Oil leak - What would you do?

[englishmaninwales]

Hmmm.. My TC has a significant leak at the rear timing cover to cylinder head horizontal joint on the exhaust side. Looks like the cork gasket is poorly seated. Really really really irritates me, but the engine is otherwise in a healthy condition, with excellent performance, good compressions, oil consumption and pressure within normal limits, always starts easily hot or cold, no oil smoke etc.

If it works, don't mess with it, rings in my ears! Part of me says just live with it (3k miles this summer, daily use, without any other problems). But that oil on the floor and in the engine bay. At least the chassis is well protected! The other part of me says lift the head this winter and fix it.

I'm happy to do the work, comfortable with engines in bits, but at least 35 years since I had a TC apart (a holed piston).

What would you do?

Also, if I do, who is the best supplier of decent quality gaskets?
Thanks
Malcolm

[robertverhey]

You've nipped up the vertical bolt underneath the timing cover? Mine also leaked here until I did. Had worked itself loose.

Gaskets? Burtons are reasonably priced. So are gasketsforclassics (search 'em on eBay)

Robert

[rgh0]

A new head gasket and front cover top gasket should fix it and its only a few hours work to swap over.

Assuming the leak is from the low pressure area of the chain cover coming through the top cork gasket and not coming from the high pressure feed to the cylinder head past the head gasket then some epoxy putty on the join into the area that's leaking after cleaning to remove the oil works as a temporary fix until you next need to remove the head, Which is what I did on an engine until I had time to do a proper repair.



cheers
Rohan

[englishmaninwales]

Robert - thank you! Can't think why I didn't try that...I had a look at it and guess what.....it is stripped in the cylinder head I got the bolt out complete with the PTFE tape some hopeful has tried wrapping in the past
I was able to fit a slightly longer bolt that I was able tighten up but the leak still is there, appears still to becoming from the joint line cork gasket, but further into the corner.

However, it makes the decision easier as the head needs to come off to get the stripped hole helicoiled.

Rohan, thanks too for the advice. I guess you are referring to the high pressure feed on the other side - amazingly there is no leak there - every other TC I've owned in the past has leaked there

Malcolm