Oil leaks on incline

[Henry's Lady's Man]

This seems to be a recent development. I let my '30 Town Sedan idle in the garage with no leak. When I back it down the driveway (slight incline), after a few minutes, it leaks like a sieve... 3 drops of oil per second out of the flywheel housing. When I pull it back into the level garage, the leaking stops.
So, I suspect a rear main seal, but why just on the INCLINE?

[J Franklin]

Rear down, oil goes to the rear main.

[Henry's Lady's Man]

Thanks. So if I ran one-quart-low, that should reduce the spilling for now, I would think. I can try this in my driveway. That shouldn't hurt anything. I wouldn't go any lower though. Ideas?

[johnbuckley]

One reason to park facing downhill, the other reason is it makes bump starting esier when you come out of the pub and recall you left the lights on.

[Fred K-OR]

I assume you do not have to much oil in it? Otherwise your assumption likely is correct. More people on this site may have more answers for you.

Not getting to political but your quote by Ford is still pertinent today!

[Big hammer]

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Oil return tube in rear main broken off

[Henry's Lady's Man]

Originally Posted by Fred K-OR

I assume you do not have to much oil in it? Otherwise your assumption likely is correct. More people on this site may have more answers for you.

Not getting to political but your quote by Ford is still pertinent today!

Thanks. I figured somebody would ask me that... It is at the "F" mark on dipstick... maybe a hair over.

[Henry's Lady's Man]

Originally Posted by Big hammer

Oil return tube in rear main broken off

Possibly, Big H! Is that something I can check easily, and/or fix easily? And is that more than an opinion? This DID happen rather recently. I would think a worn-out rear main seal would have been something gradual.

[Henry's Lady's Man]

Originally Posted by johnbuckley

One reason to park facing downhill, the other reason is it makes bump starting esier when you come out of the pub and recall you left the lights on.

Ah yes... leaving the pub... alas, our local Brew Pub doesn't have a hill to try it out.

[Big hammer]

Check it when you drop oil pan to replace rear main seal It is threaded into rear main

[Henry's Lady's Man]

Originally Posted by Big hammer

Check it when you drop oil pan to replace rear main seal It is threaded into rear main

Ok, I will do some homework first. I thought you have to pull the engine to replace rear main seal. But I can easily drain pan and pull it for a look, and see what's up (or down...).

[Fred K-OR]

Originally Posted by Henry's Lady's Man

Ok, I will do some homework first. I thought you have to pull the engine to replace rear main seal. But I can easily drain pan and pull it for a look, and see what's up (or down...).

Like mentioned about the tube, my neighbor had a problem with oil leak and it was the tube that was off plus some other problems. It also could be a plugged up tube. Have you changed oil lately? If not, that may help. If it is plugged, you could put come keorisine (sp ?) in your pan and run a little bit and see if that would unplug tube.

[Mitch//pa]

how much of a tilt is your driveway? if your rear main tube was off it would be leaking all the time when running... most likely a level // angle issue... load the car on a flat bed and it will pour out the back of the motor
these cars do not have a rear main seal, just a rear main drain back tube

[Henry's Lady's Man]

Originally Posted by Fred K-OR

Like mentioned about the tube, my neighbor had a problem with oil leak and it was the tube that was off plus some other problems. It also could be a plugged up tube. Have you changed oil lately? If not, that may help. If it is plugged, you could put come keorisine (sp ?) in your pan and run a little bit and see if that would unplug tube.

Hey Fred,
I flushed the engine real good with a quart of kerosene about 200 miles ago. I thought it was pretty clean. If I find the drain tube still in place, I could blow some compressed air back through it to see what happens. No telling what I find in the pan. I never pulled it.

[Henry's Lady's Man]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

how much of a tilt is your driveway? if your rear main tube was off it would be leaking all the time when running... most likely a level // angle issue... load the car on a flat bed and it will pour out the back of the motor
these cars do not have a rear main seal, just a rear main drain back tube

Hey Mitch,
The driveway is a mild one foot in twelve drop. But it DOESN'T leak when it is on the level, running or not. I might have time this evening to drain & drop the pan and let er drain. I'm still a 40 hr/wk workin' fool, with dwindling evening daylight. I 'need' to have this ready for a 400 mile tour with the club Nov 21/22.

[ian Simpson]

Back into your garage.

I have the same problem on our steep driveway and just drive fast into the garage and hope I can stop.

Our 57 Chevy that lives on the driveway has the same problem; parked it backwards on the drive and the rear pinion seal leaked worse than the rear main. Just can't win some days.

[Henry's Lady's Man]

Originally Posted by ian Simpson

Back into your garage.

I have the same problem on our steep driveway and just drive fast into the garage and hope I can stop.

Our 57 Chevy that lives on the driveway has the same problem; parked it backwards on the drive and the rear pinion seal leaked worse than the rear main. Just can't win some days.

Fortunately, My pinion is fine, Ian. Good luck with that one!

Thanks for all the good replies. I drained almost a quart of oil, and dipstick is now between low and full. NO MORE LEAK!!! I think I will leave it as is. for now. Maybe I have the wrong dip stick. I was a little over filled, I think. I'm not gonna argue with success.

Someone's motto is "Fix it till it's broke"! Not today, guys.

[Henry's Lady's Man]

Originally Posted by Fred K-OR

I assume you do not have to much oil in it? Otherwise your assumption likely is correct. More people on this site may have more answers for you.

Not getting to political but your quote by Ford is still pertinent today!

So Fred, I think you were right. I was a little high (my oil, that is... been a long time since the 60's/70's).

As far as my signature from Henry, it was his way of saying: "Give a man a fish and you've fed him for today. TEACH a man to fish, and you've fed him for a lifetime".

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

A WRONG dipstick is called a DIP SHIT or is it the OWNER???
Bill W.

[Henry's Lady's Man]

THANX BILL... I've been called a lot worse. Chuck