MTFCA Forum

The family's 1922 Coupe turned 100 in June. I rebuilt the generator and it is working fine. 7 to 10 amp charge at road speed.

However, The car has now developed an issue with an oil leak. The car has always left a trail of small drops, but now, on start up, major leak by the starter.

I read that leaks at the starter was in the original design of the car with electric starter. Henry's engineers used it as a reminder to check engine oil level.

Now to remove the Bendix cover and replace the gasket?

If it's originating from the Bendix can area, verify the can isn't cracked ! A number of years ago the repro drive bolt heads were too tall and were opening the cans up !

My car doesn't leak at the starter. Be sure your oil level isn't too high, then look for the exact source of the leak. The mag post or transmission hand hole cover might leak and run down around the starter.

Ford installed two manually adjustable leak points to check the oil level.

Been Here Before wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:56 am

The car has always left a trail of small drops, but now, on start up, major leak by the starter.

Where by the starter? The Bendix cover, starter mounting at the hogs head, the hogshead (corner at the pan and block) or possibly the weep hole on the starter case. I do not believe it was designed to leak, but the hole in the bottom of the starter case that allows/prevents oil that has migrated along the starter shaft into the case from building up inside the starter says they didn't want that bit of oil staying inside the starter (if your starter does not have the modern split bushing with a Neoprene seal).

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 04, 2022 10:16 am

"Designed to leak" sounds like baloney to me. If that was true there probably wouldn't be a gasket (5056). Sometimes a leak at the starter is just a case of the mounting bolts working loose.

I agree with Steve.

Loosing 1 bendix cover screw can blow all the oil out of an engine.
Its a sinister fail. At low speed its a pesky leak, @ hi speed its a steady squirt.

Wipe off the bendix cover the best that you can and do check the bendix cover. A bad gasket, loose screws or a cracked cover can cause a leak. That’s the first thing to leak usually.
It also could be the transmission cover corner by the starter. To check for leaks run the engine until it’s hot and stop the car. Place a large piece of cardboard under the car and you should find the general area of the leak pretty quick.

If it’s been leaking for a good while use a low pressure hand sprayer of diesel or mineral spirits and spray the bottom area of the engine then take some rags and wipe, scrape and clean off the crud the best you can.

If you use a pressure washer and try to do the entire engine you might get the coil box or wiring to wet. Then it won’t start!

If it’s leaking in the transmission cover corner clean it up good and apply some silicon sealant
carefully in the corner and that will usually stop it.
Good luck and the cardboard under the car will get you in the direction you need to go!

And do check for loose bolts and screws in that area.

New gaskets and loose bolts notwithstanding, you may wanna consider pulling the starter and installing one of those neat oil seals on the shaft. I did on my Fordor and it was the best investment. That thing leaked a pint of oil every trip out. Not any more! All the vendors sell em. $20

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 04, 2022 10:16 am

"Designed to leak" sounds like baloney to me. If that was true there probably wouldn't be a gasket (5056). Sometimes a leak at the starter is just a case of the mounting bolts working loose.

Oil passes by the brass bushing. As that bushing wears more oil passes to the bottom of the body.
There is a drain hole to drain the excess oil. This drain hole keeps oil from building up inside the starter & slinging around. Never plug the hole.
One could say its designed to leak.
A lip seal can be added to stop the drip, but grease up the bushing face. Zero oil could seize the starter shaft.
I have not seen this, but it seems to be a possibility if the lip seal works 100%.

John you must have posted as I was typing, sorry for the repeat.

It’s my experience that there is a weep hole in the starter case as stated earlier so from that aspect, yes the starter was designed to leak oil as not to build up in the case ruining your starter. Most of that is caused by having to much oil in the crank case. There is a modern oil seal available through the vendors that will diminish that from happening if the leak is from the starter. More likely than not you have a leak around the hogshead, block & or pan. The Bendix cover is also a culprit but a much easier fix than the others.
Good luck. Best Regards John

Some of you guys aren't very nice saying George has a screw loose!

perry kete wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 04, 2022 2:09 pm

Some of you guys aren't very nice saying George has a screw loose!

Dont we all?

So this coupe that gets 300 to 400 miles a year has an oil leak at the starter.

Finally had time to see where the leak was. The gasket at the Bendix cover was deteriorating - dry and hard.

Removing the four cover screws, to discover that inside the cover was two stripped thread bolts (Loose Screws?) with lock washer. A bent Bendix spring and no idea how and why it was still working to start the motor.

Thank goodness for the oil leak to alert me that I now need to repair the starter Bendix.