Morris Minor Owners Club

Had chance to clean the engine and look for the quite severe oil leak the engine is suffering after driving the car home. Top of the engine is dry, the oil leak is at the back of the engine, oil is running down just to the right of the centre of the front face of the engine back plate looking at the car from the front, gathering on the bottom of the bell housing and rear of the sump. The car appears to have had a recent sump gasket, I was suspecting the rear crankshaft oil seal but the split pin is dry and the oil being on the front face of the engine back plate has got me thinking / hoping sump gasket. Anybody any advice or thoughts.

Yes - it's just the rear seal part of the sump gasket kit. The end seals are cork and if installed correctly they seal fine. Some fit the later rubber seal from the 1275 engine - cut down to fit. Drop the sump and see what's what.

Double check the 2 cover bolts under the manifolds.

Mine had flat washers on (rubber and metal) which allowed them to spread and leak

2 new ones from ESM which include a metal 'cup' washer and a tight bore rubber seal instead of the flat one cured my leaks http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... 2151a92db0 + http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... 2151a92db0

C6Dave wrote:Double check the 2 cover bolts under the manifolds.

Mine had flat washers on (rubber and metal) which allowed them to spread and leak

2 new ones from ESM which include a metal 'cup' washer and a tight bore rubber seal instead of the flat one cured my leaks http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... 2151a92db0 + http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... 2151a92db0

Thanks, had a look around there and all ok.

by bmcecosse » Wed Dec 14 2011 6:57 pm


Yes - it's just the rear seal part of the sump gasket kit. The end seals are cork and if installed correctly they seal fine. Some fit the later rubber seal from the 1275 engine - cut down to fit. Drop the sump and see what's what.

Thanks, I was hoping it's that, as I say there is quite a lot of oil I'm thinking almost to much for it to be the rear crankshaft oil seal if that makes sense and with the split pin being dry which is were I thought it was supposed to come out if it was the oil seal.

Well there is no 'rear crank oil seal' as such - it is a scroll on the crank running in a labyrinth - but if it was leaking (usually due to excessive crankcase pressure) the oil would indeed be running out of the jiggle pin hole in the bellhousing.

bmcecosse wrote:Well there is no 'rear crank oil seal' as such - it is a scroll on the crank running in a labyrinth - but if it was leaking (usually due to excessive crankcase pressure) the oil would indeed be running out of the jiggle pin hole in the bellhousing.

Learnt something new there, I always thought the later models had an oil seal.

No - not even the 1275 Spridget versions - however the Maestro version DOES indeed have a proper oil seal, but whether it is any better than the scroll etc is a moot point!

So it’s play with the troublesome cork sump gasket, any tips on fitting as I believe it can be problematic.

Not difficult - soak in water for 24 hours and fit it firmly into the groove in the sump - leaving 1/4" sticking up proud at each end - then bolt up into place ! Of course the problem may be that the little end bolts for the sump have been stripped and are not able to pull the sump up tight to the block.......

bmcecosse wrote: Of course the problem may be that the little end bolts for the sump have been stripped and are not able to pull the sump up tight to the block.......

Hope not but if so I hope the bolts strip before the block!!

Leafie,
If you want peace and quiet use the rubber seals-it's been discussed here several times and i It works. Use the search engine.
Regards
Declan

if you use the rubber itemes instead of cork, you need to have much less overhang on the length.

Ordered the gasket from ESM just need to wait for the snow/rain to stop.

Ho ho ho, don't you know anyone with a garage, is there anywhere at work you could use?
You can rent garage facilities by the hour, have a look here;
http://www.autopiaservicecentres.co.uk/ ... .php?id=54
A google search on self service garage or ramp hire could reveal other places.

MarkyB wrote:Ho ho ho, don't you know anyone with a garage, is there anywhere at work you could use?
You can rent garage facilities by the hour, have a look here;
http://www.autopiaservicecentres.co.uk/ ... .php?id=54
A google search on self service garage or ramp hire could reveal other places.

No is the simple answer. I thought struggling on the driveway was all part of the illness.

I have known some to stick up a gazebo and work under that........

A good plan until the wind gets up!!
Regarding the bolts stripping.....it's the block which will strip before the bolt
I'm sure the Halfords oil will be fine! There is a noticeable difference between Halfords, Morris Lubricants, Wakefield, Unipart, etc and the "budget " oils. This immediately noticeable when filling the engine- takes much longer for the more expensive types to seep down than the cheaper ones. Also beware of the sneaky practise of some companies selling you 4litres, not 5 litres as you might expect the can to hold!

" it's the block which will strip before the bolt " - yes - but it's a very short screw (not bolt) - so using a slightly longer screw often works well!

I’m still hoping the previous owner hasn’t striped the threads.

Best have a few longer screws on stand-by.......