Oil Level Conundrum

[C. Eric Shogren]

Merry Christmas to All.

 

I’ve got a little conundrum with oil level in my ’31.  Yesterday I completed a repair of broken crankshaft pulley and I also installed a new head.  The car ran great.  When the crankshaft pulley broke part of the collar broke free and chewed up the gasket (new neoprene style) which resulted in an oil leak.  I therefore had to change the front gasket.  I used the original cord type.  Without a pulley installed I was able to install the lower cord in the oil pan without dropping the pan.  But when I was trimming it in-place a chunk of the cording (approximately a 1/8” sliver) dropped into the oil pan and I wasn’t able to fish it out with a little grabber.

 

So here’s the issue.  I checked the oil level before I put the car back on the road, because of the oil leak.  It was slightly below full.  It was close enough I wasn’t worried about it.    I drove about 30 miles and like I said, the car ran great.  But when I checked the oil level this morning it was more than a quart above full?  People may say I’m drifty but, I know I haven’t added any oil in the 24 hrs.  The only thing I can think of is the oil pump is plugged and all the oil is draining back into the pan and not being circulated. 

 

What do you all think could be the cause of increasing oil level - gremlins?  Also, what are your recommendations?  My thought is change oil with a strainer to see what comes out.  Then run it briefly and then check the oil level again.  Or just bite the bullet and drop the pan?

 

Merry Christmas again, and Thanks,

 

Eric Shogren

Shade Tree A’s

[Shogren, Eric]

I forgot to mention that the oil was clear. So initial indications don't point to a blown head gasket.

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[Hal Davis]

Boy, that is a mystery. I'd have to think about that one, but I don't think your oil pump would be plugged by that small amount of seal. There is a screen on the oil pump pick-up so I don't see how it would get plugged.

 

Hal

From: C. Eric Shogren <erics...@gforcecable.com>
To: modelaf...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2011 11:50 AM
Subject: [ModelAFordForum:432] Oil Level Conundrum

[Bentley Bohanan]

Since you also replaced the head, I would venture to guess there is water in the bottom of the oil pan, your head gasket is leaking. Don't start your engine, instead, remove the oil drain plug, and see if water comes out. The water will come out first.

Hopefully this is not the problem, but that would explain your oil level.

Bentley Bohanan

[Shogren, Eric]

Not much of a conundrum; just a blown head gasket. I was using one of the new head gaskets with the sealant built in which I've been using for several years. Long enough that I forgot the installation instructions. Particularly the part about heating the engine up for 15-20 minutes and then letting it sit over night and re-torquing before you put it on the road. I torqued it, jumped in and put my foot in the fan. As you can see from the photo it blew between 2 & 3, with most of the water going into 3.

Now the new question. The 2nd photo shows some light corrosion on #3 cylinder wall. Suggestions?

Thanks & Merry Christmas,

Eric Shogren
Shade Tree As

[Lockwood, Fred C]

Eric
I haven't worked on model A's for decades. Doesn't matter, they are still great fun. It seems I'm out of date linguistically and I don't understand ' ... jumped in and put my foot in the fan'? Anyway, model A's are hardly high tech. I can't see that small amount of rust will cause any problem at all. At most gently get rid of the worst of it with some fine emery, place a rag below to recover the dust, change the oil of course and keep a close eye on the levels of both the oil and water when it is first run, in my experience an oil emulsion is not good for the big-ends, and hopefully get back to driving it.
Fred

________________________________________
From: modelaf...@googlegroups.com [modelaf...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Shogren, Eric [eric.s...@wsms.com]
Sent: 25 December 2011 22:39
To: modelaf...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [ModelAFordForum:438] Oil Level Conundrum

Thanks & Merry Christmas,

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[McPherson, James C Mr CIV USA MEDCOM EAMC]

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Eric,
GREAT photos. I'd run it as is. If you did what I think you did, I don't think the rings have seated.

Jim

Thanks & Merry Christmas,

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Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE