The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

My 1850 leaks oil from the lower part of the half-moon seal at the rear of the cam cover. Because the engine is naturally tilted rearwards oil must pool here and leaks out round the seal. I have tried sticking it in place with Hermatite around the circular portion, but to no avail, the oil still gets past it. It then runs down the engine backplate and drips off the bottom of the bell housing making a mess on my block paving!

Does anyone have a sure-fire way of making this thing oil tight? By the way, the seals were new about 1500 miles ago and seem quite flexible. I don't understand why I can't make it work.

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Mike
(1969 MGB GTV8, 1977 Dolomite 1850HL, 1971 MGB roadster now all three on the road)

Clean the head and seal throughly with brake cleaner. Then use a bead of tiger seal to bond the seal in place. Let it go off overnight before you refit the cam cover.

I've never used Tiger Seal, but have heard a lot of good things about it. Must get a tube and give it a go. Thanks Matt.

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Mike
(1969 MGB GTV8, 1977 Dolomite 1850HL, 1971 MGB roadster now all three on the road)

Wear gloves... if you get it on your skin its there until your skin wears off...

OK, here's follow-up. I did as Matt suggested and used Tigerseal to fix the half moon rubber thingy in place. Left it 24 hours, then reassembled. I have since then driven 150 miles to Edinburgh and back at motorway speeds and NO LEAK !!!! Thank you Matt. Since the oil showed itself by dripping off the bell housing I was thinking the rear crank seal was dodgy, but it was the cam cover seal and the oil was simply oozing down the backplate and dripping off the bell housing. Now it has stopped.

Now to see if I can work out where the gearbox drips are coming from, and where the rain gets in past the screen seal. Old cars, don't you love them.

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Mike
(1969 MGB GTV8, 1977 Dolomite 1850HL, 1971 MGB roadster now all three on the road)

Glad it worked for you.