"Oil" ask this only once.......

[UnaBellaDonna]

Sorry about the attempt at humour

Just a quickie. Is it usual to have the odd spot of oil on the ground when car is standing after it has been used? It is only a spot each time. The sump is nice and dry and there are no visible signs of any leaks/engine nice and clean. Oil level constant. There is also the odd splash on the inside of the engine door but I assume that this is from all the rocking and rolling these little engines do?

Cheers

[dajwid]

Mmmmmm, not a spot on my garage floor.

[UnaBellaDonna]

I'll lend you a few if you like  [-/

[Rusty's Uncle]

Allo , allo , I thank you may have a smoll lick there 

No humour here either    but on a more serious note in a perfect world there would be no leaks from the engine. You should be able to do a little bit of detective work by following the path of the drip back up to the engine etc. If the oil is coming out as a fine mist/spray then it is probably being blown out perhaps past the rocker cover filler , dip stick or distributor base. Sounds a bit silly but if you get some toilet tissue & tie it round the appropriate areas with a little tape you can check for leaks when the engine is up to temperature. Oil can also be flung out from the dynamo pulley, oil film on the outside would indicate a problem with the oil filter o-ring seal or oil on the back of the pulley would indicate a problem with the crankshaft oil seal  [-/

[UnaBellaDonna]

I thank you Sir.

I suspect it is coming from the dynamo pulley myself but I will do a bit of a Hercule Poirot this Saturday to see.

Cheers.

[126bis1997]

Also check if the oil could be coming out of the rubber gaitors from the gearbox where the shafts go in. Could be an oil seal about to go.

[Pete126]

If you flatten a large cardboard box push it under the engine and gearbox to determine whether the leak is coming from the front or the back of the engine or gearbox

[bis13]

just a question that i would like to ask is when you purchased this car was it described as having had a full restoration? and did that mean both mechanical and structually? if so the person who sold this car to you if selling cars as a dealer is obliged under law to make good any faults or defects that were not advertised if you feel the need.

[UnaBellaDonna]

Thanks Guys.

Had a crawl under her earlier. The front of the sump and underside had a small amount of oil present. I ran her for 15 minutes and a drop appeared on the front underside of the sump. This is where the drip is coming from. And it is only a drip or two after every use (plus whatever comes out whilst travelling).

I was told that a spray of oil from the engine on the engine cover was nothing usual by the seller and I questioned this as odd but was told it was normal. The engine is a 650cc replacement and is spotless. I'm going to get the car on my mates ramp and we'll have a look. Don't suspect anything too sinister. She runs very well otherwise.

To answer the restoration question. She wasn't a bare metal respray, I found out. She was body off and full respray. The original body was in quite good nick as I've seen a photo. The car has been restored, the underside is waxoyled and almost mint. The bodywork, whilst not the best spray job ever would rate at about 8.5/10. The inside is immaculate. All wheels and tires are new and, as I say, a new engine.

She is in remarkably good nick for a 37 year old car. I was just a bit dewy eyed when I bought her and wasn't as sharp as normal.

You'll have to bear with me as I'm not used to old motors but have the time and inclination to put her right.

Some of my questions might make you groan and headbutt the keyboard.......

[UnaBellaDonna]

Found it.

[Rusty's Uncle]

If my monocular enhancement facilitating device is working correctly then you seem to be indicating a leak at the back of the sump or the rear crankshaft oil seal. Also the arrangement at the bottom of the fan housing where it connects to the cooling channels in the sump looks a bit odd to me but it may be just the picture.
Who did you say supplied the New/Recon engine for the car 

[UnaBellaDonna]

Yep, it's at the top front of the sump. A fine spray on starting the car. The engine? Not sure but there is some Ricambi info but it doesn't relate to the engine. Its definately a recon.

[nrg19uk]

Check round the back of the rocker cover I had a leak in the same place and thought the worse but it was the rocker gasket leaking,

[tuned500]

Have a look at the sump gasket aswell, the sumps are often overtightened which pushes the sump gasket out and onto the flywheel, it then pulls the gasket and you get an oil leak.

Happened on my engine, only realised after i pulled the engine out, and about to replace the rear seal!

[UnaBellaDonna]

Cheers Guys.

Having looked closer now, in the daylight, it looks almost certainly to be the sump gasket. If I get chance I'll drop the sump off in the next week.

If it is, any recommendations on whether I go for an original gasket or a modern alternative given your experiences?