Oil stop leak products - which one works?

[Peter Hill]

2002 Madza 323F BP ZM 1.6 engine. 76K miles.

Just done an oil change. Looks like the main seal is leaking. It's being
using oil and it looks like this is the cause.

With it being FWD it's strip front suspension, driveshafts and engine
out job. I'm happy to swap a engine on a car I love but not this POS.

So are there any oil stop leak products that work?

[Tim+]

Post by Peter Hill
2002 Madza 323F BP ZM 1.6 engine. 76K miles.
Just done an oil change. Looks like the main seal is leaking. It's being
using oil and it looks like this is the cause.
With it being FWD it's strip front suspension, driveshafts and engine
out job. I'm happy to swap a engine on a car I love but not this POS.
So are there any oil stop leak products that work?

I’m no expert, but I wouldn’t have thought a main bearing seal leak is
going to cause significant oil consumption. Ring wear and consequent high
crankcase pressure could well be responsible for high consumption and main
bearing leak.

Oil additives to stop oil leaks sound like snake oil to me.

Tim

[newshound]

Post by Tim+

Post by Peter Hill
2002 Madza 323F BP ZM 1.6 engine. 76K miles.
Just done an oil change. Looks like the main seal is leaking. It's being
using oil and it looks like this is the cause.
With it being FWD it's strip front suspension, driveshafts and engine
out job. I'm happy to swap a engine on a car I love but not this POS.
So are there any oil stop leak products that work?

I’m no expert, but I wouldn’t have thought a main bearing seal leak is
going to cause significant oil consumption. Ring wear and consequent high
crankcase pressure could well be responsible for high consumption and main
bearing leak.

I've had cars with leaks from these seals when other things have been
OK. Remember that oil is fed at pressure to the bearings, so they need
reasonably good seals.

On my Velocette singles I used to route the oil tank breather (which
vents crank-case pressure) into the primary chaincase. Some mist would
find its way out on to the front sprocket of the rear chain, which was
useful.

Post by Tim+
Oil additives to stop oil leaks sound like snake oil to me.
Tim

+1 about additives, I have never heard of one from reputable sources.
In the old, old days when a lot of us were driving wrecks it was common
to go up a grade or two to reduce consumption. One source of consumption
was oil being sucked down worn inlet valve guides; there were no seals
there in the old days.

[Fredxx]

Post by Peter Hill
2002 Madza 323F BP ZM 1.6 engine. 76K miles.
Just done an oil change. Looks like the main seal is leaking. It's being
using oil and it looks like this is the cause.

Pulley side or flywheel side? I assume pulley end.

Is it not possible to drop the engine down slightly for access to the
pulley and pulley seal?

Post by Peter Hill
With it being FWD it's strip front suspension, driveshafts and engine
out job. I'm happy to swap a engine on a car I love but not this POS.
So are there any oil stop leak products that work?

I didn't know they even existed!
https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/28307/best-oil-stop-leak-additives

[Peter Hill]

Post by Fredxx

Post by Peter Hill
2002 Madza 323F BP ZM 1.6 engine. 76K miles.
Just done an oil change. Looks like the main seal is leaking. It's
being using oil and it looks like this is the cause.

Pulley side or flywheel side? I assume pulley end.
Is it not possible to drop the engine down slightly for access to the
pulley and pulley seal?

No such luck. It's dripping from the bell housing. As it's an automatic
there is no issue having oil on a torque converter.

Post by Fredxx

Post by Peter Hill
With it being FWD it's strip front suspension, driveshafts and engine
out job. I'm happy to swap a engine on a car I love but not this POS.
So are there any oil stop leak products that work?

I didn't know they even existed!
 https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/28307/best-oil-stop-leak-additives

Ta.

[Fredxx]

Post by Peter Hill

Post by Fredxx

Post by Peter Hill
2002 Madza 323F BP ZM 1.6 engine. 76K miles.
Just done an oil change. Looks like the main seal is leaking. It's
being using oil and it looks like this is the cause.

Pulley side or flywheel side? I assume pulley end.
Is it not possible to drop the engine down slightly for access to the
pulley and pulley seal?

No such luck. It's dripping from the bell housing. As it's an automatic
there is no issue having oil on a torque converter.

Oh, that's a bugger.

Any chance of a drilling the housing and adding a pipe fitting, pipe and
pump so you can re-use the oil? :-)

Post by Peter Hill

Post by Fredxx

Post by Peter Hill
With it being FWD it's strip front suspension, driveshafts and engine
out job. I'm happy to swap a engine on a car I love but not this POS.
So are there any oil stop leak products that work?

I didn't know they even existed!
  https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/28307/best-oil-stop-leak-additives

Ta.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by Peter Hill
2002 Madza 323F BP ZM 1.6 engine. 76K miles.
Just done an oil change. Looks like the main seal is leaking. It's being
using oil and it looks like this is the cause.
With it being FWD it's strip front suspension, driveshafts and engine
out job. I'm happy to swap a engine on a car I love but not this POS.
So are there any oil stop leak products that work?

I have used one of those seal expander fluids on power steering with
limited success. Didn't stop the leak but reduced it.

[newshound]

Post by Dave Plowman (News)

Post by Peter Hill
2002 Madza 323F BP ZM 1.6 engine. 76K miles.
Just done an oil change. Looks like the main seal is leaking. It's being
using oil and it looks like this is the cause.
With it being FWD it's strip front suspension, driveshafts and engine
out job. I'm happy to swap a engine on a car I love but not this POS.
So are there any oil stop leak products that work?

I have used one of those seal expander fluids on power steering with
limited success. Didn't stop the leak but reduced it.

Interesting. I can see how something that softened and increased the
elasticity of a lip seal that had become hardened by temperature might
work. My impression is that you don't see as many hardened seals as you
used to (or as many oil leaks). I suspect manufacturers are selecting
higher performance rubbers as people have become less tolerant of leaks.
(As an aside, the reduction in oil consumption from better bore finish
and ring design over the past 50 years is astonishing, to my mind).

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by newshound
Interesting. I can see how something that softened and increased the
elasticity of a lip seal that had become hardened by temperature might
work. My impression is that you don't see as many hardened seals as you
used to (or as many oil leaks). I suspect manufacturers are selecting
higher performance rubbers as people have become less tolerant of leaks.
(As an aside, the reduction in oil consumption from better bore finish
and ring design over the past 50 years is astonishing, to my mind).

Think the big difference is cars no longer have cast iron blocks with the
pistons running directly in that. Either liners made out of much better
steel - or of course chemically treated ally bores.

Much the same as the cylinder heads. You don't need routine valve grinds
these days either - unlike when they were cast iron. And I've no doubt
modern oils help too.