Where to start? Massive oil leak.

[Stewsta]

So, I just got my car back on the road this week and have been driving it a few times everyday with no issues. Last night my folks were in town and took my dad for a ride when all hell broke loose. We pulled out onto the main road and I gave it a go for about a block and oil and smoke started flying. No noises as if something came apart. Got it pulled off the road very quickly and shut it down. I crawled underneath and everything at the front of the motor is covered in oil. The block is intact there is no obvious area where it came from. My first thought was to run the oil pump with a drill and start from there. Where's the best place to start and is the any particular area that may be prone to this happening? This is on a low mile rebuilt 440 and my oil pressure was 40lbs at idle before we left. I have no idea where it was at when I shut it off but wasn't making any noise. Thanks Stew.

 

[barnfind]

Id start by cleaning the engine off, have someone fire it up and watch what gets wet first.

 

[Ron Ward]

^^^this^^^

 

[WileE]

Is it engine oil, or trans fluid if its A/T ? Ive seen the trans lines/fittings go, causing what you described.

 

[Stewsta]

It's definitely motor oil.

 

[WileE]

Ok, the LAST thing you want to do is fire it up. Clean it off. Do you have a full sump of oil in the pan ? How does the pan look ? What about the timing cover ? Is the oil only underneath ? And also, check the oil filter and the pump housing under there ( even check if the filter is not loose ! )

 

[Stewsta]

Wile, this happened last night so I don't know how much oil is left. It left a 2ft wide snail trail for 3 blocks. From what I could see it was all at the front and down the underside of the engine. Fan and pulleys slung it everywhere. I'm at work 24hrs today but will clean it tomorrow morning and proceed from there.

 

[barnfind]

Obviously, make sure its topped off with oil prior to firing it up, Once you locate the wet area shut it down and correct whats wrong.

 

[WileE]

Ok, a leak that big may be obvious once you clean it. But again, please people, don't recommend starting an engine in this condition sight unseen. I worked in a garage when these cars were new. You can make a simple fix VERY costly. Ive seen rod nuts fly through oil pans like bullets & con rods sticking out the side of a block. IF you have a serious crankcase problem, which I hope you don't, you don't want to compound the problem. Lke I said, start with simple & obvious, like a loose oil filter, and go from there.

 

[dryheat]

Ok, a leak that big may be obvious once you clean it. But again, please people, don't recommend starting an engine in this condition sight unseen. I worked in a garage when these cars were new. You can make a simple fix VERY costly. Ive seen rod nuts fly through oil pans like bullets & con rods sticking out the side of a block. IF you have a serious crankcase problem, which I hope you don't, you don't want to compound the problem. Lke I said, start with simple & obvious, like a loose oil filter, and go from there.

Excellent advise Wile !!! I'm going to bet a Fram oil filter let loose.

 

[Stewsta]

Didn't plan on starting it until I know where it's at for sure. And it has a k&n oil filter on it. I hope it's that simple but I checked it for tightness a couple days ago.

 

[Garys1969RR]

I would check the front seal, and timing cover gasket. Other than the oil filter, I can't think of where that much oil could come from.

 

[Photon440]

A two foot wide strip three blocks long doesn't seem like just a leak, it must have been pumped out. I'd check the oil filter seal first. Even if it was tight, it could still have blown out.

 

[miller]

Besides checking the front main seal, and your oil pump relief spring plug, might want to pull the filter, to check the seal. I've seen them break, get twisted up when installed, and even double stacked.

 

[HT413]

Yep, miller, I had something similar happen to me when I was a kid. I just changed the oil on my old CJ, started it up and in no time the oil blead out of it like a stuck pig. Turned out the oil filter seal from the old filter stayed on and I didn't notice it. So the oil pumped right out between the seals and almost destroyed the motor. If I were you, I'd check here first.

 

[nm9stheham]

^^^ This is step #1.

What engine is this?

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

Check filter , pump gasket, AND the front seal.

Is this motor new? if so did you lube the front seal before the balancer went on? if not it will burn up and piss oil.
good luck!

 

[Stewsta]

. Sometimes it is that easy. Thanks guys

 

[Cranky]

Yup...did it to a brand new Dakota V8 in 92. It was the 2nd oil change and the wife drove it off but luckily she heard something that didn't sound right and got off the gas and went to pull over and at about that time she saw the gauge going down and the light came on just as she turned it off. No damage to that one but it left a 1 foot wide steam of oil on the road for about 700 feet....

 

[nm9stheham]

Good it was that easy... happens about half the time when I pull the filter off of my Cummins turbo diesel.