Thread: Project Special K

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Thanks Roger. This engine isn't hooked up to gauges but I will check the sensor that is plugged into the intake, the fact that only oil went spraying out, makes me think it wasn't the head gasket, since the only time I've had head gasket problems were in conjunction with water and oil mixing, and that was on a jeep cj7. The oil definitely came from the firewall driver side so oil pressure sensor makes the most sense, or the oil pan, not Sure if the oil pans get that kind of pressure! Hope you are right because that is an easy fix compared to other choices! Yesterday I wasn't thinking too clearly after quickly trying to contain the oil flooding thgarage floor. Took about 2 hours to get that done, but cment looks clear and normal this morning so the sealant worked well on the new concrete slab!

Well I just chatted with my mechanic friend who thru a matter of deduction thinks the seal to the oil filter probably leaked or it came lose, which would explain the high pressure spray. no oil any where near the oil sensor, so that is ruled out, and no pressure that high in oil pan to spray out so fast, and a head gasket leak wouldn't be under that kind of pressure. Since the oil filter bare has any on on it I'm guessing that's not it maybe the main bearing seal in back it'll have to wait until I get another day off from work so I can explore under the truck. its definately the most coated with oil spray right towards the driverside fire wall coating the steering shaft where it is connected to the steering gear box. Ugh!.

I don't recall what engine you're running in the truck, but there are often a couple of ports into the oil pump outlet area, giving you a choice where to put your sending unit. To spray out that much oil it has to be on the pump discharge side, supplying oil to the engine, not the drain side like the pan. The oil filter backing off is a good possibility! Good luck, and hoping you didn't starve the engine before getting it shut down!

Roger it's a 1971 460. I shut the engine off immediately when I heard and saw the oil spraying, within a few seconds, it kept spewing out uinder pressure for a bit. I've been reading up that the oil pump has a pressure relief valve that can blow back itno the pan, and also if it's gasket fails it can leak back pressure into oil pan. Think I might have mechanic friend take it to his shop where he has several lifts to get a better idea on where the source of the leak was. I agree there aren't to many choices here. I will have to wait a while before I have a break from work and other priorities to look for the obvious and crawl under it. The truck was only running a few minutes when this happened, oil wasn't hot and headers seemed cool enough not to smoke when oil got on the driver side header pipe.

".......Well I just chatted with my mechanic friend who thru a matter of deduction thinks the seal to the oil filter probably leaked or it came lose......"

Without seeing the car in person, I would come to the same conclusion as your mechanic.

However "....... its definately the most coated with oil spray right towards the driverside fire wall coating the steering shaft where it is connected to the steering gear box....."

Are you sure it's engine oil and not power steering fluid?
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I actualy gort a day off work yesterday so I was able to jack the front up and do a crawl thru I wiped down oil and took pictures with my cell phone. I could not find any obvious are of an oil leak. the spray area definitely coincides with the level of the oil filter where it screws in. I also noticed the filter was about an 1/8" from seated flush with the base of the filter mount screwed in as far as it goes, I'm thinking the auto parts store gave me the wrong size filter last year. I'll get a new one today before work and see if that is the issue. As to power steering fluid this truck is bare bones basic at the momment so no heater, no power steering, etc. The clincher there is the oil pan dip stick shows a very smaill amount of oil left(think way below the safe fluid level.) Fingers crossed this is the issue. Next question - what oil do you guys recommend. I have to check what I bought last time I added ZDDP with all of the oil changes since building the engine, but have heard a few people meantion oils with zinc already added. Thanks for all your feed back!

Steve, I believe you're going to find that the Ford engines of that era all used the same basic oil filter, the MotorCraft FL1A or equivalent from other suppliers, like WIX 51515 with ¾-16 thread and Gasket 2.834" O.D. & 2.462 I.D. I've seen spin on oil filters missing the flat rubber o-ring gasket that fits into a recessed ring on top of the filter unit, and on occasion have seen that gasket stick to the oil filter adapter on the block which means two gaskets - one stuck on the block adapter and one on the new filter, which doesn't work so good if it's not noticed.

I was thinking like Roger. Possibly 2 seals between the filter and block. An easy test, As long as there is oil anywhere on the dipstick. disable the distributor by either unplugging the center hi voltage wire or (preferred) pull the 12 volt supply. And simply crank the motor for say 8 to 10 seconds.
Then look around for evidence of the oil leaking. Since it was recently running it shouldn't take much to move oil and build pressure.

Cheap and easy = cost effective.

Thanks guys, that is really a good place to start. I got the new filter and oil yesterday, so tomorrow I'll try the leak test, and look to see if there are any old ring washers causing a double washer issue, would explain a lot! Randy also mentioned that the filters are all the same size for the 460's from the early 70's, mines a 71 block. He also mentioned I should be using a much higher viscosity oil and suggested 20/50. I had read up that the clearances can be much wider on bearings ect for these old big blocks, and am guessing that is what he was alluding to. My last oil change I think I was using 5 or 10/30 which he felt was much too thin., I could be wrong because my memory isn't what it used to be, and the shelf with my extra oil cans is currently blocked with a bunch of boxed new fenders, running boards, floor replacement sheets, etc. still in their boxes. I'll move those tomorrow and see what I can find as I need to add some ZDDP zinc additive to add to the new oil.

Originally Posted by stovens

Thanks guys, that is really a good place to start. My last oil change I think I was using 5 or 10/30 which he felt was much too thin., I need to add some ZDDP zinc additive to add to the new oil.

This will stir the pot but. I am not a fan of 20/50 oils, unless the motor struggles to get oil pressure. I prefer a 10w30 or 10w40 oil. And I am not a fan of zinc additive. It's been proven to just lay in the bottom of the oil pan. There are a couple oils that still have the zinc needed for 70's motor.

But, here's my disclaimer, I follow the golden rule. Since you are spending your gold you make the rules!

Great news, and thanks for the advice 34_40 and Roger. Pulled the distributor power wire off after first meticulously feeling for any oil residue around the rim, then cranked it for a few second and goat a few drips seeping out. Pulled filter and looked from under the truck up to the engine filter housing, and sure enough a second oil ring gasket I missed when I changed the oil last year. The reason the filter never set flush to the oil filter mount on the engine block. Relieved and feeling a bit stupid for missing that a year ago, maybe a beer 30 mistake back then. Good new should be coming, draining rest of pan and the will put new oil in and fire her up. Should be fine! After this last year of financial emergencies from dog breast cancer, to convertible rood replacement to stollen tax returns, I kind of go zero to 60 when another problem jumps out to bite me, this one should be no big deal! Thanks again you guys as a group share a ton of knowledge that I really value. Steve

Glad to hear the result!! Great news, and great that it happened in your garage and not flying down the highway at WOT!!

Yep, my truck seems to give me brakes all the time. Last year when it had a split in the fuel line that didn't appear, but would starve gas, I crawled under truck that had been sitting out side to find leaves soak in gas when I tried to trace the leak, I lifter the rubber fuel tubing and there was a huge split that gushed gas out. Had the truck fired up, with this leak right above the passenger muffler, I may not be here today. I guess it pays to have a truck that miss behaves before it lets me suffer the consequence's! Just finished the oil change and everything working fine now. I found my ZDDP container, it's actually SFR Oil Fortifier with ZDDP in it. Now maybe I can get back to prepping for primer and then paint.

I'm glad you got that figured out. Our new guy at work did this a few years ago but the funny thing was, it was on an airport cargo tractor. The oil filter is below the frame line. He started the unit, walked to the LH side by the front tire, and when it got oil pressure, it soaked his pants. Double seal for the win.

Yeah I had a gasket stick to the oil filter adapter once with the inevitable results. Usually once is all it takes to religiously check each oil change (something I hammered into Cade over the years too).

Best one I ever ran into was when I was working at a gas station in St Louis around 1970. One evening when I came in the owner had a Tri-5 chevy up on the rack and wanted me to do oil change on it. It had had the original canister style filter on it so I pulled the can got the gasket out and put a new filter and gasket on. I was about to let it down when the boss came over and asked if I got the old gasket out and I told him I had, even showed it to him. Then he asked if I had checked for any additions gaskets stuck up the in the recess the gasket sits in......I told him no. So he had me pull the new filter and gasket back off and take a thin screwdriver to the gasket recess......there were 4 old gaskets stuck up there. Learned a lesson that night LOL.



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