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Trooper · 03-03-2010, 04:27 PM

Can a head gasket leak oil ? Still trying to find my leak and brake cleaned the old oil , drove to and from work and found dampness. It is not coming from the valve cover gasket. One spot looks like it leaks around the stud where the oil tube is mounted to the block and behind the dist. There is no oil on the head only below. I have never had a leak on a head gasket before. The engine only has 220,000 on it ?

88fadedglory · 03-03-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trooper

Can a head gasket leak oil ? Still trying to find my leak and brake cleaned the old oil , drove to and from work and found dampness. It is not coming from the valve cover gasket. One spot looks like it leaks around the stud where the oil tube is mounted to the block and behind the dist. There is no oil on the head only below. I have never had a leak on a head gasket before. The engine only has 220,000 on it ?

Yes, it can, technically. You have a passage for pressurized oil to the rocker arms and passages for the oil to drain backl to the pan. The exception is engines that flow oil thru the pushrods.

But, a head gasket is made to handle more pressure than you pump can put out.

Check around the distributor (is there an "O" ring?), oil pressure sending (is it tight?) unit and the dipstick tube ("O"-ring seal?)

Trooper · 03-03-2010, 06:34 PM

Yeah been through all that havent replaced the dist. o-ring yet but the dist. is like 6 months old. All other gaskets and o-rings have been replaced. When I replaced the dist. I could not for the life of me get in in right at all. Had to call a friend set TDC through the spark plug hole and go that route. Its funny that replacing the dist is an easy job but not mine. LOL thats why I dont want to pull the dist. off and replace the seal.

88fadedglory · 03-03-2010, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trooper

Yeah been through all that havent replaced the dist. o-ring yet but the dist. is like 6 months old. All other gaskets and o-rings have been replaced. When I replaced the dist. I could not for the life of me get in in right at all. Had to call a friend set TDC through the spark plug hole and go that route. Its funny that replacing the dist is an easy job but not mine. LOL thats why I dont want to pull the dist. off and replace the seal.

Here's the trick:

Leave the rotor in place.

Then mark where it lines up with the housing and where the housing lines up with the engine block.

When you lift it out, watch for the rotor turning a little and then stop and mark that spot with two lines.

Do not rotate the engine.

When you go to put it back in, line the rotor up on the two marks, slide the distributor back in and line the mark on the block with the housing.

Tighten 'er down, put the cap back on and you're done.

If you've been careful, the timing should be right on the money.

swells6367 · 03-03-2010, 11:42 PM

I had a leak from the dist o-ring it collected on the pan, also the valve cover

Trooper · 03-04-2010, 03:20 PM

Thanks 88 but I know that stuff. The damn thing just wouldnt line up ? LOL if you turn it over without the dist. on good luck getting the timing right.

88fadedglory · 03-04-2010, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trooper

Thanks 88 but I know that stuff. The damn thing just wouldnt line up ? LOL if you turn it over without the dist. on good luck getting the timing right.

<LOL>

Yeah, but that's where the silly little marks come in handy.

Slant sixes have the dist on the low side of the engine (it leans to the passenger side about 30 degrees) and on some chassis, like the 60 -67 A-bodies, you're almost doing it blind ... and the only way to set the points easily? Pull the dist.

vaquaro · 03-08-2010, 11:30 AM

2 things to check : Breather tube from valve cover to air filter box ( if plugged or restricked , the vc is over pressurized oil will be forced out thru the tube grommet ) also the vc oil cap gasket is marginal at best , a new or thicker gasket is a quick fix

Trooper · 03-09-2010, 07:41 PM

Good idea but that is on the other side of the motor.

flawlesslydisturbed · 03-09-2010, 08:36 PM

From most of my experience a leaking head gasket meant bigger troubles. Warped head or broken or stripped bolts.

Hope this isn't the issue for ya. Good luck man.

Trooper · 03-10-2010, 08:29 AM

If anything warped head. It still drives just fine.

mossgreen · 06-03-2010, 08:01 PM

Here you go Sir.

Oil Leaking from head gasket?? - Jeep Cherokee Forum

jeepgod · 06-06-2010, 09:18 AM

Get some degreaser and hose down your engine when it is cold with a pressure washer and then drive it for a few days or so and check again and you will see where the leak is coming from. I had one vehicle that leaked oil from the head gasket too and after putting the degreaser on it, it showed very obviously.