Re: 35 Senior 8 Oil Loss

Posted by Tim Cole On 2012/1/16 19:10:31

Dear ClassicCrusier:

Wow, that sure is an expensive investigation!

The oil level float would leak with the motor sitting and be readily detected via dripping on the floor.

If you are certain the rear main slinger is okay, and the oil pan gasket has the drain hole in it, and the dowls are in place, I guess you have to move on. At least you indicate that you are certain the leak is not inside the bell housing.

Packard crankcases will rupture in the presence of too much oil pressure, but those leaks are usually internal and your oil pressure would be rotten. So I would rule that one out.

Here is another possibility - I have run into store bought gaskets where the oil drain holes in the valve chamber were in the wrong place. You wouldn't notice it unless you spend a lot of time with Packards.

I would try removing the valve covers and checking the drain holes to make sure they are not blocked off. You can see them in the castings. This will cause leaking only when the motor is running.

Next, the dye method is a very good approach and can be done at any garage that has a black light. However, this massive an oil leak should be readily visible unless oil is being burned. Perhaps you should have somebody drive behind you and see if there is any smoking. Or take the car to a place that has a dyno and put the thing under load.
On a dyno it will dump a quart of oil in under 30 minutes -That's huge.

If this case came to me I might try the following:

a) Go to a place that services diesel trucks and buy a few gallons of their waste oil. Used diesel oil is super black.

b) Clean the motor really well with prep sol top and bottom.

c) Drain your clean oil and put the diesel stuff in. Don't worry, it's not going to damage anything for this test.

d) Buy some white wallpaper, bedsheets, tarpaulin, whatever and lay it out under the car.

e) Now run the motor at high idle and watch for the black oil.

Clean up will take some time, but it is easier than taking the motor out.

Finally, moving parts from one motor to another is not a good idea. Packard motors were pretty much hand built and I have noticed that original cars that have never had the crank removed always have less vibration than rebuilt motors. Thus, I think you should stick with what you have.

Hope this helps.