SwayBar

You can clean off the affected area with brake cleaner, then run the car, and you should have a clear trail to the origin.

By your description, it sounds like it may be the rear main seal.

ajd0002

I've had a simialr problem with my '81. Oil leaking and dripping off the starter, but it only happened twice!! Since then, about 6 weeks ago, almost nothing...strangest thing I've seen because it was really pouring out, and I have the stains on the road to prove it (new concrete driveway, no way was I driving up until I figured out what was going on). I get the odd whiff of oil burning, but no leak.
I did get about 1/2 turn on the rear cam tower seal bolts, but I doubt that was it.
Looks like a winter project if I don't put in storeage....

1981 Shark

Well, as for my repair, I've got Good News and Bad News.

Good News - Got the cam cover seal in. Took a little longer than expected after the third bolt did a swan dive into the engine compartment and hid for about an hour. But, got the first two in place and then the third was recovered and put in; damn, those little buggers can hide! Also, I don't have the hands of a surgeon (size or dexterity), so getting them in anywhere is challenging.

Bad News - Went for a drive and when I got back home, again the EXACT SAME THING - smoke from under the hood and a fairly good "dribble" from underneath. Funny thing, it looks like oil, but the oil level didn't seem to be any lower on the dipstick. I checked the p/s resevoir and it appeared a little lower. Also, smoke is more "whitish" and doesn't have an oil smell. Good oil pressure, no coolant in the oil and no overheating. Car ran well on my test drive.

Would a bad steering rack leak like this and disguise itself as oil? A little voice inside is telling me that the leaking in "reverse" may just have to do with turning and it may be a power steering fluid leak...

Any other suggestions?

SharkSkin

Sounds like it's time to get underneath and look. Is your PS fluid clean? If you dip the corner of a white paper towel in the reservoir does it come out bright red? If it's dirty it can look like oil. Maybe what you need to do is get it up on ramps, get underneath and spray everything down with Simple Green. Hose it off, and let it dry. This should take care of all of the "wet" oil, though it may not clean away all the grunge. Then start it and wiggle the steering wheel a bit, and go back under for a look.

Looking at your 3rd pic, the rack boot seems to be directly over the oil trail. The pressure lines connect right near where your drip is as well.

1981 Shark

I did note that the p/s fluid wasn't as bright red as it should be, so I'll run this trap. Unfortunately, by the time I finished my (assumed) repair and test drive, I didn't have time to get it back up on the ramps to look further; that's next. I do have a friend at a shop that has agreed to let/help me do some reconnaissance while up on the lift; will hopefully be able do that later this week. Plus another set of eyes certainly won't hurt.

It always seems that I'm just too "close" to everything underneath while it's on the ramps.

Thanks for the Simple Green suggestion; I'll give that a try.

Regards,

David

heinrich

LOL btdt, the swan dive thing :P ... Sharkskin is on the money.

SharkSkin

I didn't realize before that clicking on the pic brings up a bigger pic. On the bigger pic it looks like the DS boot is dry, but it looks as though there may be drips coming off the swaybar. This would point to PS hoses or Banjo connections.

Only a SWAG... once you get it into the air it should be very clear what's going on.

hupp

Also look closely in the area of the steering geer shaft (near the U-Joint). This seal can spring a leak, and if bad enough, can spray radially which would explain the oil getting onto your manifold.

I replaced my rack because of a leak in this area. My leak was not bad -- the fluid would run down to the banjo fittings and give the appearance of a pressure/return hose leak.

1981 Shark

Yes, it is dripping off the swaybar (among other places). Can you enlighten me on the Banjo connections? I've heard of it, but not so sure of its exact location/purpose. That's what I'm hoping. Unfortunately for me, my "lift" access has been postponed until next week.
More places to look that will hopefully help me solve this mystery. Many thanks for the suggestions.

Regards,

David

SharkSkin

These are the connections I'm talking about -- this is a view from behind the swaybar. The seal that hupp refers to is on the input shaft to the rack, directly above these fittings. If that's leaking, it will be obvious -- you will have ATF on the u-joint itself. (BTDT).

jetrainor

I've got the identical problem....hoping to get the car on the lift this week, pull the belly pans off and have a look......i'm going through a reservoir of powersteering fluid every week.

SeanR

I also went through a lot of P/S fluid.

My leak was due to the high pressure P/S hose, I replaced that with a new one and leak went away.

1981 Shark

Well, your fluid is definitely "redder" than mine. I suspect that if it is p/s fluid, as it travels south along whatever parts in comes in contact with, it is gathering grime and changing color. I am anxiously awaiting my slot on my buddy's lift, but that may not be until next week, so she's just sitting at home covered up in the garage-no leaks while she sits, though...
If mine were simply a leak, I'd be driving it more to determine that p/s fluid is indeed the culprit and refilling as needed until I can fix. However, the smoke coming from under the hood (not to mention the aweful smell) and no time has kept me from driving until I can get it up high enough to check it out. Not to mention, any time you have smoke coming from underneath the hood, it's a little unsettling...

SharkSkin

Yeah, you don't want a fire. ATF is very flammable. It's also a great cleaner, so it will only gather so much grime.

1981 Shark

Are you saying ATF and p/s fluid are used interchangably; i/o/w the same thing??? If so, why the comments in the owner's manual about using only particular grade (Dex 3?) of p/s fluid?