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Leak

R

RustyRed

Active Member
I have a friend that is looking at buying a Mustang and he started asking me a few questions.

Car seems overall in really good shape except for an oil leak. Current owner who is selling hasn't had time to chase it down but the motor (302) was rebuilt about two years and give / take 2,500 miles ago.

We were debating if this is a big deal or not? My thought was it could mean something went wrong with a gasket somewhere when the engine was being assembled. Or I guess it could mean seals have dried out from lack of driving / fluids circulating through the motor.

If it could be chased down to one gasket that might not be a big deal I suppose.

But wouldn't it be a big deal if it were a rear-main or all the seals? I was thinking you'd have to pretty much pull the motor and replace all the seals and gaskets if you couldn't convince yourself it was simply human error on one gasket somewhere when being assembled.

Sound about right?
 
A lot depends on where the leak is from. Any leak is a hassle but not major. I doubt the engine would need a complete gasket set replaced. Just clean it and trace the leak. Valve cover, intake, front/rear main, or oil pan are the main areas. Just figure that in the cost.
 
You're gonna have to chase it down as Pete said. Find out where first. It could be as simple as an oil filter gasket. It could be much more involved.
 
Leaks wouldn't bother me on these old cars, it's not that difficult to R&R the engines. If fact, it's quite fun seeing how much time you can shave off removing them......when you do it all the time.

At least that's been my experience this year!
 
it's quite fun seeing how much time you can shave off removing them......
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Ain't that the truth!

I R&R'd the 4.2 in my Jeep Wrangler 3 times one day. I was troubleshooting a clutch problem and the only way to verify if I'd accomplished anything was to completely re-install the engine and attempt a test drive.

It's been a couple years, but I bet I can still have that engine out and on the garage floor in under an hour....
 
Leaks? What's the big deal? I mean...I take leaks whenever I can!

Technically, one doesn't take a leak...one leaves a leak.
 
No, one does not take or leave the leak. One just leaks......and hopefully at the right time and place with all things in the proper alignment.
 
"AzPete" said:
No, one does not take or leave the leak. One just leaks......and hopefully at the right time and place with all things in the proper alignment.
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That's hard to do with a couple of Wattles within oneself...
 
"silverblueBP" said:
Leaks wouldn't bother me on these old cars, it's not that difficult to R&R the engines. If fact, it's quite fun seeing how much time you can shave off removing them......when you do it all the time.
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I agree; we've been known to R&R front wheel drive V6s for the 100k "timing belt and exhaust gaskets" job...got it down to ~12 hours and believe you me, these things ain't any fun to work on. Old cars are so much faster its not funny. Legend has it that they R&R'ed my uncle's Monza and had it winning street races in an hour. I guess a 350HO was quite a bit more motor than the 305 2bbl lump. :rofl
 
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