About 3 mins before arriving at work i pulled up at a set of lights and noticed the generator dash light flickering dimly. It would go away with higher rpms than idle or whenever accelerating.

At work i opened the deck lid and found oil on the left side of the engine, in a smallish puddle. Also notice the case below the oil sensor is also wet just above the yellow tin in the centre of the first pic, but only at the bottom.


By shokwave2 at 2011-07-31


By shokwave2 at 2011-07-31

My first thought was a leaky oil sensor, but after looking and touching it, it was dry. I looked down behind the pulley and also dry. The oil must be coming from beneath the tinware somewhere. Looks like i will have to drop the engine to find out exactly where, as i will have to remove the tinware behind the pulley.

Has anyone had a similar problem, or an idea what is causing the leak and gen light to flicker? There was no loss of power or odd noises while driving. Will i have to split the case?

The engine is a 1600 dual port, stock insides, 34 pict 3 carb, and a merged header with phat boy exhaust. Car was?is running great but will not drive until repaired.

could be just the oil cooler seals under the fan, you just take the fan and housing out no need to take the motor out.

I was thinking that, but i only replaced them back in Feb. Hopefully that's all it is. I'm pretty sure one of the screws holding the fan shroud sits behind the intake manifold, which means too tight for a screwdriver. I'll have a look tonight/tomorrow.

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My 5c says it turns out to be the oil pressure switch after all.
Carefully clean it up and run it again.
Good luck either way.
Tony

fuel pump gaskets.....dizzy oring..pressure switch.....cooler seals

I don't want to put the moccha on you but if none of the above it could be a split in the crankcase main oil gallery which is near the switch.

sounds like you have two problems. if it is the generator light then it could be the brushes or armeture need a clean ( run some emery over them whilst turning). the oil leak is another matter.

Are the genny light and oil light wires switched over behind the dash?? that would explain why the oil and light are happening together.

btw - is it only on top of the engine, or is the underside all oiled up also ???

Most common "coming from under the tinwear" spot around there would be oil cooler seals, and that'd be a lot of oil before it shows up near that switch.

Also I've seen the sender switch itself fail, and oil drip out from the center near the electrical connection, so the switch itself, case etc. all stayed nice and clean and dry.

Just disconnected wire at oil sender and turned key over, only gen light came on so wires aren't crossed over. Oil is on top of engine, bottom of engine is dry. Double checked oil sender near terminal but that is dry too. My guess would be oil cooler seals or i don't know. I'll drop the engine over the weekend to have a good look. As i said earlier a screw for the fan shroud sits behind the intake manifold, which is a pain.

while the engine is out I suggest you replace the rear oil seal ,flywheel o'ring,and gearbox shaft seal, I always do these when the donk is out as they are cheap and easy.(I also replace the thrust bearing)

what screw behind ??
when I did mine it was just Remove engine lid and hinge mounts the two 10mm bolts each side of fan shroud and generator bracket, unbolt carby.

I replaced the oil cooler seals, rear oil seal and o'ring back in Feb, and the gearbox shaft seal in March. I'm thinking if i should split the case and throw in a few upgrades while i have a spare car.