Engine: 62 GT leaking oil (more than usual)

[62STUDEGT]

I was driving the old girl last night and kept smelling burning so I went home and parked and quickly had a puddle of oil under the left front of the engine. I've always had a small leak but nothing like it is now.

It appears to be in the area below the fuel pump and there is actually standing oil in the lip of the front suspension cross member. I imagine the fan is blowing it around quite a bit so it's going to be hard to pinpoint where it's coming from.

Anybody have ideas where to look or common areas of leakage on the 289?

[Chucks Stude]

Look at the fuel pump pivot, the top of the diaphram, front seal, timing cover gasket(possible) and believe it or not, the pan gasket. That corner of the cork filler block could be leaking under the fuel pump. It is amazing how much oil can leak from a dried out pan gasket.

[BobPalma]

Is that splash of red on the front of the engine block where an oil spray from the pump has been washing off black paint? BP

[62STUDEGT]

I found the fuel pump bolts slighty loose and the pivot was slid all the way to one side resting against the pump mounting bolt. I tightened the bolts and slid the pivot back inside but I doubt that was the leak.

I scraped some paint off where the "red" color was on the block and it appears the block is actually orange- does that mean I have the wrong engine or somebody painted it in the past?

I've looked hard for the engine ID stamp but can't find it - only found some cast numbers on the right front that read 535601. My copy of the build sheet says my engine number is P**89983.

[Marie Mac]

Sorry to horn in on your thread...but, is it normal for my 56J to leave oil stains on the floor?...is this something to expect?
Thanks.....Marie

[BobPalma]

I found the fuel pump bolts slighty loose and the pivot was slid all the way to one side resting against the pump mounting bolt. I tightened the bolts and slid the pivot back inside but I doubt that was the leak.

I scraped some paint off where the "red" color was on the block and it appears the block is actually orange- does that mean I have the wrong engine or somebody painted it in the past?

I've looked hard for the engine ID stamp but can't find it - only found some cast numbers on the right front that read 535601. My copy of the build sheet says my engine number is P**89983.

Before we can answer your red question, we have to answer the purple one.

Once again, here is where the stamped number should be, directly on the other side of the oil filler tube or blank-off plate from where you found the cast numbers:

[62STUDEGT]

Before we can answer your red question, we have to answer the purple one.

Once again, here is where the stamped number should be, directly on the other side of the oil filler tube or blank-off plate from where you found the cast numbers:

I found the ID stamp and it is P89983 which matches my build sheet.

[BobPalma]

I found the ID stamp and it is P89983 which matches my build sheet.

OK. In that case, it is a non-full-flow 1962 289, which may or may not have an oil filter up top.

The block would have been black originally, but there may be some reddish primer showing through, or it may have been out for a "rebuild" at some time and got painted orange, then "back to black" some time after that. BP

[JoeHall]

Sorry to horn in on your thread...but, is it normal for my 56J to leave oil stains on the floor?...is this something to expect?
Thanks.....Marie

Yes Marie,
No worries if there's a few drops here and there. Actually its a good thing, as it helps keep the undercarriage properly lubed. Put another way, if it quits leaking a bit here and there, its probably out of oil

[62STUDEGT]

I'm in the process of changing the oil pan gasket- the old one was rock hard and leaking in the front.

The inside of the engine block is painted orange - is this normal?

[Chucks Stude]

Yes it is perfectly normal. Forget what it is called, but it is applied at the factory. I would be concerned about the white(or is it grey) stuff on the crank. You really ought to replace that leaky freeze plug, in fact you ought to knock them all out and wash out the water jackets, as described repeatedly on this forum. Get a pair of swim goggles for your protection. Put the pan back on first.

[62STUDEGT]

The white stuff is residue after spraying off all the oil underneath with cleaner.

I think I found the real cause of the leak- the threads in the spacer block at the front of the engine were stripped. I'm going to try to helicoil them.

[SN-60]

To: 62STUDEGT,---- If Your running an Airtex fuel pump, (4227), that could very well be the culprit. They are notorious leakers!