The 'E' Type Forum

Hi
I have a 1969 FHC with an oil leak that is coming from the front cylinder head to block studs (the downwards facing ones) on the nearside
I’d be grateful for any advice on fixing this.
Is it a cylinder head off job or is there a simpler fix
Many thanks
Tom

Is it the cylinder head to block? Wouldn't have thought you'd get oil from there - is it the cam cover bolts you're looking at?

Hi Tom.....you could try removeing the studs...useing double nuts..then thread sealer and sealing washers on the studs.....however oil leaks are diffucult to detect....a very common place to leak is from the camshaft oil banjos at the rear of the head......then can flow along the head joint and drip off the studs...so clean the area thoroughly first then check the leaks.....Steve

It’s definitely coming from those studs at the front
The cam cover is sealing nicely with no leaks coming down from there

Would you just use loctite as a thread sealer?
I like the idea of a simpler fix…don’t really fancy taking the head off

Thread sealer.....i like Hylomar blue.....Steve

Use Dowty washers.

Remove the nut and washers.

Put a smear of RTV silicone around the bottom of the stud.

Replace the copper washer with a new (soft annealed) one and the flat steel washer.

Tighten to 20lbft.

Available cheaply on eBay etc is a dye that you put into your oil, run the car for a day or two and then with the UV torch (supplied in the kit) you search the engine for the source of the leak(s). Works every time and on power steering and auto/manual gearboxes etc etc also.

I had the same issue in exactly the same place prior to my rebuild and a dowty washer fixed it for me.

Thanks for the advice
I replaced the copper washers with dowty washers and put everything back together (had to take off air con and alternator bracket to access the front nearside stud).
When I came to test it this morning there is still a significant oil leak shown in the image. That is without running the engine at all. Seems odd.
Any other options??
Tom

I’d be very surprised if the front studs leak that much oil without running the engine.

I would take a much closer look at the cam covers and front engine breather. Make sure the gauze filter in the breather has the concave side protruding into the cylinder head.

Tom.....in a post above you said "its definatly comming from the studs".......is it still comming from there...with that amount of oil assuming you recently cleaned it all up you should easily be able to trace it upwards. ...Steve