7 replies to this topic

[Chelsea_Pete]

As title suggest, I'm finding engine oil on the underside of my distributor body, dripping on top of the starter.

New distributor a few weeks back, leak started then. But doesn't seem to be coming from where the dizzy meets the block, rather the dizzy body itself.
I can make up a gasket for the distributor-block connection, but fairly sure this is not a normal place for one, right?! Since theres an oil 'O' ring on the spindle

In terms of engine oil pressure, I think its OK - breathers are clear, doesnt overheat, and if it was a pressure issue, I'd have expected it to burst out of the existing small leak at the gear rod selector seal!

 

Had a quick search of the forum and not found a thread on this leak point - is it common? Whats the best solution?

 

Cheers, Peter

[KTS]

have you taken the distributor cap off and checked inside the distributor - clean or oily ?

 

there's lot of high pressure oil fittings around the distributor like oil filter feed pipe unions/oil pressure gauge/sensor fitting/pressure release valve that could leak and blow oil around that area

 

if you haven't already, give the whole area a damn good clean to help identify exactly where the oil is coming from

[Bat]

Hi,

There shouldn't be any pressure behind the dizzy, so take a look at the things in the post above.

Cheers 

[Spider]

Check the O Ring on the distributor body is there and hasn't gone hard.

 

If it is coming from the Distributor itself, then it's a possible sign that the bushes are worn.

 

A+ engines seem much more prone to doing this than the A types.

[Chelsea_Pete]

Cheers guys, There's no oil at all under the cap, clean as a whistle.
As I say the distributor is brand new so Id doubt the seals or bushes are gone. Will try to get photos up tomorrow

Anyway, have worse issues to deal with as of this evening (towed home after coming off the road, oo-er!) so I'll have to go through the above check list at a later date, once Ive made sure all my stearing and suspension is still in order!

[cal844]

Cheers guys, There's no oil at all under the cap, clean as a whistle.
As I say the distributor is brand new so Id doubt the seals or bushes are gone. Will try to get photos up tomorrow

Anyway, have worse issues to deal with as of this evening (towed home after coming off the road, oo-er!) so I'll have to go through the above check list at a later date, once Ive made sure all my stearing and suspension is still in order!

Hopefully for you the car isn't badly damaged.

My friend hit a deer once, we straightened the bonnet slam panel just enough to get the bonnet down and secure.

It's remained like that for 3years haha

[nicklouse]

most likely getting splashed from the dip stick and the breathers are not connected to the carb/inlet.

[Verbree]

Same problem on my Metro 1275 cc powered Mini. The oil even reached the clutch plate (following the starter motor body and flywheel housing) and made it slip!

 

The cause was radial play in the dizzy shaft. In my case is was 0.4 mm (0.016 thou). I reduced it to 0.1 mm (0.004 thou) using a shim at the base of the dizzy above the dog drive ring. Dry now and I am happy!

 

John