My E Type had a bunch of oil drips coming from various parts of the drive train underneath the car. During the oil change this fall, I managed to clean the oil from most of the underside and determined that it looks like the primary leaks are coming from the front area of the engine. I have not fully cleaned that area yet and I suspect that the leaks were dripping down and coating other areas that made it look on the garage floor like I had multiple leaking points. Don't think that is the case now. Any ideas of what are common problematic engine oil leak points on the front of the car? Just looking for a little heads up on what to look for as I dig deeper into that area.

Also, the clutch slave cylinder drips from in-between the housing and the rubber boot. I gather that is toast and needs rebuilt or new replacement? Thanks for the help.

 

Sounds like the front main oil seal is gone, which means you'll have to remove the sump. You don't have to remove the timing cover, because Jaguar craftily put a round spacer over the crankshaft for the seal to run on, so you pull this spacer forward thus releasing the oil seal downwards from the timing cover to pull it off forwards. The spacer is located on a woodruff key as I remember it.

 

Thanks Fraser. Not sure I can visualize what you are describing, but I'll clean that area and dig in to see what is there. I am a newbie to working on the E Type. If anyone has a photo or exploded diagram, that would be a big help.

 

All the 4.2 Jags leak oil. It's just a matter of whether you have a gusher or a weeper. And of course what your tolerance level is. Best thing to do is what you are doing and that is cleaning all areas where oil has leaked or has caked up on the front of the engine. Then take it for a nice run. After a good run should tell you the severity of your oil leak and where leaks are. It may take a few more runs to find the weepers. Starting at the top of the engine, check cam cover gaskets and the washers, cam timing adjustment cover (breather) gaskets and washers, Distributor oil seal, nuts and washers where head meets timing cover, and the front engine seal. Being a newbie to this, the best thing you could have in your possession would be a good shop manual to help you navigate around your E-Type.

 

SNG Barratt kindly put the original Jaguar parts drawings on their website. Here is the crankshaft assembly: -

https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#...assembly/20130

Item 8 is the spacer on which the oil seal rubs. With the sump off, you can get to the back of the spacer, and gently tap it forward. Obviously you have to take off everything in front of it, so it's not a quick and easy job, but no Jaguar ever was easy !

 

Thanks guys. I sprayed down the area with brake cleaner and got most of the wet oil cleaned off. I think it may be coming from more than one location, but I am pretty sure the front main seal is leaking and getting slung around the front engine area. I saw one drop that was forward and to the right of the block and was saying, "where the heck did that come from?" I looked at the area above it and saw oil gathered in a small area where the radiator hose meets the water pump. Odd spot for oil to be...

I have decided to let the professionals fix this for me. There is a specialist near me who is actually the shop that restored the car. Best to have them look into it so I don't get in over my head.