Oil......

Blue Beard

Blue Beard

New member
Okay, so hear is my problem and I am don't know where to start to fix it. The basics:
-I have 1973 Scout II
-345
-tf727
-4wd
-drum brakes around the horn

problem #1: it leaks oil from the main gasket. I know that because it leaks pretty good from there and I have eliminated the oil really coming from anywhere else. Now this is a problem, but one I understand and know how to fix when I eventually can get to it. My first questions is there a quick way to slow that bleeding down in the meantime?

Problem #2: I know she's leaking and leaking good, yet my dipstick is not registering the oil low. I have been armed and ready to reload, yet never a low oil level. I am thinking there can be two potential issues here. The dipstick is jacked in which case I better find another way to test oil level (I don't know of one) or she was overfilled with oil. A shop did the last round for me. So how do I find this out without draining the entire pan and what are the damages associated with too much oil in your engine?

Any help is greatly appreciated...
 
When you say it is leaking from the main gasket , you mean the oil pan gasket? Or are you talking about the rear main seal? The oil pan gasket is a relatively easy fix. Just drop the pan and replace.

If it is a double hump pan then running the engine a quart over full was a factory service bulletin "fix" for the valve's lack of oiling at high rpm. Which causes the clatter these IH motors are known for. So that shouldn't hurt it. Best way I know to check is to drain completely and re-fill.(sorry) then you can replace the gasket and solve both problems. Someone else May chime in with a better way.

Hope this helps. Do a search and you can find lots of good info.
 
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Thanks for the reply tonkascout. I meant the rear main seal. I already replaced the pan gasket when trying to eliminate all possibilities of the leak before getting into the rear main seal. Figured it was god knows how old anyhow.
 
You do not state a "time frame" --

a "puddle" of oil under the engine is not much compared to a quart of oil.

My 392 leaves a "puddle" on the drip pan that I wipe up once a week / 10 days or so.

But, I currently do not put a quart of oil in between oil changes -- 3000+ miles...

Personally, I would not have the engine / trans pulled just to replace the rear main seal.
 
Never saw an sv engine that did not have the "valley cover" (lifter chamber cover) gasket leaking. That has been discussed here several times. Same for the pcv grommet if your engine has a pcv mounted at the rear of the lifter cover, not all sv engines use that position.

So ya must verify the oil leak location. Very common to have a rear main seal leak along with it's companion side seals...these motors are 30+ years old, and even if "overhauled" many mechanics don't treat that area properly when servicing.

While the oil leak May appear excessive, as Robert stated...it most likely is not if the oil level does not drop within 500 miles of operation! Irritating yes...but certainly not excessive.

Only cure for rear main seal leak...replace. Pouring snakeoil shit in the oil pan won't do a dam thang.

Yes, there are several different dipsticks used in variations of the sv engine as used in all platforms it was installed in. The sii oil pump/oil pan/dipstick/location is unique for the sii. The dipstick should match the pan but that is not a deal breaker!!!

One more time for an sii...to verify what is correct...drain the oil and toss the filter! If your sii pan has two drain plugs, pull and drain both! Then...replace the filter and install seven quarts of your oil of choice. Then check the stick after the engine has been run and the filter and drain plugs leak-checked.

Wherever the oil level is with seven quarts...is the "new" correct oil level!!! Simply remark the stick accordingly.

Doing this eliminates any guesswork and provides additional make-up oil in the lubrication system when the sii-version of the sv engine is running at "cruise" speed. This was a design issue regarding the sii oil pump/pan only and does not affect any other variation of these engines. And...this issue is not because of a "poor oil drainback" situation unless the oil drains in the heads are clogged...in that case, the cure is overhaul! These motors don't go 200,00+ miles if they have lubrication system deficiencies!!!

However, running seven quarts in any sv engine will not create any problem with cavitation/aeration or oil loss. I run seven quarts in all my motors and have re-marked the dipsticks accordingly.
 
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