[Healeys] Discovery's - Engine Milestone and setback

[Alan Seigrist]

Hi John -

I was thinking if this is blow back from the #4 cam oil galley, it might
lessen over time as the cam bearings bed in (i.e. reducing back pressure).
 You might also want to check the #4 cam bearing and make sure the oil feed
holes are properly lined up.

I think using Hylomar blue or soft Hylomar should be enough to make up for
gaps on the backplate, maybe you just had a spot you missed somewhere.

Keep us posted on this.

Best,

Alan

On Tue, Jan 8, 2013 at 8:00 AM, john spaur <jmsdarch at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> I pulled the engine out. The Denis Welch rear seal was good. The oil leak
> was coming from the bottom of the number 4 cam oil galley between the back
> of the engine and the rear engine plate. Oil had flowed down between the
> gasket and the back of the engine, then out through the crankshaft cut-out.
>
> I had sealed it with Hylomar Blue Racing gasket sealer (this type hardens
> somewhat). I am not sure what caused the leak. Alan suggested that
> excessive crankcase pressure could cause the rear seal to leak if the
> rocker shaft banjo bolt was loose. In fact the rocker shaft oil pipe bolt
> to the head was loose. In addition I had poured a small bottle of ZDDP into
> the top of the head prior to starting the engine.
>
> Could the loose bolt and/or the ZDDP have caused the oil leak at rear cam
> bearing oil galley? The gasket surfaces are flat.
>
> I will be using a different type of gasket sealer this time. Either
> Wellseal or Form-a-Gastet 2 and a slightly thicker gasket material.
>
> John Spaur
> '62 BT7