100 oil leak from front of engine

[mbrooks]

A small oil leak from the front of the engine has got very much worse. The leak starts when the engine is started and continues for some time after it is stopped. Anyone have ideas on the likely cause before I start stripping it down? Looking at the workshop manual, there does not seem to be an oil seal on the front of the crankshaft, just an oil thrower and a seal on the timing cover.

Mike Brooks

 

[Dave Russell]

Hi Mike,
Although there are a number of places where a leak could occur, the most likely is the crankshaft front seal. On the Fours, there is no real crankshaft seal. Just a "thrower" ring behind the seal, & a felt seal in the cover.

There are several places that will install a real, modern front seal in your cover. Some offer exchange covers with the new type seal fitted. Norman Nock offers this service, I believe.

Or you could just replace the felt. They seem to work fairly well for quite a while, though not a perfect seal. Be sure to use a good timing cover gasket & make sure that the cover flange surfaces are flat & not dimpled from overtightening the cover screws.

If the crankshaft surface that the seal rides on is grooved from wear, a Redi-Sleeve can be installed over the grooved surface to renew it.
D

 

[Richard Dickinson]

After a rebuild I almost had a heart atack when I had bad leak at the rear of the engine. Turned out to be a leak from the valve cover gasket. Check the simple stuff first.

 

[mbrooks]

Hi Dave,

Many thanks. Let's hope the crankshaft is in good condition. In any case I did not know about "Rediseals" so I will now know what to do if it isn't.

Mike