The Ford Barn

ahshoe · 02-08-2020, 11:38 AM

Is is best to assume that when a coil is (has) leaked oil that is is no good to use? I noticed it on one of my stored cars. Not ready to start the car for the year and now is the time I can just swap out the coil if it will be no good.

Dobie Gillis · 02-08-2020, 11:47 AM

Yes, chunk it. The oil is what keeps the coil cool and that one will fail, probably at the most inopportune time. Murphy's Law.

marko39 · 02-09-2020, 10:14 AM

Had a car that experienced a no start under damp conditions. Kept changing plugs, wires and cap to no avail. Noticed bottom of coil oily, changed that and no problem after that.

rotorwrench · 02-09-2020, 12:39 PM

The oil is an insulator to prevent high tension discharge inside the coil.

packrat5 · 02-09-2020, 01:52 PM

An oil filled coil should be mounted with the terminals UP, not down, or sideways.

rotorwrench · 02-09-2020, 07:20 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

It depends on the design of the coil. Model A coils were upside down when compared to the 8BA era vehicles.

Daves55Sedan · 02-10-2020, 12:05 AM

I don't know if they're still selling cast epoxy coils, but I am still using one (6-volt) on my '55 and it has got to be about 35 years old now. Oh, you won't see it offered by any of the repro parts suppliers. Maybe could special order one out of Napa, but back then, the cast epoxy coil was a standard replacement for OEM oil filled coils.

02-08-2020, 11:38 AM	#1
ahshoe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Iowa Posts: 350	oil leaking from newer coil Is is best to assume that when a coil is (has) leaked oil that is is no good to use? I noticed it on one of my stored cars. Not ready to start the car for the year and now is the time I can just swap out the coil if it will be no good.

02-08-2020, 11:47 AM	#2
Dobie Gillis Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Middle TN Posts: 1,060	Re: oil leaking from newer coil Yes, chunk it. The oil is what keeps the coil cool and that one will fail, probably at the most inopportune time. Murphy's Law. __________________ Often wrong but never in doubt.

02-09-2020, 10:14 AM	#3
marko39 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: harpursville ny Posts: 1,040	Re: oil leaking from newer coil Had a car that experienced a no start under damp conditions. Kept changing plugs, wires and cap to no avail. Noticed bottom of coil oily, changed that and no problem after that.

02-09-2020, 12:39 PM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,424	Re: oil leaking from newer coil The oil is an insulator to prevent high tension discharge inside the coil.

02-09-2020, 01:52 PM	#5
packrat5 BANNED Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 301	Re: oil leaking from newer coil An oil filled coil should be mounted with the terminals UP, not down, or sideways.

02-09-2020, 07:20 PM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,424	Re: oil leaking from newer coil Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) It depends on the design of the coil. Model A coils were upside down when compared to the 8BA era vehicles.

02-10-2020, 12:05 AM	#7
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: oil leaking from newer coil I don't know if they're still selling cast epoxy coils, but I am still using one (6-volt) on my '55 and it has got to be about 35 years old now. Oh, you won't see it offered by any of the repro parts suppliers. Maybe could special order one out of Napa, but back then, the cast epoxy coil was a standard replacement for OEM oil filled coils.