Purging oil from under cam gear cover! RESOLVED

[WBubble]

1979 124 Spider.

I picked it up last night, former owner said it ran when he parked it for the winter, he started it once since then and now it won't start, just cranks. Today I diagnosed at least one bad spark plug, replaced em all and cleaned the cap and rotor. Also replaced the fuel filter.

GOOD NEWS! She started!

BAD NEWS! Hemorrhaging , and I mean hemorrhaging oil from somewhere under the cam gear cover area. at least 1/2 quart in 30 seconds.

I put some kitty litter down, closed the hood and walked away to think.

I'm thinking it's possibly a crank case ventilation issue, but this is my first Fiat and I don't have a shop manual yet.

Any suggestions on where to start tomorrow?

[tartan18]

Yes, do check out the oil vapor separator (under the intake manifold on the engine block). Often one or both of the rubber hoses has a split underneath.

[BEEK]

i assume you are talking about the timing cover, if oil sis leaking that bad from behind there, there arent many options.
1. front oil seals, either over full of oil or the seal is totaly gone or i have seen them come out or
2. the oil galley in the head gasket is blown out.

try and determine where its coming from, top , middle or bottom. the only place where pressurized oil can escape is the oil galleys in the head gasket.

[131]

2. the oil galley in the head gasket is blown out.

Sorry, don't mean to be picky, well, obviously I do. But it's an oil gallery, a galley is the kitchen on a ship.

[BEEK]

isnt a gallery in a theater?

[fiat218]

Since when is there critize on the words used, u know damn well what beek was referring too
Ok I won't say more( don't get me started)

[131]

Yes, I knew exactly what he was referring to, but it was an incorrect naming of an engine section. It's only a word, but would you be happy for people to refer to your car as a Mazda, it's only a word. I'm in no way having a dig at Beek.

[mgbgtn]

Come on kids, lets play nice together

[WBubble]

RESOLVED!

I looked and looked and looked at every possible hose and part on the front and sides of the engine with no clear indication of where the oil was originating from, and I didn't have an assistant to watch for it while I started her up..... After eliminating all I could, I noticed the oil filter seemed to be near the epicenter of the deluge.

Long story shortened, I replaced the oil filter (and the oil of course), started her up, NO LEAK! At least no leak from that source.

Thanks all for the suggestions and the reminder to watch my grammar.

[tartan18]

There are loud cheers from the galley-ery Have fun with your Fiat!

[4uall]

WHOO HOO

[fiat218]

WHOO HOO

You to to much time on your hands

[azruss]

It is very easy to have the old oil filter seal stick to the housing. If you don't realize it is there, it is easy to get a double seal on the filter. This is a guaranteed leaker.

[narfire]

it is easy to get a double seal on the filter. This is a guaranteed leaker.

More than that...at 50psi the seal will let go and spray oil everywhere..... Took 1/2 hour to clean up...