[william]

Ok, I have a mysterious leak on my 440. It seem to be originating somewhere around the rear driver side of the engine, and runs down around the starter, through the clutch fork boot and drips out the bottom of the inspection cover and also from the corner of the bellhousing onto the driver side exhaust pipe. I have replaced valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket and rear main seal, and I removed the inspection cover to verify that the rear main was still good. The only thing I can guess is the oil pressure sender or the valley pan gasket, but the oil doesnt seem to be up that high. It seems like it is coming from the head gasket area maybe? Anyone have similar experience? Thanks.
william

 

[Evildriver-3]

Most likely the sender or valley pan, and it's running down the back where it drops off after the valley pan bolts and before the trans bellhousing bolts to the block, if a head gasket was leaking oil, you would hear compression loss also since the oil galley is on the inner side of the block in the cam valley and not close enough to the outside block

 

[DODGEBOYS]

believe it or not / l had a head that was poruos [cant spell] on a 440 / it actually sweat oil out the side of it below the valve cover surface / l sold them to a friend of mine and he hates to this day

 

[macario]

I know it is repetetive but double check your valve cover gasket on that side. I had a similar problem and it was the valve cover - way in the back closest to the firewall had a leak. Just thinking you should double check that before you go tearing into something else more complicated.

 

[william]

Hmmm...thanks for the tips guys. I am ashamed to admit that I opted for the $4 cork valve cover gaskets instead of the $40 super mopar neutron nitrile photon repellant units. That may have been my downfall. I am going to pressure wash that area of the engine, but I think that you might be on the right track macario. If the oil galleys are on the inside on the heads, it probably isn't the HG (it doesn't exhibit any other HG symptoms). I am going to pull the sender as well. Hopefully my heads aren't porous. If they are, maybe you can tell me who to sell them to bogger35! Thanks, will update as I figure this out.
william

 

[macario]

I got the rubber gaskets, don't seem to have much luck with the cork ones. Make sure the gasket is seated in there nice and snug with just a little gasket adhesive to hold it in place and keep it from squirming out of place when you torque it down. Check to make sure the flanges on your covers are as straight as you can get them.

Never heard of porous heads though.

Mac

 

[Chump]

William, Fel-pro makes a good assortment of gaskets for the 440. 440's will always leak at the rear end as the oil moves to that end and pools a bit...also the cork gaskets burn up in no time and also compress too much.

 

[Guest]

If you replaced the valve cover gaskets (even with cork), I second valley pan gasket.

@

 

[william]

The leak turned out to be coming from a faulty sending unit. After scrubbing away decades of sludge from the engine block, it appeared that the oil was coming from the sender area. I removed and reinstalled the sender with fresh tape, and still it leaked. I pulled the sender again, and blew into it, and oil started bubbling out the top where the electrical connector is. I feel stupid for missing this before, but maybe this will help someone else. My Ramcharger is now 100% drip free. I can park it on the garage pad, but not my 20 year newer neon!
william

 

[macario]

Glad you found it William.

Moral of the story: at least keep your engine clean enough so you can tell where the leak is coming from.

Mac

 

[Evildriver-3]

Well when ever looking for a leak it is a good idea to bath the motor in some toxic grease cutting material 1st