally Posted by 19Fordy View Post
Wrap a piece of soft 1/16th in dia. solder around the drain plug just underneath the hex head where plug contacts the oil pan and then tighten it up. The idea is that the solder will crush and seal at same time. Or make a leather washer out of an old belt and use it to serve the same purpose. Must use leather. Add some non hardening gasket sealant or shellac to washer for extra good seal.
I wanted to write like that. This should help.
Liam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2019, 12:07 AM   #8
Tinker
Senior Member
 
Tinker's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: MN
Posts: 7,053
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Never heard of a leather gasket. Ever. New to me but... what do I know. Whatever works, works. cork works well. Threads are probably worn a bit.

Last edited by Tinker; 08-01-2019 at 12:15 AM.
Tinker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2019, 09:23 AM   #9
expavr
Senior Member
 
expavr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Hansville, WA
Posts: 776
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

As Tinker suggests I would try applying “never seize” to the threads and see if that doesn’t help. The petcock drain on my radiator had an annoying water leak around the threads and I applied “never seize” to the threaded shaft which stopped the leak completely.
expavr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2019, 10:11 AM   #10
Anteek29
Senior Member
 
Anteek29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Santa Maria, CA
Posts: 984
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

I'd try an "O" ring.
__________________
Alan
1929 Special Coupe
1941 Pick-Up
1955 Victoria
Anteek29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2019, 11:50 AM   #11
tiger.1000
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Hertford (UK)
Posts: 905
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Conventional rubber "O" ring unlikely to work. Leather washer a good idea.Ditto, PERMATEX.
tiger.1000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2019, 12:34 PM   #12
philipswanson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Bonita, CA
Posts: 1,374
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

I would wrap it with some Teflon tape in the right direction. Pull it tight when wrapping. Do it on your next oil change. If it still leaks, go to an oversize self taping plug available at Napa for sure.
philipswanson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2019, 01:26 PM   #13
3twinridges
Senior Member
 
3twinridges's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 541
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Permatex aviation on threads is your friend. Let it cure before you add oil.

JB
3twinridges is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 04:44 PM   #14
Bill S
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: H.B. So. Calif
Posts: 411
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Thanks guys. i'll waite until the car is ready for the next oil change to try some of the things.
Bill S is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2019, 06:11 PM   #15
pete rose
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: langley bc canada
Posts: 21
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Quote:
Originally Posted by 19Fordy View Post
Wrap a piece of soft 1/16th in dia. solder around the drain plug just underneath the hex head where plug contacts the oil pan and then tighten it up. The idea is that the solder will crush and seal at same time. Or make a leather washer out of an old belt and use it to serve the same purpose. Must use leather. Add some non hardening gasket sealant or shellac to washer for extra good seal.


Hi 19Fordy
I've got a similar problem with a 59A with the big plug ( approx. 1 1/2 in ) and have tried several compound gaskets and even put some permatex on the last attempt to stop the leak. With permatex better but still seaping.Your solder idea sounds good and I'll give that a try next oil change, but I'm curious about the leather gasket comment.
Does a leather home made gasket work any differently that the compound gaskets I have been using from Mac's. Can you give me your experience with leather. It sounds like a real simple fix, but I don't want to try it only to have to drain oil out again to try the next fix. Would like to weigh the solder vs leather idea so please give me your guidance as to which to try first. Thanks for any help offered
Pete
pete rose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2019, 06:20 PM   #16
3twinridges
Senior Member
 
3twinridges's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 541
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Another thing to try is plating the plug, to add some material on the threads and create a tighter fit. Like nickel or copy cad....

JB
3twinridges is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2019, 06:41 PM   #17
GOSFAST
Senior Member
 
GOSFAST's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,052
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Can't give any other suggestions here with respect to the OP's drain plug issue, most have been covered above.

But for anyone interested in a real nice fix for these drain plugs if the engine is being built and/or the pan is off the unit we just devised a really nice method for a permanent repair and one that will eliminate all those extra large drain plugs.

Our fix is accomplished with a "bushing" welded on the outside where those OEM plugs sit. The bushing fits the existing threaded hole and is simply welded around the outer edge to the pan.

This is an all new area for us and it only happened this week due to necessity. I have 2 custimers who want to get rid of that large plug. The fix allows the use of a typical Chevy drain plug, 1/2-20 thread and 9/16" socket size.

(Add photo) Here's a shot of the finished welded plug mod on the 8BA pan, this one uses the same thread size, a 1/2-20 Chevy, but with a magnetic plug and a 3/4" wrench size. It is the same plugs found on the Moroso race pans for the G.M. line.

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. I'm in the process this week of running off a few extra bushings for stock. We will most likely do all the pans with this method from here on forward! Here's a shot of the very first one waiting to be welded. It's just a real neat setup and pretty much guaranteed leak-proof for the most part.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Flathead Oil Pan Drain Plug Fix.jpg (55.7 KB, 45 views)
File Type: jpg Flathead Oil Pan-8BA Drain Plug Fix B.jpg (79.4 KB, 7 views)

Last edited by GOSFAST; 08-09-2019 at 06:24 PM.
GOSFAST is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2019, 08:22 PM   #18
paul2748
Senior Member
 
paul2748's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Midland Park, NJ
Posts: 3,965
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Many newer drain plugs use a plastic/neophrene washer for sealing. Maybe you can find one for the big Ford size.
__________________
48 Ford Conv
56 Tbird
54 Ford Victoria
paul2748 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2019, 10:45 PM   #19
Bill S
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: H.B. So. Calif
Posts: 411
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Seems to me some place back in time I read that the washers were made of lead. So solder may be the thing. Make a ring of solder and solder the ends together.
Bill S is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2019, 10:51 PM   #20
Tinker
Senior Member
 
Tinker's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: MN
Posts: 7,053
Default Re: Oil leak from drain plug

Not to discourage creativity. Never a lead ring for stock cars. Copper crush yes for most all. Napa sells bulk gasket material. Cork will weather gas and other. decent fix anyway. Never-seize is some great stuff. Never had too much problem here though....


If we are talking about the same thing.

Last edited by Tinker; 08-08-2019 at 10:57 PM.
Tinker is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:01 AM.