Leak at distributor hold down??

Discussion in 'Wet behind the ears??' started by Skylark-72, Jun 19, 2022.

  1. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    I have been chasing a small oil leak, thought it was distributor seal, so installed new one however still getting oil in on the timing cover where the hold down is bolted. Is there a washer or other gasket that goes with hold down? Small leak just can’t seem to find source, any ideas?
     

    Attached Files:

  2. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    Looks like valley leaking.
     
    Skylark-72 likes this.
  3. Max Damage

    Max Damage I'm working on it!

    I think maybe it's the front seal on the intake?
     
    Skylark-72 likes this.
  4. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    I have dried it out and drove and there wasn’t any leaks from the valley area….
     
  5. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    The timing covers gasket sometime will wick oil through them.
     
    bostoncat68 and Skylark-72 like this.
  6. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    I'm not a big fan of the rubber valley end seals, they get crushed and cut and split....especially ifvthe heads and block have been cut
     
    Mark Demko and Skylark-72 like this.
  7. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    I’ll double check, seems to be the goto spot. I appreciate all the help.
     
  8. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    UPDATE (if interested) so i just added some UV dye to oil went on a nice little drive to see where this oil is coming from. Sure enough it is from the bolt of the distributor hold down. added some photos as well. Ordered a new one from TA with a washer, might add some thread seal or tape when i install new one.
     

    Attached Files:

    BYoung likes this.
  9. Max Damage

    Max Damage I'm working on it!

    Huh, I would use the old bolt and just teflon tape the part of that passes into the timing case? Be careful with anything you use to make this seal so "extra" material does not end up going into the timing case.

    Seems like an odd place to leak. Do you have an oil pressure gauge and if so how does that look?
     
    Skylark-72 likes this.
  10. Skylark-72

    Skylark-72 Eric S (72 Custom Convertible)

    agreed very odd place, i have a gauge but my sensor went out so i need to reinstall a new sending unit for it. but last time i had positive pressure around 30psi+
     
  11. chrome yellow

    chrome yellow Well-Known Member

    I had a front cover that had an oiling mod done. Small copper tube tapped into oil feed line and curved to squirt onto distributor gear. Yours have this done and the tube sprung a leak? Just a thought.
     
    sean Buick 76 likes this.

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