Pinto sump gasket seal

[peter_m7uk]

Hi, I used a cork gasket on my Pinto sump, but wasn't happy with it as I thought it was a bit leaky.   Hard to be certain, though, as I think I had other leaks above it!

Anyway, as my engine is out at the moment for a different reason, I thought I'd take the opportunity to buy a "competition" sump gasket from Burton and give that a try instead - https://www.burtonpower.com/sump-gasket-set-heavy-duty-ford-sohc-pinto-ft793kc.html.   Apparently, if there is a leak, oil makes the gasket material swell at that point and should stop the leak.

Thing is, now I've fitted it, it seems quite thin and I can see a wave along the joint, particularly in one place.   I ran a feeler gauge there and there was a small but definite gap in the seal.  Has anyone else tried this gasket and how was your experience??  I realise that the sump edge material can bend, also the bolts can distort the material when tightened, both of which can compromise the seal.   I had an idea to use a small piece of wood of the correct size, with a rubber mallet, then go right around the sump edge tapping it to try and close all the gaps - Anyone tried something like that?   What are the chances that the blue gasket material can swell enough to close a gap?

Pete 

Edited April 5, 2021 by peter_m7uk
Added a bit

[Bob Tucker]

I have a Vauxhall redtop . They are  notorious for sump leaks. I have tried many solutions, but I have reverted to

using the standard cork gasket and Wynns black gasket sealer from Euro car parts, that has been 100% successful

every time I have rebuilt the engine.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/search/wynns black gasket

Edited April 6, 2021 by Bob Tucker

[Peter Bell]

I have done similar bashing on cam covers, they distort if they are overtightened. But I think you will need a bit more than a piece of wood and a rubber mallet to encourage it to move, a steel chaser and a biggish hammer against a steel plate

Edited April 6, 2021 by Peter Bell

[peter_m7uk]

On 4/6/2021 at 12:40 PM, Bob Tucker said:

I have a Vauxhall redtop . They are  notorious for sump leaks. I have tried many solutions, but I have reverted to

using the standard cork gasket and Wynns black gasket sealer from Euro car parts, that has been 100% successful

every time I have rebuilt the engine.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/search/wynns black gasket

Thanks, Bob.  The annoying thing is that, having inspected the cork seal that came off, I'm starting to think it was actually okay!   I put that on when I fully rebuilt the engine, so I was able to turn the block upside down, get everything cleaned up and take my time over it to do a good job.   Like I said, there were other small leaks above it (dipstick, oil pressure sensor, oil filter), so it was possibly just wet with oil because of those   On the exhaust side of the engine, the sump gasket was bone dry..  My reasoning, though, was that "I've got the engine out now, so while I've got this chance, I might as well fit an improved gasket to be doubly sure".  (On the Lightweight, there isn't space to take the sump off without taking the engine out!)   I will really kick myself once I sort the dipstick etc leaks, if the new gasket decides to blow instead!!

Edited April 7, 2021 by peter_m7uk

[peter_m7uk]

On 4/6/2021 at 8:02 PM, Peter Bell said:

I have done similar bashing on cam covers, they distort if they are overtightened. But I think you will need a bit more than a piece of wood and a rubber mallet to encourage it to move, a steel chaser and a biggish hammer against a steel plate

I'll see what I can do.  The metal is relatively thin around the sump edge, though.   Another thought I had was to loosen all the bolts off again without them coming out, so the whole sump drops several mill.  Then smear a thin layer of gasket sealant, as Bob says, all the way around the gap and retighten.

Edited April 7, 2021 by peter_m7uk

[peter_m7uk]

On 4/5/2021 at 7:46 PM, peter_m7uk said:

Hi, I used a cork gasket on my Pinto sump, but wasn't happy with it as I thought it was a bit leaky.   Hard to be certain, though, as I think I had other leaks above it!

Anyway, as my engine is out at the moment for a different reason, I thought I'd take the opportunity to buy a "competition" sump gasket from Burton and give that a try instead - https://www.burtonpower.com/sump-gasket-set-heavy-duty-ford-sohc-pinto-ft793kc.html.   Apparently, if there is a leak, oil makes the gasket material swell at that point and should stop the leak.

Thing is, now I've fitted it, it seems quite thin and I can see a wave along the joint, particularly in one place.   I ran a feeler gauge there and there was a small but definite gap in the seal.  Has anyone else tried this gasket and how was your experience??  I realise that the sump edge material can bend, also the bolts can distort the material when tightened, both of which can compromise the seal.   I had an idea to use a small piece of wood of the correct size, with a rubber mallet, then go right around the sump edge tapping it to try and close all the gaps - Anyone tried something like that?   What are the chances that the blue gasket material can swell enough to close a gap?

Pete 

PS  Do you see the 2 little white bits of plastic in the burton gasket kit?  What are they supposed to be for??  

[Sparepart]

Looking at the contents list in the kit these white bits are "Rear main cap chocks"

I use this as a Google search and  among the hits I see two useful images:-

[peter_m7uk]

Aha, cheers!  They're already in there from the original rebuild, I checked my old pictures, I just couldn't remember 

Edited April 8, 2021 by peter_m7uk

[Bob Tucker]

I just couldn't remember.....

LOL been there..!!!