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I have noticed a trace of oil is seeping from the fuel pump on my '51 288 motor. Just a few drops after driving for an hour, and I am wondering why it should happen on a pump that I have fitted a complete kit into.

The oil only comes through the gauze (- which is some sort of air filter) where there is a small breather hole (or weep hole) in the rectangular recess in the side of the pump. It's not causing me a problem because there's only a small amount, but I doubt that there should be any coming out at all. A wipe with a cloth and it's quickly removed from the area below (- on the top of the cross-member).

Hoping someone can tell me what is causing this to happen.

It's normal for the horsehair breather to get damp with oil, but a regular drip is not normal. Assuming the pump was properly rebuilt, these are first things I'd check:

1. Crankcase overfilled?
2. Oil filler cap been cleaned recently?
3. Road draft tube pinched or restricted?
4. Baffle to draft tube on inside of valve cover plugged with sludge?

If not any of the causes O_D posted, then most likely crankcase blowby. Watch the filler breather and road draft tube for crankcase vapors escaping when the engine is running or shortly after being shut off.

(o{}o)

Thanks O_D and JW for the replies. Interesting that it is probably crankcase pressure, I should have figured that out.

Because I've re-built the engine totally I'm confident that points 2,3 and 4 are not the problem. Oil filler cap is clean, road draft tube aok (- everything was carefully cleaned before assembly). Regarding point #1, I selected one dipstick from several I had so maybe crankcase is over-full if I chose an incorrect one. Will check that possibility.

I do see slight fuming from the oil filler after a drive.The engine rebuild involved new pistons and rings (- the bores measured up ok and were not smooth). So after only 300 miles it could be the rings haven't seated yet, hence some blow-by?

Guess I'll drive some more and see if the problem goes away.

A couple of wisps or curls of vapor from the breather cap after a drive is not abnormal.

Give it a little time to break in.

Yes - will give it some time. Thanks for your suggestions.