Oil leak advice required

[Rod1883]

Thanks, Dirko ordered......

[Rod1883]

The Dirko arrived safely and now we're back from a week away, it's time to do the job.
A simple question - does anyone have any advice on how best to trim the half moon seals to ensure that the sealing face remains true and flat? I'm afraid with my skills I'll end up with a surface that isn't flat.....

[Dean]

Check your oil switch I found mine was leaking after a long time searching for the leak spotted it when I was laying underneath you can’t see it from above especially if you have a oil pressure gauge … well worth a look

[wilf]

Unless the half moon seals are ridiculously proud, I wouldn't trim them - the cork cam cover gaskets should take up any irregularities. That's how I did mine and they are "dry". (mind you, plenty of PU oil resistant sealer was also used, lol).

[Rod1883]

Thanks wilf.
Upon trial fitting a new half moon in the offending slot - rear of LH head - it didn't seem too proud, so I decided to do as you suggest (and as I had done before a couple of years back when 3 of the 4 didn't/don't leak).
After a thin smear of Dirko on the rounded face the new half moon seal - it did sit a little more proud so I decided to put a very thin smear of same on the top flat face and refit the cover with wiped clean cork and head faces, and a new smear of grease all round the cork.
After a couple of ~10 mile runs this afternoon all seems good with no leaks.

I did find on disassembly that the four sleeve/screw nuts were not very tight so, perhaps, I could have just tightened things down a bit more, I'll never know. I did them up a little tighter this time (and the two screws at the font too). I also nipped up the right hand cam cover screws - it is probable that the sealing rings under those sleeve screws had compressed (and the cork gasket itself too?) requiring that nipping up.

[trunt]

Unless the half moon seals are ridiculously proud, I wouldn't trim them - the cork cam cover gaskets should take up any irregularities. That's how I did mine and they are "dry". (mind you, plenty of PU oil resistant sealer was also used, lol).

I always do the glue to cover- grease to head method so for that the 1/2 moon seals do usually need a trim.. I don’t feel it’s important to have them perfectly flat, as the cork will conform as wilf says, just eliminate the steps at the edges, if it’s bowed it will still seal, it’s just those steps that leak. I use a blade and tidy it with a sheet of course Emory cloth or sandpaper.

[gbb483]

Many years ago I had a garage do the clutch on my fwd mkIII escort. I think (no proof), that they blocked the vents whilst they moved the engine around, and then didn't remove the blockages. Result was that over time engine oil was forced up the speedo cable and gradually collected under the carpet in the driver's footwell. I could never get rid of the smell, and eventually traded it in when it came to the time to move on (no private buyer would come near it after they stuck their head inside the cabin).