I have got a slow drip oil leak. The drip leaves the underside of the car at the bottom-most point of the bellhousing, back where it meets the transmission. As best I can tell, there is no leak from the back of the engine. I pulled the starter and the inspection cover and see no obvious signs of a leak from the rear cam plug and the oil pan, rear main area and oil filter canister look dry. I am wondering if it could be the seal in the front of the engine. Has anyone experienced a leak like that and what were the symptoms? This has got me puzzled. Thanks for any input.
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Re: C2 Oil Leak
Yep, I have one on my '64. Its just as you describe. I have not been able to identify where its from. It is very, very slow. I have had it for years. I have found over the years with these cars that for certain things such as this, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Its a 40 year old car. It won't be pefect if you use it at all.
I never owned a Corvette or a car with a Chevy small block that did not leak oil. I just live with it. Mine is so small, it leaves very little oil.
Its too bad that when these cars were new, the leaking oil did not make its way back to the side rails and kick up. If it did there would be a lot fewer problems with frame rust! -
Re: C2 Oil Leak
I also have a small leak in my 327. These engines can leak from a variety of places. The rear main seal is a common problem. I found a small trace of oil from my valve cover on the drivers side a common problem. The rear of the oil pan can leak. The rear of the intake manifold can leak. The oil pressure line at the rear of the engine can leak.
As these engines are tipped back slightly any leak at the rear of the engine ends up at the back of the oil pan or the bellhousing.Comment
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Re: C2 Oil Leak
if your midyear is a 4 speed, the cluster gear shaftseat in the case of the tranny may be the culprit. put car on lift, remove tranny to bellhousing bolts one at a time and insert 1" longer bolts in their place allowing you to move tranny about an inch or so rearward of the bellhousing. spray ether on front face of tranny, then check for gear oil seepage at tranny/cluster gear shaft interface a day or two later. mikeComment
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Re: C2 Oil Leak
Add the round gasket between the distributor and intake manifold to the list of suspects. I had one of these leak on a 300/350 in a '69 that I didn't find until the tach drive went.Comment
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Re: C2 Oil Leak
The rear is the lowest spot of the engine. A very slow oil leak from anywhere on the engine will migrate down and back and eventually drip, so just because the oil is dripping from the rear doesn't mean that it is the rear seal. A leak at the front can migrate along the pan rail leaving no evidence on the block itself.
Best way to find oil leaks is to thoroughly clean the engine and inspect carefully for any evidence of oil film trails as the mileage accumulates.
Small leaks can be tough to find, and if you find the source is not as easy fix or you can't positively ID the source, it might be best just to live with it.
Another way I have used to find leaks is to block off one side of the PCV system and use the other side to pressurize the crankcase (about 1-2 psi) then listen for any hissing sounds at various gaskets.
DukeComment
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Re: C2 Oil Leak
Mark
I had the same thing on my 67. I finally replaced the oil pan gagket with a one piece gasket and the problem was solved. I had to flatten the pan rail in several places because I had over-tightened the pan bolts and dimpled the rail.Comment
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