The Ford Barn

Old Henry · 10-19-2013, 08:08 PM

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 · 10-19-2013, 08:21 PM

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 · 10-19-2013, 08:28 PM

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

JM 35 Sedan · 10-19-2013, 08:34 PM

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 · 10-19-2013, 08:35 PM

41Ford1 has it covered for you

Old Henry · 10-19-2013, 08:52 PM

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Quote:

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?

JM 35 Sedan · 10-19-2013, 09:05 PM

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 · 10-19-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

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 · 10-19-2013, 11:29 PM

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.

.

ken ct · 10-20-2013, 12:25 AM

Quote:

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 · 10-20-2013, 12:36 AM

Quote:

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.

Old Henry · 10-20-2013, 12:41 AM

Quote:

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 · 10-20-2013, 09:20 AM

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 · 10-23-2013, 02:19 PM

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..

Old Henry · 10-23-2013, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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..

Thanks for your concern. Haven't put it in the air to see where the oil is coming from yet. Got some bigger fish to fry right now. Hope to do it soon. Still drive it daily though. Just watch the oil.

42merc · 10-23-2013, 06:40 PM

Also, the distributor hold down bolts could have worked loose. Lots of oil comes out there.

Old Henry · 10-23-2013, 07:26 PM

Will check that too.

Thanks.

Tinker · 10-23-2013, 07:50 PM

Possibilities have been covered.

On the bright side your chassis is now rust proof!

41ford1 · 10-23-2013, 08:12 PM

Quote:

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.

V8COOPMAN · 10-23-2013, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinker

Possibilities have been covered.

On the bright side your chassis is now rust proof!

Seems a bit late for that "rust proof" part, according to this pic that henry posted a while back. DD

10-19-2013, 08:08 PM	#1
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,762	59A oil leak 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. __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness Last edited by Old Henry; 10-28-2013 at 11:56 PM.*

10-19-2013, 08:21 PM	#2
41ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ManchVegas, New Hampshah Posts: 1,589	Re: 59A oil leak 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. __________________ You are never to old to enjoy your childhood. Forty1fordpickup on the HAMB.

10-19-2013, 08:28 PM	#3
37 Coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,835	Re: 59A oil leak 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 __________________ "Never complain,never explain"... Henry Ford II

10-19-2013, 08:34 PM	#4
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: 59A oil leak 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? __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

10-19-2013, 08:35 PM	#5
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: 59A oil leak 41Ford1 has it covered for you

10-19-2013, 09:05 PM	#7
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: 59A oil leak 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.

10-19-2013, 11:29 PM	#9
Lanny Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mn Posts: 2,411	Re: 59A oil leak 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. . __________________ If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. But if daddy ain't happy...RUN

10-20-2013, 09:20 AM	#13
moonshine runner Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Webb City, Missouri Posts: 349	Re: 59A oil leak 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

10-23-2013, 02:19 PM	#14
Mtn Wudy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Montrose,CO Posts: 227	Re: 59A oil leak 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.. __________________ Whether you think that you can,or that you can't,you are usually right....H.Ford

10-23-2013, 06:40 PM	#16
42merc Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Buchanan, MI Posts: 676	Re: 59A oil leak Also, the distributor hold down bolts could have worked loose. Lots of oil comes out there.

10-23-2013, 07:26 PM	#17
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,762	Re: 59A oil leak Will check that too. Thanks. __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” *Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness

10-23-2013, 07:50 PM	#18
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: 59A oil leak Possibilities have been covered. On the bright side your chassis is now rust proof!