Oil Leak Around Distributor

hudsn47

Seems simple but this has been problematic. My Pacemaker 232 engine is leaking oil around the distributor. I have a new cork gasket in place. I fitted it on the distributor noticing that it is shaped to fit into into the block a certain way. Should I have put some type of gasket sealer on it, how about the permatex aviation sealer or similiar?

[Deleted User]

Do you have the 2 plates that time the distributor on correctly? The small plate goes on first then the large plate goes on. This is what locks the cork gasket in place. You should not need any kind of glue on this cork gasket. Get a fresh one one Dale Cooper. Walt.

Marconi

Make sure your road draft tube is clear/open and that you have an oil filler cap with a breather in it, not a closed cap like they use on modern cars. If the crankcase can't 'breathe' the engine will push oil out whereever it can.

[Deleted User]

I bought a distributor gasket that fits under between the distributor and engine. It is thin cork which I purchased from Dale Cooper. Is this the wrong place for this gasket? Should I pull off the blow-by tube and clean it out? Thanks.

Marconi

Yes, that's where that cork ring goes, and it can't hurt to at least check your road draft tube to make sure it's open. I've seen cars where it was so full of sludge it was totally blocked shut! The last car i saw that was that bad was a 55 Pontiac, it was about 10 years old at the time, and it was leaking oil from the rocker covers, rear main seal and front cover! The guy was putting about 2 qts of oil in it a day, just to get back and forth to work! After we found the cause it was using about 1qt per 100 mi. Big difference, but this was an extreme case.

Marconi

Sorry, that should have been 1 qt. per 1000 mi.

hudsn47

I checked and the small plate is on top of the bigger plate as I look at the block so that checks out. The cork gasket is new and in good shape. Also the road draft tube is clear, a fairly new engine rebuild. And the filler tube cap is vented. So perhaps all I need is to tighten the bolt that holds the distributor to the block a little tighter? Appreciate all the suggestions and I'm also greatful that after two years I'm down to this on the "punch list"!