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Re: Oil on cam cover?

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 10:05 am
by silverdart
Talking to Lawrence Jones yesterday at the NEC show. He was adamant that the oil was coming from the base of the distributor. I shall look again to see if I can utilize some form of seal.

Dave.

Re: Oil on cam cover?

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 10:51 pm
by RadfordJim
Sorry I missed you Saturday Dave, I was at the NEC Friday and Sunday. Laurence told me about the distributor oil leak and even though mine is sitting on a thick bed of gasket cement, it's still leaking.
Claude Kerley also pointed out that my O/S rocker cover gasket is leaking at the top so oil is running down onto the cam cover, in addition to the well in front of the distributor. I suppose it's to be expected as I've now covered 1500 miles since the professional engine rebuild!

Car is back home now after the NEC so I'm ordering gaskets and hopefully that will solve the problem.

Re: Oil on cam cover?

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 10:12 am
by silverdart
Hi Jim, Sorry I missed you.
Lawrence reckoned that the leak comes from under the ignition lever, ie. the plate that clamps the dizzi. to the dizzi. bracket.
To that end I have made an "o" ring from soft rubber cord and fitted this between the plate and the bracket.
It will be some time before I will know if this is effective as I am in the process of doing a top end overhaul on the engine at present.

Dave.

Re: Oil on cam cover?

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 2:44 pm
by Ian Hastings
Whilst rebuilding my distributor today I came across a potential source of the oil leak that leads to oil on the cam cover.

Below the top ball race bearing in the distributor is an oil seal which I presume is to stop oil mist being pushed up the distributor shaft and into the distributor body where it could cause all sorts of problems. There are two drain holes in the distributor body for any excess oil to drain out and this oil would end up on the cam cover.

If your engine is suffering a bit of blow-by and that seal is worn then that could be another source of your problem.

Re: Oil on cam cover?

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 3:48 am
by tjt77
look to cause and effect :- If all is well with the engine it should not leak oil past the distributor.. Oil leaks and piston ring wear are often connected.. as crank case pressure increases, so do oil leaks.. pull off one or both of the breather tubes from valve covers.. blip the throttle and see if there is any actual 'mist' escaping from the breather tube..if there is.. you have some wear on rings/pistons/bores.. which is not likely to improve over time until properly addressed..

Re: Oil on cam cover?

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 4:44 am
by Soundmike
Check the cork gasket on the oil filler cap.... Oil mist can escape there.