Sump Leak

Morning all,

as part of the ongoing work to sort out all the various leaks I have now replaced the sump gasket twice and still the flipping thing is leaking.

The gasket was replaced originally as part of a general overhaul, and was fine for about 500 miles when it started to leak, so i replaced it (with a liberal smear of gasket blue & a gasket) - it was fine for about 200 miles when it started to leak around the bolts. So, not wanting to annoy the wife anymore than usual, by having oil all over the drive i decided to look at it again. So, last friday i redid the thing. It sat over the weekend (all seemed fine on friday evening), but when i looked yesterday there was a little puddle of oil under it, again. It seems the oil is again leaking from round the bolt heads. I used a good bit of gasket blue and a new gasket, tightened the bolts up correctly and generally said a few incantations in the hope that this would be it.

Any ideas whats going on here? Is it usual to leak round the bolts? Would the sump itself be warped? Can i just retighten the bolts and hope this does the job?

All assistance appreciated as this is starting to get flipping annoying.

with it sat all weekend are you saying is it leaking even without running? the oil level while sat is below gasket level so should not leak from there while stopped

ive got similar problem but think oil is coming from higher up and then looks like coming from near sump gasket, im waiting for drier weather then jet clean it underneath run it and check

The sump can get distorted. If you are using one of the really thin paper type gaskets any distortion will probably result in a leak. I overcame this by making my own gasket from a sheet of cork type gasket material (you cn find it online) This is much thicker and more forgiving.

I also once had similar symptoms, oil drips on sump bolts. Oil was actually comimg from timing case; gravity taking it down to sump bolts...

Make sure there is no oil coming from above and if not get a more forgiving gasket.

When I got my S11a it dripped all over. Now there are none!

Persevere, it's a mtyh that old landies always drip oil...

Steve

Thanks for the replies Gentlemen - much appreciated.

I must admit, that i have yet to have a thorough inspection above the sump - i just saw the oil, had a quick look, saw oil dripping from bolts, got totally diheartened and walked away. Thought this was the best course of action as i had a box of matches in my pocket begging to be used!

Steve, in answer to your question, I drove the vehicle from the inspection ramp, about 5 yards, to a space in the workshop - and then it sat all weekend.

I'll check above the sump for potential leaks and get a cork gasket.

Steve Ashworth said:

The sump can get distorted. If you are using one of the really thin paper type gaskets any distortion will probably result in a leak. I overcame this by making my own gasket from a sheet of cork type gasket material (you cn find it online) This is much thicker and more forgiving.

I also once had similar symptoms, oil drips on sump bolts. Oil was actually comimg from timing case; gravity taking it down to sump bolts...

Make sure there is no oil coming from above and if not get a more forgiving gasket.

When I got my S11a it dripped all over. Now there are none!

Persevere, it's a mtyh that old landies always drip oil...

Steve

Click to expand...

I had the same prob with the oil seal in the timing case, did the same thing running along under the sump. renewed the seal and the sump gasket, not had a look underneath lately - probably still leaking!

if yer cleaned the block and sump with thinners before refitting, makin sure thers no **** on there to foul it, stick the gasket both sides with hylomar blue, then fit.
the hylomar is spirit based so will need re tightening when its dry, it really needed leaving till it was tacky before fitting but makes it hard to work with the gasket,
people think loads of hylomars a good thing, nope, not at all

if the sump pan is warped, get hold of another, as it has a ring of steel plate around the bolts it might need peeling off and straightening the sump rim , but as its rolled its not worth the effort, try two gaskets or one good thick composit one instead of the paper,

yer sure its not coming from the rear crank seals like mine were, ??

good post beeboy mines the same gonna wait for better weather till I have a look i just thought it was standard

Good luck with it Herbie.

Oil drips are not standard, just a sign of neglect. Seals and gaskest are cheaper than chips for Series Landies.

If you have the time and workshop its well worth sorting - I used to hate the familiar oil patch. Feels great once sorted...

Steve

Yep, good luck with it Herbie. I'm going to try all the stuff recommended above, then get a cork gasket and see how it goes.

Steve, I fear there are many bruised knuckles and much foul language to get through before my heap is leak free. But i live in hope.

today i made one fer a 2.25 petrol, out of cork floor tiles, they are sticky one side, so stick that side to the sump, cut it out and punch the holes on it, stick it on with hylomar as well,
then hylomar to the block as well, then get it in position with two bolts, then tighten the all up, just nipped tight, then tighten again after its dryed a bit,

Beeboy, I used up all my bad language when replacing the rear crank seal!!! First attempt went wrong and it ****ed oil so had to do it again...

When I finally stopped all the leaks, and there were many, I stopped thinking of it as a "heap".

Cork floor tiles sound as though they would be really thick? the sheet I got was proper gasket material from a gasket company, not a car spares shop - found it online.

Steve

mine wer bout 3mm once tightened up

Cheers Steve - i tend to call it the 'Animal' when in company - sounds more macho - only in my head is it the 'heap' - usually thought of semi-affectionately until the next thing goes wrong.....

TruckCab, appreciate the post - thanks. I'll give the tile a go when i get the thing up on the ramp. Well worth a try.

BeeBoy said:

Yep, good luck with it Herbie. I'm going to try all the stuff recommended above, then get a cork gasket and see how it goes.

Steve, I fear there are many bruised knuckles and much foul language to get through before my heap is leak free. But i live in hope.

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if like you said you only drove it a few yards after fitting a new gasket it would not have had the time to get that amount of oil to come through the bolt holes,i think it is coming from somewhere else and dripping down the block and the oil is finding it's way on to the bolts which are one of the lower points for the oil to settle on.