oil every where

[The_Handier_Man1]

From: Liv42dayOK  (Original Message)
Sent: 1/22/2006 7:51 PM

Drove the rig today and now there's oil all over the engine!  Where could it be coming from?



From: denison
Sent: 9/13/2004 5:12 PM

You might have the hydroboost brake system. This uses power steering fluid to assist the braking, instead of vacuum. If you look up into the wheel space in front of the drivers side front wheel, you would see the booster and master cylinder. It it has the same high pressure hoses going to it as goes to the steering box, then you have hydroboost.
Its a great system, but the original hoses would be 28 years old, and perhaps already leaking. I think there are 3 high pressure hoses, and at least one low pressure return hose. It sounds like you need to replace them before you go anywhere. The humming sound is air bubbles in the power steering fluid, because it is too low. I am guessing the power steering system would hold about a quart of p.s. fluid. Someone might have put dextron in it, or motor oil in it, but I think it takes power steering fluid. You also could have a bad/leaky power steering pump, or a bad seal in the steering box or the hyrdrobooster - but its less likely.
With that system, if the belt breaks or a hose splits, you lose your power steering, and your power brakes! 



From: denison
Sent: 9/13/2004 5:13 PM

And the reason it would smoke a lot is because the oil would be spraying onto the exhaust system. 



From: Liv42dayOK
Sent: 9/13/2004 7:05 PM

Very typical for the 440 is oil leaking from valve cover gaskets.  I had exactly the same thing when I first got mine and you'll hear that one many times.  My wife had to drive about a football field behind me because of he oil being thrown.  When I went through a tunnel... oh boy, I got an oil splatter-bath all up the side up to the roof.  OH!  And by the way... welcome to CWM! - Sob



From: denison
Sent: 9/13/2004 7:08 PM

You would have brakes but - without the power assist. If you shut off the engine while coasting across a big parking lot you would see how much of a difference it is. A big empty parking lot. Same for the steering.
Assuming it is a leaking hose, (most likely) and not an oil glazed and loose p.s. pump belt, or a leaking seal or tubing connection (less likely): Similar parts were used on thousands of Chevy/GMC light trucks as well as the Dodge chassis. Chevy vans that had diesel engines probably used them too, as they lacked a good vacuum source.
Any place that supplies commercial vehicles might have them - but it might take some hunting. Also places that supply hydraulic hoses to construction and agricultural users would probably have them in their catalog. High pressure hoses are consumables - they dont live forever. There are firms that will put new hoses/ferrules onto your old fittings. You could ask a truck repair place who their supplier is for power steering hoses.
It would be good to have the old parts with you. Getting them off will be plenty dirty, and to undo the tubing nuts you should use a 6 point flare-nut-wrench, NOT an open end wrench. You should clean them well before you unscrew the fittings - to keep dirt out of the insides of the booster and steering box.
I have even gone to ebay, found a business that was selling a related item, and asked them if they had the parts I needed. Sometimes they do or will tell me who does!



From: Plainobob1
Sent: 9/13/2004 8:07 PM

will thats kinda the way it was but didnt use oil  and have new gaskets i got down and looked around them but boy it was hot and i have respect for those hot manifold s will take a good look at them also 2 morrow . thank you also i think im going to like this site and the new winnie she is realy nice to camp in and to travel in ( if i could just get these things fixed .) winter is close at hand !



From: HeavyHaulTrucker
Sent: 9/13/2004 10:21 PM

This may sound elementary and dumb, but you might want to check the oil filter.  Not too long after I bought my Winnie (which also has a 440-3) I had the same problem -- oil coating the underside right behind the driver's side wheel.

Come to find out, the PO had done me the favor of changing the oil before I picked it up and had not tightened the oil filter enough.  Over the course of a week, it loosened enough to leak when oil pressure was up -- but it did not show obvious signs of leaking.  I found it by accident when I just happened to check it after I couldn't find any other cause.

John



From: denison
Sent: 9/14/2004 3:15 AM

Next time you are underneath, check that you dont have a leak of transmission fluid from the small hoses that run between the bottom of the radiator and the lines for the transmission oil cooler which run up from the side of the tranny. I had to replace those years ago, both were really deteriorated. 



From: Sea Hag
Sent: 9/14/2004 9:17 AM

Plainobob - I have a 76 23' chief w/ 440  . I had the same proplem a year ago when I got it . the top seal on my power stearing box leaked , and valve cover gaskets as well , a real mess . Had to get out and let smoke clear when I pulled the engine cover on a hot motor . Got it pretty well taken care of now , after much labor . Looking good too, see my photo album . And Post some pics of yours soon
     I am also from the Chicago area .Far SW suberbs ( Oswego) . From your nic name I would guess your maybe in Plano ? Let me know - Sea Hag 



From: Plainobob1
Sent: 9/14/2004 5:31 PM

sea hag ,
The wheaton area ,havent got a camera shot of her yet but will post as soon as i do . just got back from the garage and think i got a good guy working on it . you are right the gear box is leaking right out of the top , hoses looked good but it did show oil on the bottom of bell houseing  and a little trans fluid .oh i did find a couple valve cover bolts loose but didnt look like it was leaking . We bought it from a friend in ahtabula ohio and on our trip back the starter went out at the gas pump on  labor day weekend, so we had to leave her with a place called (express auto and truck) in swanton ohio . they did the starter and found trans leak so i had them do a seal kit but I GUESS NO ONE TOLD THIS OUTFIT NOT TO USE PERMATEX ON TRANSMISIONS! so i am going to have to pay this new guy to redo the job and hope that the 200 mile trip from there didnt do any harm to my trans . Is Oswego out by elburn ? have inlaws in Elburn and they are going to trade their camper in for a moterhome i think next spring after seeing our classic 



From: Plainobob1
Sent: 9/14/2004 6:18 PM

hey looked over your winnie and boy thast motor looks clean ,lots of work i would guess . ours only has 40,000 miles and looked real clean when the valve covers were off  in ohio .but seting around didnt do it any good . have lots of work ahead a suppose . i got out of it today and found that the door frame is seperating on bottom right (hinge side ) will have to deal with that next before it gets worse i guess . hey where do you store the girl , we found a plavce in carol stearm for 50 a month but dont like the grounds and hours   



From: Sea Hag
Sent: 9/15/2004 9:06 AM

Plainobob - the permetex shouldn't have hurt you trans unless they got way way to much on the gasket , or spilled the jar in   the pan . I would think it would take alot to clog the trans passages . . changeing the trans pan gasket again after driving 200 mi really won't make much differance if it's not leaking .
    Elburn is futher west . Oswego is on the Fox river , South of Aurora . Closer to Wheaton than Elburn .  I store my chief in ottawa at a freinds house , in exchage for repairs on his place . I had it in my drive for most of the summer while restoreing the chassis . I'm not suppose to have it in my drive for more than a few days but no one complained I guess.
   Email me , my E address on member profile is correct . would like to get the rigs together for a photo op , maybe down by Sheridan / Norway Il. at a resort I belong to about 20 Mi south of here ( I can have a guest with a rig ). I plan to be going there on the 24th  for the weekend then bring my rig back up here to prepare for a 200 mi trip on OCT. 1  to EIU in Charleston , IL. -  I plan to be camping again several times this fall as I spent all last fall and most of this past spring and summer working on the winne , still more to do but time to have some fun  .    Sea Hag