A bit of an oil leak...

[Johnfm]

So, I realised I was getting a bit o leakage - my dynamo is covered in oil.

So I put some brown paper on the garage floor to catch the drips to see if I could isolate its source...

The whole engine!

This is a few days after two 8 miles drives.

[types26/36]

Oh dear.......the Torrey Canyon comes to mind

[Johnfm]

Maybe I could sell it to a psychiatrist for use in Rorschach tests...

[ricarbo]

Well, the wind will push it towards the back and gravity will spread it down, so I imagine it's at the front, above the dynamo. Front cover to cylinder head?
Regards
Richard

[Johnfm]

Probably.

Only one thing for it - sump off, head off seal front cover, new HG and new sump gasket.

[types26/36]

Naa.....engine out then you can replace the rear main oil seal, gearbox 1st motion shaft seal and fit the sump gasket with relative ease........but only my opinion

[Johnfm]

I haven't got the setup for an engine out job. But it is tempting.

[oldelanman]

I haven't got the setup for an engine out job. But it is tempting.

http://m.hss.com/mt/www.hss.com/g/67715 ... Crane.html

I'm with Brian....

[types26/36]

Got to say I'm not keen on cranes....a bit iffy as legs usually dont usually fit under/around the narrow track on Elans and despite the folding facility they always seem to be in the way (unless you have lots of garage space)
My preference is for the trusty old block & tackle and they are even available with an electric option
OK....you need a beam to hang it from but most garage beams will take the weight of a TC engine (even if you remove the head and ancillaries first) ....and to quote a recent thread " drain the oil to reduce weight"

[oldelanman]

Ok......

http://m.hss.com/mt/www.hss.com/g/69042 ... oists.html

[types26/36]

Ok......

http://m.hss.com/mt/www.hss.com/g/69042 ... oists.html

[Quart Meg Miles]

Second-hand tool shops will have manual chain-hoists at weekend hire rates. They are easy to maintain in my experience.

But first Gunk the oil off your engine so that you can see where it is coming from, it may be only one place.

[Johnfm]

Second-hand tool shops will have manual chain-hoists at weekend hire rates. They are easy to maintain in my experience.

But first Gunk the oil off your engine so that you can see where it is coming from, it may be only one place.

Engine is pretty clean. I have hand cleaned it all. I think most of it is coming from the front left.

The problem is the oil is so clean it is hard to see a source, but the dynamo is smothered in oil. I don't think it is coming fom the dipstick.

If I resist the temptation to mess about with the head, valves, cams I etc I could probably do the head, sump and front cover in a few nights after work.

[Johnfm]

Used new piece of paper last night.

After 3 mile drive I parked up.

Two drip zones:

Back of sump. Gravity is moving oil to rear of sump where it drips.

Edge of bell housing. Where clutch line is clipped to the housing. Not sure how it is getting there. The starter motor is a bit oily, so maybe there is a leak near there.

Or is there a rear main seal of some sort?

[types26/36]

There is the rear crankshaft seal (engine out job) but just check the rubber oil return tube (above petrol pump) which is a common leak and it can be replaced with the head still on.