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Dreaded crankshaft oil leak.


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I am suffering from a severe oil leak from the rear of the engine, from my recently rebuilt TR2, which has had a crankshaft seal conversion, not sure which one.

 

I have read the many posts on this subject, and, as I cannot see oil on the back of the flywheel, was thinking the camshaft rear oil core plug may be leaking.

 

When I first started the engine the pressure went up to around 100 psi until I adjusted it to 70 or so.

 

My question is: is the cam bearing core plug subject to direct oil-pump pressure from the bearing feed, or is the gap at the end of the camshaft vented back to the sump, ie has oil pressure popped this plug?

 

Thanks for you feedback

 

Mike

 

 

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Unlikely to have popped the plug I would have thought. Which conversion did you have as I have seen the Landrover type one (scroll machined off) leak from between the seal housing and the block. Also crank machining needs to be very precise and there are conflicting measurements bandied about for it.

Stuart.

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The cam core plug is under pressure.....if its leaking oil will pour out.......gearbox out, flywheel off to get at it. If it is leaking get a new one (it is the domed type) and coat the edges with setting gasket compound.......when expanding it use a drift of around 2/3 the diameter of the core plug. One good wack with a club hammer will seal it......

 

No experience with crank seals....would not use one....never found anything wrong with the original design in 40 years of ownership....as long as the engine is in reasonable order and the crankcase ventilation is not obstructed.

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Thanks for replies,

 

not sure of source of crank seal conversion as I bought the car part restored with engine done.

 

The car was being built for racing so had a later sealed-filler rocker cover, with vent pipe connected to front carb air filter, and lower crankcase vent was plugged off. I am going to fit the original TR2 rocker cover with vented filler and open 'extracting' lower breather pipe, as per original setup.

Will see if this helps.

 

Anyone used the oil additive which is supposed to swell oil seals?,

 

Cheers

 

Mike

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Thanks for replies,

 

 

Anyone used the oil additive which is supposed to swell oil seals?,

 

Cheers

 

Mike

Snake oil. Dont bother fix the leak.

Stuart.

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The Land-Rover seal must run on a 2.5"/63.5mm journal- the 65mm dimension that became commonplace is erroneous- full stop.

Repro LR seals were of poor quality too & fitting the housings needs some care, even to the extent of filing out some of the bolt holes, radiussing the mating edges, and so on.

The majority of catastrophic camshaft plug leaks stem from repro camshafts from the 90s & 00s, some of which (both 4 & 6 pot) lack the relief drilling through the rear journal, leading to a pressure buildup in the void between bearing & plug. I have actually witnessed one of our beloved race drivers blow the plug clean out of his TR5 by selecting 1st gear from 7500rpm in 2nd...very messy...!

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