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TR4/4A Oil Leak on TR4 Engine

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Number_6

Jedi Warrior
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A friend asked me to post a question for him for advise. He's working on a TR4 engine that is leaking oil from both the front of the engine and at the rear around the oil pan. He's changed the oil pan gasket but still has the leaks. Any thoughts what else he could try?
 
There are little felt blocks in the front and back of the engine block, above the oil pan where the main bearing blocks slide in. Check them to see if they are there and if so, have they shrunk over time. If the engine was rebuilt someone may have left them out. Actually now as I remember, there is an aluminum plate that is screwed to the bearing blocking and there is also a gasket there as well. Take a look at a service manual that has the engine breakdown pictured, that should show you the felt blocks/pads.

Marv
 
Also on the rear is a copper washer that needs to be there.
 
Also make sure that the crankcase pressure is being relieved. It may be thru a road draft tube or a valve cover vent; whichever make sure it's clean and clear.
 
Could the leak at the front be from the front seal (behind the lower pulley)? If so, a new seal and/or Speedi-Sleeve might help; and I believe it's not too hard to change that seal with the engine still in a TR4. (Wish the same was true of a TR3!)

At the rear, the oil pan tends to get blamed for a lot of other leaks, since the oil runs down and/or blows back to coat the back of the pan.
 
There are three bolts securing the "U" plate support for the generator to the block up near the front on the right hand side of the engine block. The three holes are drilled and tapped right into an oil passage and the oil might be leaking from these holes. I tried a sealer on the threads but they still leaked. Then I took off the bracket and cut a flat gasket about 2" by 4" with three tight-fit holes for the bolts, used brown gasket goo on both sides of the gasket (same goo as for the head gasket) and it has never leaked from these holes since then.
 
Same thing is true of the bolts that hold the ignition coil to the LH side of the engine. But Hylomar or Permatex #3 on the threads has always worked for me.

There are also several plugs/bolts that should have copper washer seals on them. I found just the other day that some previous mechanic had used steel rather than copper on one of the cam bearing retainers, which was weeping.
 
Great stuff, Thanks for the ideas what to look for. I'll pass this along. Hopefully this will help solve his oil leak. :thumbsup:
 
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