| silverchief | -- 05-15-2017 @ 11:20 AM |
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If you own an old Ford and it ain't leaking oil, you need to add some. How many times have we heard that? I have owned my stock (except electric fuel pump)1946 for over 12 years and it has always leaked engine oil. A puddle about 8 inches across over 2 weeks. Wiping it up out of the drip pan has become a habit. About two weeks ago, I had a senior moment and left the key on for an overnight. The electric pump pushed gas past needle valve, though the carb, into the oil pan. When I saw what had happened I checked the dip stick - up about double over full. I replaced the oil filter, and drained the pan. First came the oil, followed by at least a gallon of pure gasoline. I let it drip several hours until it stopped. Filled it with new oil and started it up. Runs and idles smooth and quiet, apparently no damage. Whew! It's been about 15 days Since the incident. I have driven the car on several short trips, and it runs beautifully. Checked the oil several times,including today. Clean and exactly on the full mark. Here is the clinker. Since this happened, there is not the smallest speck of oil in the drip pan. Absolutely none, nada, not one tiny drop. It is perfectly clean. If it is going to start leaking again, you would think it would have done so by now. I am happily dumbfounded.
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| JayChicago | -- 05-15-2017 @ 5:23 PM |
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Wow! That's amazing! I'm interested to hear what others think about this.
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| Bob-93021 | -- 05-15-2017 @ 10:44 PM |
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Most interesting! At first this does not make sense. I will assume that you are referring to your real main seal. However I am not sure how high the fluid level was in the crankcase. If it was high enough to seep into the rear rope seal and allow it to absorb the gasoline and expand and seal than maybe that is what happened? While draining the crankcase you saw oil first then the gasoline, which is lighter. I will assume oil level was near full before all of this began. Do you have an estimate of the total liquid drained from crankcase? Can you correlate the height on the dipstick versus the crankshaft? (BTW, it was a good thing that you did not try to start it!!!) Please keep us posted if leak returned I just had another thought. If this is a way to "refresh" rear seals I would flood the crankcase with MMO or ATF rather than gasoline for a day or so and see what happens This message was edited by Bob-93021 on 5-15-17 @ 10:47 PM
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| Bob-93021 | -- 05-15-2017 @ 10:53 PM |
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Ok, Just had another though on this. Just re-read your post and noted about 1 gallon of gasoline came out. The high gasoline level might have dissolved some gunk that could get into the oil filter. Might want to change filter sooner than usual - Bob
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| Big Red 51 | -- 05-16-2017 @ 5:59 AM |
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Bob, His post said he did. Interesting.
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| silverchief | -- 05-16-2017 @ 3:53 PM |
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I drained the oil into a 12 quart container - and it overflowed about a cup.
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| silverchief | -- 05-16-2017 @ 4:01 PM |
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Attached is a pic of my car. I change the oil every summer and it has never burned oil - always near the full mark.
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| alanwoodieman | -- 05-16-2017 @ 4:57 PM |
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you have just soaked the rear main seal with gas for most of a night--maybe it swelled it up again, sort of like new!! I would be interesting in follow ups for a couple weeks/months to see what the outcome is.
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| silverchief | -- 05-17-2017 @ 8:55 AM |
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I'll let you know when/if it starts leaking oil again.
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| JayChicago | -- 05-17-2017 @ 12:43 PM |
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This made for some hearty discussion at out regional group's meeting last night. "Now everyone is going to be topping-off their oil with gasoline!" On thought I had for what its worth: If the gasoline worked so well to soften the rear seal, what else did it dissolve? I know you have fresh oil in, but there could be microscopic bits of loosened crud in that oil. Might be a good idea to change the oil again now. Yes, please let us know long term results.
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| 46coupe | -- 05-20-2017 @ 11:45 AM |
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Hey there, Enjoyed the picture of your car. I have its twin. I agree with the others on letting us know what happens.
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| supereal | -- 05-20-2017 @ 2:36 PM |
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Leaving the ignition on usually cooks the coil. If you have any problems, that would be the first place to look. When we install an electric pump as a booster, we use a spring loaded toggle switch to run it, unless the electric pump is replacing the mechanical pump. This is also a "fail safe" in the event of a collision to prevent a fire.
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| silverchief | -- 05-21-2017 @ 6:57 AM |
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Thanks Bob, I will keep an eye out for any problem and check the coil first. My electric fuel pump is full time.
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| TomO | -- 05-22-2017 @ 7:38 AM |
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When you use an electric fuel pump all of the time, it is a good idea to wire it though a oil pressure switch. Here is a link to a hot rod article on how to do this. http://www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/electric-fuel-pump.html Tom
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| silverchief | -- 05-23-2017 @ 2:49 PM |
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A great article Tom. Thanks very much.
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| silverchief | -- 05-27-2017 @ 8:04 AM |
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My oil pan is starting to show the first very faint traces of oil. It's been about three weeks.
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