Nice drive then ..... bugger - oil everywhere

[Rockettvr]

Hi all
Not posted on here since my wedge sold last year . My son however still has his 390
Decided to dis- inter it now that we’ve finally got some sunshine. Had a good run out in it including a bit of “spirited” driving all went well until dawdling on the way home when we saw some smoke blowing out from the front somewhere. Got it pulled over and popped the bonnet and there’s oil pretty much everywhere but seems to be concentrated around the front of the engine. Thankfully the oil that must have got onto the exhaust must have burnt off with no further dramas, could have turned into a nasty fire.
Took as look under neath the front and I can see a fairly steady dripping of oil although not exactly where from
I recon we lost a 1-2 pints of oil before we got pulled in and probably another couple of pints while it sat until it was recovered
The dipstick is showing oil on the very tip 5 or 6 mm worth about 10mm below the min level
I’m hoping no internal damage as we got stopped pretty quickly and we still had oil pressure at that point
So my diagnosis would be a blown front crankshaft oil seal unless there’s another possibility???
What’s the deal with these. - looks tight getting a puller in to pull the front pulley off otherwise straightforward???
Looks diy able or should I get it to the pros??
All advice welcomed

Edited by Rockettvr on Saturday 29th May 17:31

[KKson]

I know of leaking crank seals but not catastrophic failures. Have you checked the hoses to and from the remote oil filter? They do perish. I had to replace them on my 390 a few years ago.

[Rockettvr]

KKson what an excellent suggestion. A much more likely source of our woes. I knew the filter would normally live down there but it didn’t occur to me that it was possibly one of the hoses - as usual my mind rushed straight to the worst case scenario.... doh. I’ll check and report back
Cheers

Edited by Rockettvr on Sunday 30th May 07:58

[ChrisW500]

Ron

My Wedge did the same on the M20 back in the day. As already mentioned mine split the upper remote hose. I went to my local hydraulic hose place in Gravesend with the old ones and the remote filter and they made me new ones up while I waited with all the proper crimped connectors correct threads rather than jubilee clips cost me about £50 as I recall

Hope your well btw… still got the Chim over here in Ireland!

C

[KKson]

Price wise I paid £30 for a pair of new hoses with pukka crimped ends, to match the old set. Prices our neck of the woods are pretty good. I used our local hydraulic hose supplier.

Edited by KKson on Sunday 30th May 20:31

[adam quantrill]

Loose filter? Also the hose to the oil cooler, or a hole in it.

If you have oil on the tip of the dipstick that is plenty to avoid damage, there's 4-5 pints in the sump.

[Rockettvr]

Hi guys
KKson called it - split in a pipe - on the back side nearest engine so couldn’t see it until removed. New pipes to be sourced next week

Hi Chris
Hope you’re keeping well
How are you finding the Emerald Isle ???
Can’t remember exactly where you are ?
Our place in Achill (Mayo) is now just about done now so we’ll be spending a lot more time out there ourselves (covid might have a say in that though)

[ChrisW500]

Glad its not a terminal issue with the car, the RV8 is a solid old engine you have to really work hard to destroy it!

Will drop you an email on how things are going here...