The Ford Barn

jbc · 03-19-2013, 07:52 PM

Gentelmen I need help.
I have an oil leak from the rear main seal, anyway, I think that's where it's coming from. I'm using 50 weight oil hoping that would help, but there are 6 or 8 drops per minute dripping off the cotter pin. I guess my questions for this group are, is there a way to stop the leak without pulling the motor, or if I have to pull the motor, can I easly remove the front clip on a 40 Ford to give me better access? I show the car and I don't want to screw up the paint. Last question, does any one know of someone in the Ocala FL area that can look over my shoulder. I haven't played with flatheads since I was in the Air Force. That was a long time ago, I just turned 80.
Thanks
352 208 6359

Vic Piano · 03-19-2013, 08:06 PM

I'd give Don Garlits (museum) a call, Don knows & loves Flatheads and I'm sure he could get you in contact with people in Ocala that could give you a hand. Rear seal leaks are not uncommon in Flatheads, as a matter of fact, most of them like to leave a mark on pavement where they have been. If the Flathead is an older rebuild you could add a can of Restorer when you change the oil (I’d recommend a 20/50 oil). Happy Birthday!

usered · 03-19-2013, 08:06 PM

Check out "oil leak" thread there were alot of good ideas posted there for similar problem.

Ken/Alabama · 03-19-2013, 09:23 PM

If your engine is in fact a 40 engine it doesnt have a seal in the rear but a slinger. Some of the causes could be oil leaking at the oil pump idler cover, oil leaking past the cork strip that seals the rear of the oil pan against the rear main cap,oil could be leaking by the rear main bearing if it has too much clearance. If it comes to pulling the engine ,I wouldnt pull any sheetmetal,I removed mine in my 40 without removing the hood.

VeryTangled · 03-19-2013, 09:28 PM

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...light=oil+leak

TomT/Williamsburg · 03-20-2013, 07:18 AM

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Let's hope the advice given will halt the leak - I've been down this road several times myself and it's not fun. My last leaker (and it was major) turned out to be that the crank mains were out-of-spec. Let's hope that is not the case here ....

deuce5wndw · 03-20-2013, 10:56 AM

I ran into that on my 40 and it turns out in the rebuild in 1970 someone had modified the pressure relief valve to have more pressure (it will peg the hand idling) Not having a rear main seal it forces it out the rear. Maybe that is your problem. Dale

jbc · 03-20-2013, 09:44 PM

I got a lot of information and referinces on my oil leak on my 40 Ford. Thank you all. I had a second question, can I remove the front clip with out to much trouble in order to get better access to the motor? I assume it will come of in one piece, fenders, inter fenders, and grill as in later Fords and Mercury.
Thank again for all your help.
John

JWL · 03-21-2013, 05:46 AM

Some good suggestions here. First, I would suggest being really certain where the leak originates before taking action. Second I would get rid of the 50 wt. oil as it is more likely to "rope" around the crank rather than allowing the slinger system to function. Third, if the trouble is associated to worn main bearings it might be possible to solve the problem without removing the engine. Fourth, removing and handling the front clip is not "simple" and re-alignment can be a challenge even though "it all came off that way". I have never removed a 40 engine without removing the hood but you have heard here that it can be done, so perhaps that is an option if engine removal is necessary.

Vic Piano · 03-21-2013, 06:24 AM

Removing and reinstalling the front "clip" is not that difficult, as long as you have some additional help. Three of us removed the front clip on our '39 CS (we left the hood on), when we swapped Flatheads.

flatjack9 · 03-21-2013, 09:08 AM

Be certain that the leak is originating from the drip hole. I have seen pressure senders that will leak and drip down from above. Also be sure you are not overfilling the crankcase.

Charlie ny · 03-21-2013, 09:43 AM

jbc,
I've had to remove and reinstall the motor in my '41 1/2 ton too many
times and never touched the clip, just the hood. Things went back together real nice
since I did not mess with the hinge location.
The source of one of my leaks was the drain back tube on the rear cap,
it had fallen off and found a new home in the bottom of the oil pan. Had I thought
of that as a possibility I could have removed the oil pan with the motor in place
and repaired it. I sure like the idea of too much oil pressure as well. 5 psi at idle
is all a stock Flathead needs and it's happy with 25 psi goin' down the road.
Not to drag this out, which I always do, be sure the bottom of the pan is
relatively dry. Capillary action can keep oil that is leaking from the front seal attached
to the pan until the oil reaches an edge like the cotter hole at which time it
collects enough weight to form drips.
Charlie ny

Brendan · 03-21-2013, 09:59 AM

do you have to much oil in the motor?

03-19-2013, 07:52 PM	#1
jbc Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: ocala fl Posts: 160	Oil leak in my 40 Gentelmen I need help. I have an oil leak from the rear main seal, anyway, I think that's where it's coming from. I'm using 50 weight oil hoping that would help, but there are 6 or 8 drops per minute dripping off the cotter pin. I guess my questions for this group are, is there a way to stop the leak without pulling the motor, or if I have to pull the motor, can I easly remove the front clip on a 40 Ford to give me better access? I show the car and I don't want to screw up the paint. Last question, does any one know of someone in the Ocala FL area that can look over my shoulder. I haven't played with flatheads since I was in the Air Force. That was a long time ago, I just turned 80. Thanks 352 208 6359

03-19-2013, 08:06 PM	#2
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Oil leak in my 40 I'd give Don Garlits (museum) a call, Don knows & loves Flatheads and I'm sure he could get you in contact with people in Ocala that could give you a hand. Rear seal leaks are not uncommon in Flatheads, as a matter of fact, most of them like to leave a mark on pavement where they have been. If the Flathead is an older rebuild you could add a can of Restorer when you change the oil (I’d recommend a 20/50 oil). Happy Birthday! __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

03-19-2013, 08:06 PM	#3
usered Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South Carolina Posts: 240	Re: Oil leak in my 40 Check out "oil leak" thread there were alot of good ideas posted there for similar problem.

03-19-2013, 09:23 PM	#4
Ken/Alabama Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,257	Re: Oil leak in my 40 If your engine is in fact a 40 engine it doesnt have a seal in the rear but a slinger. Some of the causes could be oil leaking at the oil pump idler cover, oil leaking past the cork strip that seals the rear of the oil pan against the rear main cap,oil could be leaking by the rear main bearing if it has too much clearance. If it comes to pulling the engine ,I wouldnt pull any sheetmetal,I removed mine in my 40 without removing the hood.

03-19-2013, 09:28 PM	#5
VeryTangled Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC Posts: 3,387	Re: Oil leak in my 40 https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...light=oil+leak

03-20-2013, 07:18 AM	#6
TomT/Williamsburg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 2,654	Re: Oil leak in my 40 Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Let's hope the advice given will halt the leak - I've been down this road several times myself and it's not fun. My last leaker (and it was major) turned out to be that the crank mains were out-of-spec. Let's hope that is not the case here ....

03-20-2013, 10:56 AM	#7
deuce5wndw Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Liberty, KY Posts: 899	Re: Oil leak in my 40 I ran into that on my 40 and it turns out in the rebuild in 1970 someone had modified the pressure relief valve to have more pressure (it will peg the hand idling) Not having a rear main seal it forces it out the rear. Maybe that is your problem. Dale

03-20-2013, 09:44 PM	#8
jbc Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: ocala fl Posts: 160	Re: Oil leak in my 40 I got a lot of information and referinces on my oil leak on my 40 Ford. Thank you all. I had a second question, can I remove the front clip with out to much trouble in order to get better access to the motor? I assume it will come of in one piece, fenders, inter fenders, and grill as in later Fords and Mercury. Thank again for all your help. John

03-21-2013, 05:46 AM	#9
JWL Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fitzgerald, Georgia Posts: 2,204	Re: Oil leak in my 40 Some good suggestions here. First, I would suggest being really certain where the leak originates before taking action. Second I would get rid of the 50 wt. oil as it is more likely to "rope" around the crank rather than allowing the slinger system to function. Third, if the trouble is associated to worn main bearings it might be possible to solve the problem without removing the engine. Fourth, removing and handling the front clip is not "simple" and re-alignment can be a challenge even though "it all came off that way". I have never removed a 40 engine without removing the hood but you have heard here that it can be done, so perhaps that is an option if engine removal is necessary.

03-21-2013, 06:24 AM	#10
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Oil leak in my 40 Removing and reinstalling the front "clip" is not that difficult, as long as you have some additional help. Three of us removed the front clip on our '39 CS (we left the hood on), when we swapped Flatheads. __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

03-21-2013, 09:08 AM	#11
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: Oil leak in my 40 Be certain that the leak is originating from the drip hole. I have seen pressure senders that will leak and drip down from above. Also be sure you are not overfilling the crankcase.

03-21-2013, 09:43 AM	#12
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: Oil leak in my 40 jbc, I've had to remove and reinstall the motor in my '41 1/2 ton too many times and never touched the clip, just the hood. Things went back together real nice since I did not mess with the hinge location. The source of one of my leaks was the drain back tube on the rear cap, it had fallen off and found a new home in the bottom of the oil pan. Had I thought of that as a possibility I could have removed the oil pan with the motor in place and repaired it. I sure like the idea of too much oil pressure as well. 5 psi at idle is all a stock Flathead needs and it's happy with 25 psi goin' down the road. Not to drag this out, which I always do, be sure the bottom of the pan is relatively dry. Capillary action can keep oil that is leaking from the front seal attached to the pan until the oil reaches an edge like the cotter hole at which time it collects enough weight to form drips. Charlie ny

03-21-2013, 09:59 AM	#13
Brendan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: At my kitchen table in Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 2,903	Re: Oil leak in my 40 do you have to much oil in the motor? __________________ If it would have been a snake it would have bit ya! i can't spell my way out of a paper bag!