I'd appreciate some advice on fixing a front oil leak on a 1951 MGTD.
I've been going through a qt of oil every 1000 miles. Though this
concerned me, everyone said not to worry, that this was "normal" for a
TD (actually in print in an old Road & Track). A couple weeks ago I went
to the Everglades; my consumption was much worse, about 1 qt for every
400 miles. Since I don't see any noticeable smoke in the exhaust, I
figure I must be loosing it elsewhere.
>From paper under the engine, I have known in the past that I was loosing
a little oil from the front bearing. With the car just sitting in the
garage, just a little oil would be found the following morning.
But I definitely erred when I said "a little" from the front bearing.
This morning I idled the TD until the oil was warm. Then I saw actual
drops falling. With the oil just warm, not hot, it was dropping from two
places around the front seal area, both at 8 second intervals.
Now I AM worried. I'm afraid sometime in the near future it may just
gush out. The guy that rebuilt my engine a year ago said the seal I
supplied from Moss was about half the width of the grove that it slid
into. Now I must seal the front CORRECTLY.
My question is: How much trouble is it to get to the front seal? I
understand that it is under the timing chain cover, but what are the
items that much be removed to get at the seal? Is this something a
garage should do?
And once the seal is exposed, what is the best technique for making a
good front seal so I have no more leaks? What about putting in TWO Moss
seals? I think the grove may be wide enough. Or is there a better
solution?
Is there some compound that can be used to seal around the existing
front seal? The machine shop had used silicone, but I don't think this
is the answer. Silicone dissolves in gasoline, so in heated oil it might
deteriorate also.
Stu Keen
Venice, Fl
1951 MGTD MkII
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