I have just had my engine rebuilt and am now running it in slowly on mineral oil.

I have done 450 miles and have noticed that it leaks oil between the head gasket and the block. It is coming from the front of the engine near which is No 1.

The head was flat when it was fitted and so was the block, and it was put together using a YB Group A head gasket and new normal head bolts.

Does this mean head gasket problem?

 

anyone?

 

There is an oil way on the exhaust side at the front, my old saph did this and it actually turnt out to me the half moon seal's leaking and running down making it look like you described.

 

Very good point, I know that my rocker cover gasket was only fitted quickly as I needed to run it up, but them ended up leaving it.

I reused the old gasket and ended up using silicone sealant on the front to make do.....

I will clean it all up and put a proper gasket on then see

Thank you!

 

Also, some half moons i have used in the past are actually shorter than the standard ford item, which in turn allows oil to leak from the cam cover and dribble down to what makes it look like head gasket issues.

 

I now see.....thinking about it, the new half moon seals I used were actually shorter.

Which ones or from who would you recommend?

Thank you I am now feeling a little more confident

 

I got mine from Woodford garage i think, so dont use those ones.

Try Matt Lewis on here and ask for genuine ford ones or ones that he knows are of the correct length.

 

If its from the front above the distributor and not seeping down from the cam cover, it will probably be from the main oil gallery that goes from the block into the head. Will be leaking past the head gasket. A small amount of decent sealer around the gasket required. Pita

 

Have you seen this before on a newly built engine?

I think it may be the rocker gasket as I reused it and used instant gasket to seal it around the front.

Has to be that, going to go home and clean it all up then run the engine up.

 

They are notorious for leaking around the said half moon seals and cam cover gasket.

When fitting it's best to put a little bit of sealant on 'the half moon' seals.

I have the exact same issue as you and suspected the cam seals (again common).

I replaced the inlet one but still have a slight leak running down to the dizzy which I suspect to be the 'half moons'.

It's as said though it may well look to be coming from the HG but it will be coming from one of the places above, and running down.

Martin

 

does not mean head gasget mate, it will prob be cam bearing housin orings or rocker gasget an runnin down the front of the engine. take the cam cover off an have a look pal