Evening all,

My barrels are leaking oil! :-(

I have a 1915 and am getting oil weeping down the case from the Number 3 and 4 barrels where they meet the case. Not a problem on the 1 and 2 side, but a gentle weep on the other side. Drive for half an hour, no problem. Drive it for an hour or so and there's oil dripping (not a real lot) off the bottom of the case and I can see it's coming from the barrel/case junction.

Any thoughts on how to fix this? Gaskets? Silicone (yuk!)? Live with it cos its a 1915 and commonly leaks where the case has been relieved and doesn't have much meat between the barrel hole and the stud?

I'm doing some fairly major work on the engine that will involve taking the heads off soon, so if I have to pull the barrels and do something I'll be able to do that relatively easily.

All thoughts appreciated.

Cheers,
Marc.

Umm... could it just be oil cooler seals leaking ???

The oil cooler is located directly above that spot... so if they're leaking at all, when the engine is warm the oil will find it's way down the side of the case and around where the barrels meet the case.

Just an idea...

This can happen if the case savers are not spot faced just below the deck surface,(0.25mm)
and the number 3 stud hole is not sleeved before the decking.

The case will pound ever so slightly and the case savers will not, leaving a small space for oil to seep.

It should be inspected to see if this is the case, and re-machined, but make sure you look at the cooler seals first as dave has suggested!

Silicone is likely the best option for under the barrels, but make sure you choose a non corosive product.
Some silcones react badly with magnesium!

Thanks Dave and Dangerous, I'll definitely check the oil cooler seals out when I do the dismantling.

Cheers, Marc.