Model T engines leak oil. I've added seals to everything I c

Jul 7 (edited)

Model T engines leak oil. I've added seals to everything I can and here's my final trick to making these things oil tight. The corner where the hogshead meets the engine block and oil pan is particularly bad.
A shop vac hose is connected to the oil filler, a vacuum gauge is installed in the oil check port. All other openings are sealed up with aluminum tape and the vacuum is turned on. A hose in the ear is used to listen to all possible points of leakage. If there's a hiss, some MotoSeal, a very thin rtv used for motorcycle and snowmobile engine cases is applied to the leak until it stops. Once there's no more hiss and you see a rise in the vacuum gauge, you know everything is sealed up. I gained about 1 inch of mercury during the sealing process.

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Jul 7, 2026

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Replies (6)

· Jul 7

Good idea, but maybe not for me....I recently plumbed some hard air lines in my shop and the compressor was running way too often. I had to have my wife listen for leaks, and then take her word for it because I couldn't hear them even after she found them. The only way I'd find leaks in an engine would be pressure and soapy water.

· Jul 7

Clever!

· Jul 7

Strong like ox, smart like tractor.

· Jul 7

@Edinmass is great at stuff like this. Coming up with inventive ways to solve problems and save time. I'll give him credit in this area. Other areas, not so much...

· Jul 7

You know who tends to be pretty inventive when it comes to solving problems?
Tractor mechanics...😝

· Jul 8

But, but, but ....you are losing part of the Model T experience of the thing dripping all over your pristine garage floor. 😀I solved the problem with both Ram board and a refusal to have a pristine floor; let the monster do its worst.
Model T's just lie in wait. Like 'life' , they will find a way.

Great idea BTW!