ENGINE OIL LEAK

B

Barry Cox

New Member
Hi folks, I have a 1972 2000sc auto. Just recently it has started dripping noticeably more oil than usual. It appears that the engine is leaking at the back of the engine around the back of the cylinder head. I can't believe it's a head gasket leak as no water in oil or oil in water and the engine runs fine. I note in the manual that there is a rear cover plate at the back of the cylinder head but I wouldn't have thought that was presurrised so doubt it would all of a sudden start leaking.
It's pretty difficult to see that area of the engine and god knows what access is like to get at the cover plate if it is leaking.
Anyway I was just wondering if anyone had experienced such leaks - are they common? Do you think I am on the right track re the cover plate of is it likelt to be another offending item?
Any suggestions gratefully received.
All the best
Barry
 
Barry this is likely to be the standard Rover O-Ring leak, which seems to happen on virtually all rovers, through to 800's etc. There is a rubber o-ring in the head gasket in the rear plug-side corner of the head which fails, mine lost a full sump of oil on a 70 mile trip !
Although not your typical head gasket failure, it does require replacement of the head gasket.

Still the first thing to do is clean the area up with some Gunk or white spirit, then you have a better change of seeing where the leak is coming from.
 
Thanks Richard for your speedy response. Glad to see I don't appear to have an "uncommon" problem!
I note your point re the rate that the engine can pump out the oil so no long trips till I get it fixed!!
I'll do as you say re cleaning up the area in question to check first.

Thanks again, Barry
 
I'll second the oil O-ring theory. The rear cover plate is coolant only. Wash the whole area off and then go for a test run, you may be lucky and find it's just coming from the cam cover gasket.
 
Barry Cox said:
Hi Harvey - I could never be that lucky!! but I'll certainly check it out!
Cheers

Barry
Click to expand...
It's more than possible that it COULD be the camcover gasket, if not and it is the head gasket, at least you've got someone fairly close to you who can fix it for you if you want them to.

Here's hoping for a cam cover gasket!
 
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