HILLMAN SUPER MINX OIL LEAKS
QI have oil leak concerns on my 1964 Hillman Super Minx with the 1725cc engine. The leak appears to be from the crankshaft pulley area at the front of the engine, but from my research there is not a seal fitted there. If this is correct, how is the oil contained and what has gone wrong on mine to allow the oil to start flying out? The problem is not really severe at the moment, but I can only see this situation getting worse and would like to stop it from becoming a major issue. Can a seal be fitted, or are there any other measures I can take to stem the flow of oil? Iain Pearson
AThe information you have is correct and no oil seal to prevent the oil from leaking out of the engine is fitted to the front cover. The system employed is for a thrower ring to be fitted behind the front cover to stop the oil traveling along the crankshaft, and then for a reverse screw thread to return any oil that does find its way forward.
What can often happen is that over time the thread becomes clogged with oil old, and so loses efficiency. This, coupled with a worn engine and increased crankcase pressure, can have the effect of oil being pushed out at the front of the crankshaft. Another source of leaks on the engine are the side plates, and these should also be checked.
Before attempting to rectify any leaks, I would first ensure that the crankcase breather system is clear and that excessive crankcase pressure is not building up and pushing the oil out. If you do clean the oil scroll, then it is imperative that the timing cover is replaced correctly and centralised on the pulley before tightening.