Leaky SSIs

[domtoni]

Hi chaps,

Hope things are well. Question for you all:

The cam housing is leaking oil where it meets the engine casing, and the oil is dripping on my SSIs. Someway, the oil is getting into the heat exchanger.

Does anyone have any experience of welding leaky SSIs?

Funny bit, the right hand exchange was being coated with oil from the oil return tubes and oil didn't leak into the exchanger.

Thoughts please.

Dom

[911hillclimber]

Hot oil will penetrant really well and sis designes are no different to any others.
You need to fix the root cause!

[jwhillracer]

The main problem with oil dripping on SSI’s is that once the oil gets in, there aren’t any rust holes for it to get out again!
JW

[domtoni]

I realize the engine will take a rebuild to stop the oil leaking, but was hoping a cheap alternative may have been available.

[911hillclimber]

Those leaky tubes can be replaced without an engine strip.
There are special tubes, 2 piece that trombone into a short length.
Tear the cruddy one (s) out and iscard the seals too.
Bit of oil to lube the head/ block o rings and ease them home by extending the two tube halves.
They are retained by a tight fitting circling and the job is done.
You might be able to do these with the sis in place, doubt it, so while they are off you can wash and wash and wash etc petrol or cellulose thinners through the heat box where the oil has seeped in...
That baked on oil is very stubborn.

All this runs the risk of a stripped or sheared exhaust stud, so beware.

Sorry if you know all this already!

[domtoni]

The oil tubes have all been replaced. The leak is between the head and the block. So its an engine out, strip and reassemble.

[911hillclimber]

Yes, those are!
I have 2 really small such leaks on the Lola's engine but can't stand the thought of top ends off just for that, but it is a race only engine.

I guess if you tried hard enough you could rig a simple steel strip attached to the engine side metalwork to act as a 'gutter' to let the oil run to one end and to the road?

[domtoni]

I'm surprised someone doesn't off this as a product.