Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hello people
I have spent YEARS carefully fully restoring my Elan Sprint Coupe. Just at the point of filling the beast with fluids and.....Ive got an oil gusher like a texan oil field strike!
I am soooooo pissed off as i have been absolutely meticulus in the restoration work. Every component has been stripped cleaned and restored to as new. The engine machining and head work done by reputable well known specialist though I assembled the engine myself.
Now, in the dim and distant (ive worked on at least five twin cams in thge past) I have had occaision to drop the sump, ive experienced the early four bolt rope seal twinks, which, in my experience, always weeped oil. In those days it was hylomar, hematite and early silicon compounds.... so ive suffered curing leaks in the past.
The leak on the sprint is near the rear of the engine and appears to be from the cork gasket area, so the only solution is to strip it and replace the gasket. The engine has never even been started since the rebuild, so its all spotlessly clean.
What im seeking is advice, is it feasible to achieve an oil tight seal when replacing the gasket from underside of the car? Since I'm now 75, the faculties are frayed, eyesight not too bad, but joints creaky, and im concerned that i might not properly clean and reseal the gasket. I have to work from beneath the car on axle stands, since I have now downsized my home and parted with my engine removal equipment.
Ive read an fair bit from the contributions on this magnificent forum, noticing that Rohnan appears to be one of the aknowledged experts, and would be most grateful for comments and advice from contributors.
My thanks to all
Bob

Hate to say it, but if you really want an oil tight engine pull it out, easier and quicker.. One thing to look for is that the sump hasn't been deformed by over tightening the bolts. If so hammer them flat. When I did an S4 I fitted the sump gasket to the block with some RTV and placed the sump on top and let it set over night. Then RTV'd the other side and torqued up.

Probably not what you wanted to hear

cheers

Hi Bob, don't despair !
I'd be surprised if the leak is from the sump gasket, the oil level is well below the gasket and as the engine hasn't run it won't have been sloshing about over it either. Could it be spillage from the filler neck which has run down the block or a leak from the cam cover gasket which can be submerged as you fill if you pour too quickly ? Here's hoping you don't need to remove the sump.
All the best

oldelanman...............makes...also....hope,---------me....tooo......sand

bloodknock wrote:Hello people
I have spent YEARS carefully fully restoring my Elan Sprint Coupe. Just at the point of filling the beast with fluids and.....Ive got an oil gusher like a texan oil field strike!..

The leak on the sprint is near the rear of the engine and appears to be from the cork gasket area, so the only solution is to strip it and replace the gasket. The engine has never even been started since the rebuild, so its all spotlessly clean.

My thanks to all
Bob

Well that sucks. Thinking aloud - So all you have done is pour the Oil in & it's leaking? The Oil should just be sitting low in the sump... The sump gasket is not submerged in Oil....

Check the rubber pipe head drain to block,if it leaks it runs down by the fuel pump and the the side of the sump towards the rear,without even running the engine,worth a check
Phil

That is very disappointing after all your hard work.
Try easier solutions first - as others have said try to follow the leak upwards.

Hello Bob,

I suggest positively identifying the source of the leak first. I had a similar issue with a mystery leak. My friend the race mechanic gave me a clue. I filled a plastic spray bottle with soapy water - a few drops of dish soap. I put one pound of compressed air pressure (no more or you'll pop the rear main seal out) into the crankcase breather and sprayed over the back of the engine. In my case it was the back exhaust side rubber cam bore plugs that had come adrift during assembly and left a gap allowing the oil I had filled to drain out over the back of the engine. The soapy water bubbled from the air coming from the gap. Saved me from pulling the pan.

Hello friends
All of the forgoing is very useful and I will certainly try the suggetions out, simplest first! The comments about oil level in the sump are particularly interesting, I should have thought of that myself, but as I say time has dulled my abilities in more ways than one!
It will be a little time before i get back to it as my wife is ill and needs my support, but i'll let the forum know what i find.
Bob

Bob,

I’ve sent you an email about this.
Malcolm

Thanks Malcolm
Ive not yet received the email, you didnt mean message did you?
regards
bob

I sent it to the email address you gave me when we discussed car storage.
I’ve now also sent it as a forum message.
Cheers
Malcolm