Oil leak from bellhousing dust cover

[ScottVA]

I have a fair amount of oil leaking from the hole in the bellhousing dust cover. Does this mean the rear main seal is leaking or can it be coming from a leaking oil pan gasket possibly? The engine is a 440. Thank you,

Scott

 

[coloradodave]

Start at the top back of the motor. Use a mirror and a flashlight if you have to. Look for oil at the back of the intake manifold, valve covers and the oil pressure sending unit. If all looks dry, and there is no obvious oil leaking from the oil pump / filter area and blowing back, then it could be the rear main or oil pan gasket. Check all the pan bolts for correct torque, as well as the drain plug. Air rushing under a car moves any dripping oil in weird ways. If it appears that it's the rear main you will change the pan gasket at the same time. Hope it's an easy fix.

 

[benno440]

ewww, the dreaded rear main, done 5 times on my 505 and still leaks

 

[Trashdog67]

If you have an automatic, put a piece of paper underneath the leak area and if you come up with red fluid it could be the torque converter seal. HTH.

 

[ScottVA]

Thanks guys. I'll do as advised.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

I use that fluorescent leak stuff it works good for getting closer to where the leaks are, it's ho I found my oil pan leak. With a windage tray and two gaskets it's easy to over tighten the pan bolts and cause a bend in the pan rails, mine was leaking in the rear as well driving me nuts. A whole new set up (new mildon pan, new mopar performance tray, new gaskets) and a guy with a lighter touch than me and it's all good. without that leak detection stuff I would have replaced the rear main unnecessarily

 

[ScottVA]

That's exactly what I want to avoid doing myself. If it's the pan leaking and not the seal, is the pan easily removed on a b body?

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Yes, get the car up high enough to crawl under and you can do it yourself.

 

[benno440]

I use that fluorescent leak stuff it works good for getting closer to where the leaks are, it's ho I found my oil pan leak. With a windage tray and two gaskets it's easy to over tighten the pan bolts and cause a bend in the pan rails, mine was leaking in the rear as well driving me nuts. A whole new set up (new mildon pan, new mopar performance tray, new gaskets) and a guy with a lighter touch than me and it's all good. without that leak detection stuff I would have replaced the rear main unnecessarily

anymore details on this leak stuff you use?

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Any auto parts store same stuff used for trans.

 

[ScottVA]

Well..good and bad news. The good first...it's not the oil pan, nor the seal. Now, the bad...it's leaking from a valve cover that I just replaced the gasket on for the second time. I've used FelPro cork both times and both have leaked. I used the 3M adhesive on the cover side and nothing on the head rail. I cleaned and denatured the head and I let the cover sit a few days before installing. The gasket was good and flat. It went on so good and easy..all bolts lined right up. It's a steel, chrome cover. Anyway, I tried to tighten slightly more and I'll try it again, I guess.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Don't over tighten, so guys swear by the cork, I used cat MP covers and use the felpro fiber ones. Use rtv to gasket to cover but not on head side. maybe 11" ftlbs of torque real light not loose but not more than just over hand tight.

 

[Car Nut]

I heard these Carbon-X valve cover gaskets work.

http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/sucavacoset.html

 

[coloradodave]

Bad news? I don't see any bad news in that...you get to fix the problem without lying on your back on the cement. That's the best outcome I could imagine. Can't add much to what has been said. First make sure the valve cover rail is flat and that the area around the bolt holes is flush with the rest of the rail. If not (as in someone once over tightened the bolts), flip the cover upside down and set the back end of a 9/16" or 5/8" socket under the hole to act as an anvil and from the top side gently tap it back in to shape with a flat face hammer. I like Gaska-Cinch or K&W Coppercoat to glue the gasket of your choice to the cover and then I wipe a little grease on the bottom of the gasket. As has been said, tighten until 'snug' and then recheck after driving a few times. Geez, you can do all this standing up! Lucky you...

 

[WP29440SE]

the felpro fiber ones. Use rtv to gasket to cover but not on head side. maybe 11" ftlbs of torque real light not loose but not more than just over hand tight.

I have stamped steel chrome covers and these gaskets rock , I put them on dry and they have not even thought about leaking

Bad news? I don't see any bad news in that...you get to fix the problem without lying on your back on the cement. That's the best outcome I could imagine.

exactly what I thought, I would have been doing cartwheels to find out its just a valve cover

 

[ScottVA]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the help and you're right, a simple valve cover gasket. Big deal. But I have meticulously tried 2 sets now on this side and both installed easily and smoothly. The engine has a cross ram intake, so a little more nuisance than normal, but the covers fit down nicely. I use a 1/4" ratchet and extension and one hand to snug em and go from there. I don't think I overtightened. I may have to try another gasket and hope for the best. I will look over the cover itself to make sure it's flat. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[coloradodave]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the help and you're right, a simple valve cover gasket. Big deal. But I have meticulously tried 2 sets now on this side and both installed easily and smoothly. The engine has a cross ram intake, so a little more nuisance than normal, but the covers fit down nicely. I use a 1/4" ratchet and extension and one hand to snug em and go from there. I don't think I overtightened. I may have to try another gasket and hope for the best. I will look over the cover itself to make sure it's flat. Thanks again for all the help.

Just a thought. Is your valve train all stock? I once had an aftermarket rocker shaft stand that interfered with the cover sealing correctly on the back end.

 

[ScottVA]

Dave, the valve train is all stock. Visually, I see no reason why it shouldn't seal. I cleaned everything meticulously and the cover sits right down on the head. I simply replaced the valve covers to add some chrome that now matches the air cleaners. Now I have this small hassle because of bling. Life isn't fair...lol...but at least I'm standing and working on it as opposed to being underneath like I originally thought.

 

[coloradodave]

Thank goodness for the little perks in life...lol. You'll get it.