The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

My low mileage 1300 has an oil leak at the back of the head which I originaly thought was from a badly fitted rocker cover gasket, however after fitting a new gasket and cleaning the back of the block I see I still have a leak, (see picture), which is obviously coming from the main oil gallery to the rockers which runs in the back corner of the head at this point. Engine runs OK, and no issues with oil in water.
I am reluctant to disturb the head yet just for this minor leak, but when I fit the new stainless exhaust over winter I know I am going to have to take the manifolds off to fit new studs, and at this point I will take the head off and fit a new gasket which I already have. I notice that there is no other sealing such as a ring of sealant around the hole in the new gasket. Were the original gaskets like that or is it just my cheapo gasket set?
I wouldn`t want to risk blocking the oil hole up with excess sealant, but a thin smear of wellseal might do the trick. Any thoughts?
Ralph

No solution, but just to say my 1500 engine also has this problem even with a "reputable" Payen head gasket.

A friend has counterbored the rocker feed to accept a short length of pipe, and also countersunk the bore to allow some sealant to be used. Seems to have worked, but a lot of faff. I have used a thin smear of hylomar around the feed, it may have helped.
The "nuclear" option is to grub screw the feed to blank it (block and head) then use a high pressure rocker feed but correctly reduced to 1mm (I think). The feed kits as suppied allow FAR to much oil to the rockers, and really should not be used unless modified, and the original feed blanked off.