Oil Pan Leaks??

[55 Fargo]

Okay, I have been procrastinating on dropping the oil pan, to a) clean it out and inspect, replace gasket, c) and clean oil pickup screen and look at bottom end.

Now I do not know how much the rear main seal is leaking. Will it leak once engine is not running and is sittiing for a long time? The reason I ask this is my oil pan leaks like crazy, even when the engine has not been run for a lengthy period of time.

My oil pan has a 1/4 inch plate welded onto the bottom of it, not sure why and for what purpose.

There is a lot of oil drip and leakage just above on the drain plug area. I do not see much leaking coming down the front of the clutch pan inspection plate.

I want to tackle this project soon, but am thinking maybe I should have a donor oil pan to replace this oil pan. That way I could have a cleaned up oil pan, painted and ready to go on.

Any thoughts or ideas on this one.........Thanx Fred

[55 Fargo]

Pic of the oil pan, note the 1/4 inch steel welded onto the bottom of the pan..

[P-12 Tommy]

The bottom of the pan was probably rusted out

Tom

[aero3113]

It may have been rusted out or added for extra protection. Changing the pan / gasket is a simple job. I would pull the pan and the flywheel cover, clean and paint both(you will be shocked at how much sludge is in there). You can replace the lower half of the rear main (That is what I did with mine and no leaks). You can also check the torques on the main and rod caps.

[55 Fargo]

It may have been rusted out or added for extra protection. Changing the pan / gasket is a simple job. I would pull the pan and the flywheel cover, clean and paint both(you will be shocked at how much sludge is in there). You can replace the lower half of the rear main (That is what I did with mine and no leaks). You can also check the torques on the main and rod caps.

Sounds good the clutch pan has been off, and painted by me about 2 years ago, so will just wash the outside of it, or should I pull it again, and clean inside of it?

The pan was most likely had the steel added for armor, may have bee na country car thing to do, the car was way out in the country all its life.

When I remove the pan, do I need to cover the bottom end with a plastic sheet while I clean paint and possibly repair the oil pan?

Plan to do this soon...thanx Fred

[aero3113]

There may also be some hairline cracks in the pan (by the welds). I found some in mine once it was cleaned and painted. Sometimes they are so small they will only leak when the car is warm. I had my pan off about 4 times to get cracks welded then decided to go with a NOS one from Vintage Power Wagons. If you go with them you will probably have to replace your oil pickup tube because the truck pans were a little different shape. Total with pickup tube was about $90 plus shipping.

[55 Fargo]

Well I do have a couple of other flathead engines, but do not really want to pull the pans off them. I could pull the pan off one and use it, then put my cars pan on the other engine to protect it..........Thanx Aero

[aero3113]

I left my pan off for about a week without covering it. Put down alot of rags because it will drip for days. Also once you put the pan back on and run it it may look like you have some leaks but it could just be residuial oil. Just wipe it and keep an eye on it,most likely it will go away.

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, just got the phone with a small local shop. The ownwer is a Cousin of a Guy I work with, and he is right near by.

His shop is well equipped he specializes in trans and diffs, as well engine rebuilds.

After speaking with him, we decided he would do rear main seals, pan gasket, and whatever else is casuing this engine to leak oil.

He has 2 hoists, and he is familiar with the Mopar flat 6

The good part is he charges only $45 per hour. He has a stam cleaning machine to put the pan into, he will check it for leaks, then I can paint it, then bring it back the next day.

Usually I do all the work, but maybe this might bea wise move, will change the rear motor mounts, same time, my clutch and pressure plate are new, as well my flywheel was machined before. He may also do the pinion seal, which leaks too........fred

[aero3113]

Once the pan is clean have him fill it with some alcohol. You will see almost instantly if there are any cracks. It will weep out of the cracks.

[greg g]

I also have a piece of coled rolled steel plate brazed to the bottom of my oilpan. Knowing where the original owner operated the vehicle, I believe it was a bash plate to protect the pan from rocks or other road hazards on rutted dirt roads, and other non improved roadways.

[55 Fargo]

I also have a piece of coled rolled steel plate brazed to the bottom of my oilpan. Knowing where the original owner operated the vehicle, I believe it was a bash plate to protect the pan from rocks or other road hazards on rutted dirt roads, and other non improved roadways.

Hey Greg, I concur, I know one thing this pan, or the main seal sure leaks a lot of oil, even when not running for quite a while.

Are these flatheads known for oil leaking?...LOL

[Niel Hoback]

IMHO, if the engine hasn't been running for a while, and oil is leaking from it, the pan must have a hole in it. All the oil drains to the pan, so it can't be coming from anywhere else. Well, unless you have an oil filter, which I don't, but then it would be pretty obvious where it was coming from.

[BobT-47P15]

Mine leaks some. Has for quite a while. Probably needs a new rear

main seal and mybe pan gasket. I've been ignoring it so far as it doesn't

present a large problem. I think many of these ol flatheads

have a leak or two.

[Niel Hoback]

Mine has plenty of leaks, but I don't call it that. The old thing is just marking its territory.

[55 Fargo]

Well I was thinking or erring on the side of "cheap", and replace pan gasket at home, and just the bottom of the rear main seal, I could do this at home. I could clean the oil pan, inspect it, check for leaks, then paint and re-install. I would also replace bottom rear main seal, clean pick-up screen.

I could do this at home for next to nothing.

Or I pay the Shop I mentioned earlier, he would do a more thorough job than me, as he has the equipment. I am not pulling the trans and worst the bellhousing from under the car, just off the ground, it wasn't much fun when I had the floor pan unbolted either, but it was a lot more clearance. I do not want to unbolt the floor panel, unless absolutely necessary.

Getting the whole job done at shop would probably cost me 10 hours labor, plus any other parts or material that is needed, so $600 I am sure...........Fred

looks like the oil pump is leaking some, the pan itself looks like it is leaking oil, and is covered in oil across the bottom of it...

Edited March 8, 2010 by Rockwood

[Niel Hoback]

At $45/hr, you should jump on the offer. That way, whatever it takes gets done and you get to stay standing up. Can't beat that.

[55 Fargo]

At $45/hr, you should jump on the offer. That way, whatever it takes gets done and you get to stay standing up. Can't beat that.

This is true Neil, but even at $45 per hour, a big job like this quickly adds up. I am very leary, very cheap(at this stage of life), to spend hundreds on labor fo this engine, it runs well, and has good specs, but mileage unknown, and it is used ,not rebuilt.

Now I may have this Guy do the work, or I may just drop the oil pan, and replace the bottom rear seal, and pan gasket, and maybe the entire pan. I will save money, and stop or slow down a majority of the oil leaking. This pan leaks like crazy just sitting, so the pan itself has a major leak........Fred

[aero3113]

Rockwood, Dont let this job fool you it is not hard at all. The worst part is being under the car if you do not have a lift. It sounds like your pan has a bunch of holes and cracks if it is leaking while sitting. I would replace the pan with a different one. Also do a search on installing the pan gasket, there are some threads on installing them.

[55 Fargo]

Rockwood, Dont let this job fool you it is not hard at all. The worst part is being under the car if you do not have a lift. It sounds like your pan has a bunch of holes and cracks if it is leaking while sitting. I would replace the pan with a different one. Also do a search on installing the pan gasket, there are some threads on installing them.

Hi Aero, I just had a look at a spare engine I have , it is sitting ina 47 Chrysler .

The pan is full of oil, infact about 1 quart over. This pan is completely dry.

Now I know this engine has not been run for many a year, so the seals would no doubt leak, if the engine were run.

But my oil pan on car, is leaking like crazy, even after sitting for a time. So next month plan to pull the engine from my parts car, then will use the oil pan for my engine.

That parts car engine is really what I would like evntually in my car, it isa 251 full flow oil pressure, reuilt once .030 overbore, all else standard. She is stuck, (valves) on 3 and 5 cyl, I think.

Once I have this engine out, will see if I can revive it.......