I have a weeping oil leak from the centre of the head, on right hand side. Oil feed or return line?

Its not a bad leak but annoying. Does anybody have any experience of the oil additives that supposedly stop leaks ? Good or bad, brands ? If it works, how long it took.

Its hard to believe these things actually work. They cost from about $10 to well over $30 for a small bottle.


Glenn

they have a o ring in there the best way is off with his head new head gasket and o ring.

Agree for best way. I am no mechanic though. I have a gasket but was quoted
$ 750 to do it !

Glenn,
I had that problem with my sedan I sold to Garry Smith, off with the head was the only way to fix it.
THANKFULLY I had a great LONG TIME member in Warren Degnan that came around to my home to assist me to fix, job done in an afternoon after releasing some of the material that had been used when the motor was re built by a supposed mechanic in Sydney prior to my owning the car, it seemed they had used some type of adhesive, BAD ERROR.
After having to use a rattle gun to undo some of the bolts, Warren and I put it back together the correct way.
Maybe "someone" in your Club can assist you????
Dave.

Hi dave.

if it was an ohv engine I would tackle it but I know nothing about these engines. They seem a bit more complicated to do. Possibly why the place I asked wanted so much to do it also.

Glenn

Glen, we've had many successes with Wynn's Stop Leak. I know it sounds a bit amateurish, and a bit too easy....but it very often does work.
If you don't already know, it works by softening and thus expanding old rubber seals. I'd give it a go.

Mark

My 1800 ohc motor has the same problem, looks bad and makes a mess but dose not seem to loose a lot of oil.
Hope it works, as I have going to lift the head off mine but always find a reason not to.

same with mine. It loses bugger all oil but weeps down side of the engine. Fitting a new gasket seems a bit drastic as yet.

Mark, thanks for the info. I will give it a try then. What oil do you use? I use a 20 - 50 grade

How many km/miles does it take to 'work' Given my Sport does not see many miles......

got nothing to loose

agreed....

Glenn, as long as theres an o ring in there, it may well work. Trouble is, sometimes they are left out at assembly by inexperienced people. I would give it a good long run to get it good and warm. Perhaps a lap of Tasmania?
Or come up here for a visit

This is a common problem.

Cheers, Matt.

Glenn.
It's the same "o" ring through all the engines. It will go hard from the temperature of the oil and engine.
Try the Wynns product. As you are well aware. Removing the head is not a 'little' job.
I've got a Haynes workshop manual on that engine and Dick sent me a engine supplement in Dutch. Started to translate
it to English but I've put it on the backburner for the moment. Let me know if your need a copy of the Haynes book. This offer is also available to anybody who requires one.

Dave.

OK, thanks for inputs. I bought the Wynns yesterday. I think i will do an oil change at same time as adding it.

I would be very interested in info on the SOHC engine. Particuarly any instructions on head gasket replacement ! And torque settings etc.

glenn

This engine was used in the chev luv usa 1800cc I would be looking there

well, looking through my spares, I found i actually have the Haynes Luv manual, also a GM manual for the engine.

Looking through them, i can see the 'later' LUV engine also, which appears to be like the Gemini/Rodeo types. Makes me wonder if the bottom end is identical to Gemini. Bearings etc. I would think so. Or even if the Rodeo 2000cc head would fit. Probably, but i digress !

Will try the additive first and see what happens. Will get a good run on the 50th Anniversary for 150km at least.

The USA LUV the aussie later luv was Gemini. My twin cams are the same block and we use Gemini rings and bearings. Rebuild kits for the 1800 are available in the us also.

I have a 2L DOHC also but no plans as of now to fit it to anything. I was contemplating using it on the other spare Sport but that's on indefinate hold as a project. It would appear then that many bits form the Gemini/Rodeo will fit too. Similar to when i fitted them to the GT engine a long time back. My local suppliers say though even Gemini engine parts are getting very hard to source.

I have many parts for a 1800 SOHC re build though, gasket set, timing chains, pistons +40, rings and a few other bits.
The pistons though are USA Luv and lower CR. I am unsure exactly the CR but would think its under 9:1. Well under perhaps. The Bellett SOHC i think would be about 9.5:1 CR ? I wonder what CR the 1800 ? Rodeo uses? Maybe those pistons are better.

Anyway, for now i am avoiding a re build....... the engine runs fine and static test show its pretty healthy..... except for the leaks Its possibly been rebuilt in distant past as block was yellow. I'm sure not factory.

Hi Glen
I have a G180s myself which had the exact some problem
When I pulled the head off the o ring had actually 1/2 slid down into the oil journal
Here is a useful link
http://vintage.mitchell1.com/PClubData/ ... 735199.pdf
Basically the bottom end is the same they used on the
1/twin cam
2/ G160s
Engines

It is not that difficult to work on
I have a spare head gasket here if you need

Cheers
James

Thanks James,

I have a spare head gasket for it, so that's not a problem. I want to avoid doing that though as I would probably have to get it done for me, not being proficient as a mechanic. And, one thing might lead to another as they do sometimes when pulling down an engine.

An interesting thought occured to me though. This might seem a silly thing to do actually, but I also have a 2000cc DOHC engine here. I wonder if the SOHC head could be fitted to the DOHC block, to make a G200s variant??

When you pulled the head from the G180s, what do the piston tops look like ?? The new ones i have are flat top. I think the G180s may have a raised section on them ?

glenn