[Ed Baltera]

Its the same ole oil leak I can't find. One quart of oil in 110 miles. I have oil all over the side of the pass side of the block above the oil filter boss, all over the trans dust shield and trans pan, also some on the bottom of the starter. I don't see any oil from the valve covers or the oil sender or the back of the intake manifold. It is NOT leaking from the main seal.
Is it possible for it to leak between the head and block? Should I retorque the heads? The motor has about 4500 miles on it and was built fresh. Thanks, Doity9

[Tom]

We went crazy once with an oil leak in a sbc, we finally found it was the freeze plug behind the camshaft,the leak was just as you described

[wrenchturner]

Is the two bolts on the front of the fuel pump housing there?the top bolt go's all the way through you need to put a bolt in it.could be another possibilty,being its on the passenger side, Ive done it and Im sure Im not the only one Just a thought{wrenchturner}

[Dan Denman]

I checked the bolts by the fuel pump.

My small timing gear cover bolts are leaking on the top right. The freeze plug is ok. What would make the timing cover fill with enough oil to start leaking after 2 minutes of idle, unless some port behind the cover is plugged. This leak didin't start until I put 100 miles on.
Dan

[curtis73]

It doesn't fill, but the oil drips on the chain from out of the lifter valley and then gets thrown at the gasket pretty hard.

[F&J]

I had one with one broken bolt on the cover, right above the oil pan seal. It never leaked until you drove quite a few miles.

The correct fix is to replace the gasket (and do the crank seal while it is off). That job is a lot of work

or, try to "fix" it.

If those small bolts are leaking, i'd replace the lock washers with small flat washers and use good sealer on the bolts. Clean the areas with brake cleaner and blow it off with compressed air several times before using the sealer. You might get lucky and stop most of the leaks..

[kwdiesel27]

I do believe there is a plug just barely under the head on the upper left rear side. close to the sender area that can leak. Cant quite remember

[SSedan64]

What about the 2 holes of the front passenger side of block beside the timing cover? One goes through to the fuel pump pushrod I believe and needs a bolt there. Not long enough to contact the rod though. Correct me if I'm wrong, which I often can be. LOL!

[Will H]

Ssedan64, There has to be a bolt in there or oil will leak out. That hole makes it possible to replace the fuel pump without losing your cool. You put a long bolt in it to hold the pump push rod up in place before you remove the old pump. then after you install the new pump you take the long bolt out and plug the hole with a short bolt with some sealer on the threads. You probably knew this but I just had to show off.

[scholman]

Ed,

There is a threaded plug under the cylinder head on the drivers' side of the engine, but if it were to leak there would be oil POURING out of the space between the head and block.
There are three oil galley plugs behind the cam gear and if one of them is not all the way in oil will GUSH out into the timing gear cover and leak.

But if I had to put money on this leak I would check the two small bolts under the fuel pump that hold the flat spacer plate to the block. There is a gasket between the plate and the another gasket between the fuel pump and this plate. As you drive the oil that runs down the fuel pump push rod fills the area just under the fuel pump and can leak out and be blown back along the oil pan rail and ends up dripping off the engine at the starter or at the transmission cover plate.

Get some leak detector and an untra violet light. Pour the detector die into the engine and using the light you will find that leak.

Good Hunting
Scholman

[bondo]

I have oil all over the side of the pass side of the block above the oil filter boss, all over the trans dust shield and trans pan, also some on the bottom of the starter.

Ayuh,........

I'm just alittle Confused here,......

Every SBC that I've ever seen has the Oil Filter on the Left-side(driver's side) of the Block,....
And,....
The Starter is on the Right-side(passenger's side) of the Block..........

[NEW INTERIORS]

On the drivers side right behind the head there is a threaded plug there.It is half under the head.So you do have to pull the head to tighten it,If that's where it is leaking.I had one leak there before.It would only leak when I would get on it.Hope this helps. That's why it look's like it is leaking between the block and head.(maybe)This is on the flat spot behind the head.(Drivers side)If you find the plug I'm telling you about.Rev the motor in park and watch the oil come out.
P.S Here is a pic.

[burnt olds]

could it be the front seal in timing cover ?
it could also be the balancer leaking where it slides on the crank end
or even the balancer repair sleeve that repairs the groove made by the front seal .
I've had that before .
i had a chrome cover i bought one time , i smashed it after having to change
because of a leak ,didn't want it to end up on somebodies else's list of problems .
is the cover a thin chrome steel type ?
you have to grind the gasket surface to keep them from leaking .
same for the valve covers .
your fan blows the oil back , try removing it and let it run .
maybe the drip will drip straight down and in your eye , where your safety glasses .

merry ho ho
i hope you get ur done before it ends up a new year resolution thing !

happy new years to

[SSedan64]

Originally Posted by Will H

Ssedan64, There has to be a bolt in there or oil will leak out. That hole makes it possible to replace the fuel pump without losing your cool. You put a long bolt in it to hold the pump push rod up in place before you remove the old pump. then after you install the new pump you take the long bolt out and plug the hole with a short bolt with some sealer on the threads. You probably knew this but I just had to show off.

Will Yes I knew about locking the pump rod with it. I've seen several people leave this bolt out or forget to tighten it. Sometimes there's enough crud behind it that it won't leak for a while. Glad you added that part because plenty don't know what it's for.

[NEW INTERIORS]

Just don't put to long of a bolt,Then you will have more problems.