Leaking oil from bellhousing

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by old31

I am curious. What does a steep slope have to do with oil leaks? What would cause this?

I ask because I have a very steep driveway and leaks.

The oil will move to the rear of the pan while going up a steep ramp or hill. It can then reach a level high enough to leak past the rear bearing and through the drain tube, and since a slinger is used instead of a seal, the oil goes out the engine. This is why farm grain trucks have a ball check valve in the drain tube.

[kenparker]

The why it leaks and how to fix it have been covered above. This post is about nomenclature. The large round thingee - about 16" diameter aand 4 " thick- immediately behind the block is the Flywheel Cover. Flywheel cover has the large cotter pin in its bottom and helps keep dirt dobbers out. The next large piece connects the Flywheel Cover to the transmission is called the Bell Housing. Bell Housing has the Wishbone connected to it at the bottom.

Oil leaks thru the rear main usually come out the hole in the bottom of the Flywheel cover. A tiny bit of oil is supposed to get by the spinning flywheel and keep the wishbone ball and its springs oiled.

Tiny tidbits for the newbies. ken

Flywheel Covee houses the 14" diameter 65# flywheel. Bell housing houses the Clutch and Throuout Hub and bearing.

[old31]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

The oil will move to the rear of the pan while going up a steep ramp or hill. It can then reach a level high enough to leak past the rear bearing and through the drain tube, and since a slinger is used instead of a seal, the oil goes out the engine. This is why farm grain trucks have a ball check valve in the drain tube.

OK Thanks.

So the fix is to drive up my driveway BACKWARDS. Boy am I smert.

[J Franklin]

In the days before the EPA, political correctness, and paved roads Nobody cared that they lost a bit of oil on the ground, it kept the dust down. Most wast oil was used for that purpose also. Oil was changed about every 500-1000 miles and who cared?

[katy]

....

[Hoogah]

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Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

The oil will move to the rear of the pan while going up a steep ramp or hill. It can then reach a level high enough to leak past the rear bearing and through the drain tube, and since a slinger is used instead of a seal, the oil goes out the engine. This is why farm grain trucks have a ball check valve in the drain tube.

Can we refine the definition of "steep"? I notice a trail of oil spots coming up my own driveway, which COULD be a result of this problem OR NOT! I estimate that my driveway would rise about 1 metre in 30 - roughly a 3% slope. I come to a stop before driving up it. Do you reckon that this mild acceleration plus the 3% slope would be sufficient to slosh some oil past the rear bearing or should I investigate further?

[Tom Wesenberg]

I don't know what percent slope it would take to start the oil leak. I just drive and notice my car has only a drip or two after a run.

[tbirdtbird]

you are describing normal behavior.
i would leave the motor alone before you break something

[july541]

When I drove it on level ground, just a few drops.