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Top 3 engine leaks? How to track them down?

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MTribe

MTribe

Jedi Hopeful
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Just finished a TR6 engine rebuild and have about 100 miles on the car.

Engine is leaking quite a bit. Looks like oil, but doesn't smell like it, yet doesn't look like coolant either. If anything, it has the consistency of coolant yet smells like permatex gasket compound! Used hylomar throughout, except for non-hardening permatex on the front engine plate gasket.

Anyhow, I've driven the car a few times to get it to leak, and have been unsuccessful with my post-drive analysis. Best I can tell, the leak is coming from between the front of the oil pan and the timing cover. So maybe the sealing block? (just ordered the steel one, btw, in case that's it) I meticulously sealed everything, so maybe engine pressure's building up without proper venting as I saw in another thread?

Since helping me track it down on that spotty info would be way too much to ask, here are my questions:

- What are the Top 3 most common TR6 engine leaks?

- What method do you recommend using to track them down? (Drive and look, dyes, engine running with car jacked up, etc)

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide!

Best,
Steve
 
Unless the leak is really obvious, dyes are the best way to find leaks. Since leaking fluid can fly all over the place, it sometimes makes it hard to locate the source. All the dyes I've seen leave a trail to the source(s).
 
Anyone know where to get dye? Kragen doesn't have anything...
 
Top #1 cause of leaks: It's A Triumph (and just marking it's spot)

Sorry to not have any constructive advice.
 
Steve,
There's so many places for leaks but assuming your engine rebuild included new front and rear seals and all new gaskets that pretty much leaves the dreaded alloy sealing blocks. Since replacing all the gaskets and seals over the winter I've been under the car tightening the oil pan to the sealing blocks about 3 times now. I, too, have ordered the steel sealing block.

If you were talking about the rear of the engine, I'd suggest these two spots in addition to the sealing block as a leak source. The yellow arrow points to a plug with the cam behind it, while the red arrow points to that copper washer that some people forget to install.
RearSealAssembly.jpg




Here's a couple of places that sell oil based fluid dyes.
https://www.tracerline.com/dyesforfluids.html

https://www.chromatechcolors.com/colorants/automotive-fluids.php
 
OK, just got some dye at Napa and a UV light for counterfeit money at Office Max. Will go see if that sheds any light on the situation.

Bob--thanks much. I do have the copper washer, and the rear oil seal is fine--already had to take the tranny out to swap out a leaky hydraulic throwout bearing (HVDA conversion), and it was pleasantly dry! Good idea on the 2" plug. I did seal that with permatex, but who knows. When you've taken a look at your sealing block, what are you doing to remedy the leak? More sealant, or anything specific?
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]What method do you recommend using to track them down?[/QUOTE]
Park on your neighbors new white concrete driveway a few times. He'll be more than happy to help you find them.
 
I just add a quart of oil every third day.

The concrete slab in my garage will never
rust under the TR6.

d
 
Tinster said:
I just add a quart of oil every third day.

The concrete slab in my garage will never
rust under the TR6.

d
Click to expand...

Guess we neophytes have our own way of dealing with these
things, huh, Dale?

Le's, see, three quarts per month times....yup. It's
cheaper to keep 'er, lol.
 
MTribe said:
What are the Top 3 most common TR6 engine leaks?
Click to expand...
Wrong question.
You should be asking what are the top 3 most common TR6 engine seals that actualy work!
 
I actually drilled out a couple of the sealing block holes and tapped them a size larger so I could tighten them down. I tighten them it by feel so that I don't strip them. The best solution is the steel sealing blocks that Brosky used on his car. I just ordered a set from Marc. https://www.imaconstruction.com/sealingblock.htm
 
Hey Bob--did you try your new sealing block out?

Also, what types of sealant are you guys using on the oil pan gasket, and sealing block gaskets?

I used Hylomar, but it's leaking like crazy.
 
Okay, my input:

Permatex "The Right Stuff"...

Permatex(Loctite) used to have a very informative website...

Also for sourcing leaks without a dye. Get a can of spray on footpowder like Tinactin...

Dry the area of suspect, spray it on, let it dry(2 hours at most) start and run, check for leak trail...

A lot cheaper than dye, and for most external leaks just as easy...
 
Do you use a gasket *in addition* to Right Stuff? Or do you just apply it directly between pan an block?

And can you use it tighter spaces, say around the sealing block itself?
 
Just wanted to follow up and mention that Right Stuff is AWESOME!

I had sealed my sump with Hylomar, and it was leaking everywhere. I cleaned off the surfaces well, and applied Right Stuff (no gasket needed), and it's completely sealed.
 
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