Question about 60* oil leak

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:10 pm

My 3.4 has had an oil leak ever since I put it back together. Oil leaks "from" the bell housing, between the oil pan and the bottom of the bell housing. After I drive it, and it sits overnight or so, I have a spot on the floor maybe 2-3" in diameter. The leak only happens when I shut the car off after running it. It doesn't really leak while driving, and doesn't leak when just sitting cold.

I'm thinking it's my oil pan gasket. I removed the oil pan to add capacity and the drain back, and reinstalled it with the same rubber gasket that was stock. The motor had never been run, so the gasket was new, but it had been on the engine for a few years at least (Crate motor).

Now, the clutch is slipping. It seems it only does it between hard shifts in 3rd and 4th. So it slips on my 2-3, and 3-4 shifts. Also, it does not slip all of the time, it seems random (At least, I haven't noticed a pattern). But it's at least 75% of the time. I'm thinking that the oil leak is getting onto the flywheel, and that's causing the clutch to slip.

Does this make sense?

Shaun41178(2) · Post by **Shaun41178(2)** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:24 pm

its the rear main, or high enough on the oil pan near the rear main to get oil on your clutch. Time to pull it all back apart. Replace the rear seal to be safe, new oil pan gasket to be safe, and a new clutch.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:41 pm

It isn't the rear main, that's highly unlikely. I'll change the oil pan gasket, that's not too hard to do at all. I am not replacing that damn clutch though. At least not yet.

Shaun41178(2) · Post by **Shaun41178(2)** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:51 pm

if your cltuch has oil in it then its worthless. You say it slips, which means it has oil in it. you need a new clutch.

I cant beleive your so called perfect build has so many small problems.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:56 pm

Name all of these "so many small problems." And tell me once where I said it wouldn't have any.

As for the clutch, if it slips after I do the gasket, Spec is going to get a call from one pissed off customer. They will send me a new clutch, my fault or not.

Fastback86 · Post by **Fastback86** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:57 pm

FWIW, I had a leak in the same area and it turned out to be the pan gasket.

p8ntman442 · Post by **p8ntman442** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 10:05 pm

does the dummy shaft have a seal like a regular pushrod? those leak. Also the distributor shaft seal (or cover in your case) can leak there and drip down in the same spot.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:43 pm

Fastback86 wrote:FWIW, I had a leak in the same area and it turned out to be the pan gasket.

Did this cause your clutch to slip at all? It may not have, due to the power differences.

p8ntman442 wrote:does the dummy shaft have a seal like a regular pushrod? those leak. Also the distributor shaft seal (or cover in your case) can leak there and drip down in the same spot.

Yah it does, and they are notorious for leaking. Mine, however, isn't.

Series8217 · Post by **Series8217** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:05 am

Aaron wrote: As for the clutch, if it slips after I do the gasket, Spec is going to get a call from one pissed off customer. They will send me a new clutch, my fault or not.

WTF?

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:41 am

I am more amazed day after day at your supreme ability to completely miss any hint of sarcasm, and take absolutely everything you read with serious intent, than I am by most anything else I read on the internet.

SappySE107 · Post by **SappySE107** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:51 am

Atilla the Fun · Post by **Atilla the Fun** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:34 am

did you use thread sealer on the flywheel-to-crank bolts?

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:25 am

Atilla the Fun wrote:did you use thread sealer on the flywheel-to-crank bolts?

No, I've never heard of doing that before actually.

Atilla the Fun · Post by **Atilla the Fun** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:46 am

sometimes you can get leaks there, even with engines not known for it.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:00 pm

I wish there was a way to test the oil pan gasket before changing it, but I can't think of one. I'm pretty sure that's where my leak is though, none of the crate motors I've had before this one had any leaking issues, they've been perfect. This one is too, besides this leak. And being that I removed the oil pan, and reinstalled it with the same gasket, I think it's the most logical place.

Atilla the Fun · Post by **Atilla the Fun** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:22 pm

there's no way for oil to get from the oilpan to the clutch.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:28 pm

Here was my thinking. The oil leaks out of the pan where the pan, and hits the backside of the flywheel, which is of course spinning. This would spray oil all over the bell housing, where its free to drip back down wherever, sometimes on the frontside of the flywheel, where the clutch then slips.

Logical or no?

befarrer · Post by **befarrer** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:49 pm

If oil leaks out of the pan gasket, then it will run down the pan, and out the bellhousing. If it is the rear main, it will leak down the block and the flywheel.

Gaskets and seals get old and dry out if the motor is not used often. How long was your crate motor sitting for? The seals could all be dried up by now.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:58 pm

befarrer wrote:If oil leaks out of the pan gasket, then it will run down the pan, and out the bellhousing. If it is the rear main, it will leak down the block and the flywheel.

Gaskets and seals get old and dry out if the motor is not used often. How long was your crate motor sitting for? The seals could all be dried up by now.

So it is more likely the rear main than the oil pan?

I have no way of knowing. Probably the better part of 10-15 years, without ever being started. But it was stored, wrapped in plastic, in a climate controlled building.

lucky · Post by **lucky** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 9:50 pm

Aaron wrote:The oil leaks out of the pan where the pan, and hits the backside of the flywheel, which is of course spinning. This would spray oil all over the bell housing,

I agree with befarrer, this type of leak is more likely a rear main.