Martini 914 1974, restoration thread Options

[raynekat]

Yea, definitely looking good there Mats.
You'll get all those oil leaks sorted, I'm sure of it.
Great looking car and concept for the car.

[falcor75]

Thank you both. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[falcor75]

So I've been chasing oil leaks for a bit and itseems to be coming from this plug.



The offending member weeps a bit of oil after sitting for a few days, I'm suspecting that it leaks more when being heatcycled.

I'd prefer to not pull it and reseal it, has anyone had any luck with some sort of exterior sealant?

[PatrickB]

So I've been chasing oil leaks for a bit and itseems to be coming from this plug.



The offending member weeps a bit of oil after sitting for a few days, I'm suspecting that it leaks more when being heatcycled.

I'd prefer to not pull it and reseal it, has anyone had any luck with some sort of exterior sealant?

Seal all. You'll be suprised how well it works.

[Superhawk996]

So I've been chasing oil leaks for a bit and itseems to be coming from this plug.



The offending member weeps a bit of oil after sitting for a few days, I'm suspecting that it leaks more when being heatcycled.

I'd prefer to not pull it and reseal it, has anyone had any luck with some sort of exterior sealant?

That leaking plug appears to be steel. I think I see rust in the hex and lathe marks on the face. I can see the other two up at the oil filter area and by the one by the crank nose are aluminum.

Verify the leaking offender is steel with a magnet. These are NPT tapered pipe plugs. If steel, your are correct, it has probably loosened from heat cycling.

If steel you have 3 options:

1) Just tigten it. NPT pluts are an interference fit and tightening will stop the leak. Temporarily but probably for many years.

2) Pull the plug completely and use PTFE thread sealeant (liquid not tape) and reinstall.

3) Replace it with a properly installed aluminum plug.


If it's an aluminum NPT plug:

1) You'll have a very hard time getting it out without stripping the aluminum hex. Make sure you have a new tight fitting hex wrench before you even attempt this. Best bet is to gently heat the case (200F is plenty) and then cool the plug quickly by squirting water with a syringe right into the hex. Immediately try to loosen. This doens't work everytime. Sometimes the aluminum plugs have to be machined out but on the other hand if it is aluminum I'd be surprised that it is leaking in the 1st place.

2) If #1 fails, then you might go for the cover with JB Weld route but I absolutely hate this solution but in the past I've sucessfully used JBWeld to seal worse leaks in emergency situations.

3) If the hex strips, you're done. It will need to to be machined out. In your case #2 is likely the best solution unitl you need a rebuild or other case machine work.

Most importantly, don't mess with the blue aluminum plugs if they are not leaking. I prefer aluminum plugs. When they are installed properly, they don't leak and are basically a permanent fix when replacing galley plugs. DO NOT try to move or "re-seal" the blue aluminum plugs.

We just had a relevant thread discussion on aluminum vs. steel oil galley plugs.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=342995

[Mark Henry]

So I've been chasing oil leaks for a bit and itseems to be coming from this plug.



The offending member weeps a bit of oil after sitting for a few days, I'm suspecting that it leaks more when being heatcycled.

I'd prefer to not pull it and reseal it, has anyone had any luck with some sort of exterior sealant?

That leaking plug appears to be steel. I think I see rust in the hex and lathe marks on the face. I can see the other two up at the oil filter area and by the one by the crank nose are aluminum.

Verify the leaking offender is steel with a magnet. These are NPT tapered pipe plugs. If steel, your are correct, it has probably loosened from heat cycling.

If steel you have 3 options:

1) Just tigten it. NPT pluts are an interference fit and tightening will stop the leak. Temporarily but probably for many years.

2) Pull the plug completely and use PTFE thread sealeant (liquid not tape) and reinstall.

3) Replace it with a properly installed aluminum plug.


If it's an aluminum NPT plug:

1) You'll have a very hard time getting it out without stripping the aluminum hex. Make sure you have a new tight fitting hex wrench before you even attempt this. Best bet is to gently heat the case (200F is plenty) and then cool the plug quickly by squirting water with a syringe right into the hex. Immediately try to loosen. This doens't work everytime. Sometimes the aluminum plugs have to be machined out but on the other hand if it is aluminum I'd be surprised that it is leaking in the 1st place.

2) If #1 fails, then you might go for the cover with JB Weld route but I absolutely hate this solution but in the past I've sucessfully used JBWeld to seal worse leaks in emergency situations.

3) If the hex strips, you're done. It will need to to be machined out. In your case #2 is likely the best solution unitl you need a rebuild or other case machine work.

Most importantly, don't mess with the blue aluminum plugs if they are not leaking. I prefer aluminum plugs. When they are installed properly, they don't leak and are basically a permanent fix when replacing galley plugs. DO NOT try to move or "re-seal" the blue aluminum plugs.

We just had a relevant thread discussion on aluminum vs. steel oil galley plugs.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=342995

Sorry wrong.

This plug is steel, but it's a factory plug there's no way it's NPT, it's a metric thread.
It's the machining hole for the oil pick-up. It won't leak running as it's suction from the oil pump, but it's likely leaking air into the pick-up circuit.

I've had it out before, worth a try at removing and reseal. If no joy clean and cover with JB, etc.

[FourBlades]

Wow, great car and great build! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

Make sure to enjoy it to the max.

John

[914forme]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) On that note though, the case will expand more than the steel when heated. The Aluminum based on alloy is over a 2:1 expansion rate of the steel plug counterpart. Depending on the amount of magnesium, we are approaching a 3:1.

Heat it nice with a heat gun 100 Celsius is fine, and go at it nice and slow. Aluminum threads can gall.

I would use a good pipe thread sealant PFTE like Superhawk mentions. Or if you have the means, find or cut a plug to match that galley threads.

If you bugger the threads, then you will need to chase them, or rethread the bung. Grease, and lots of cleaning are your friends here. I would even go as far as to back pack the passage to keep things from migrating back in to the engine. And count all the stuff I put in and out. Like a surgeon or AP mechanic would.

Or like everyone else has mentioned seal it with your favorite epoxy-ish sealant, that is the easy way out and understandable, unless you where doing a rebuild.

[Superhawk996]

Sorry wrong.

This plug is steel, but it's a factory plug there's no way it's NPT, it's a metric thread.
It's the machining hole for the oil pick-up. It won't leak running as it's suction from the oil pump, but it's likely leaking air into the pick-up circuit.

I've had it out before, worth a try at removing and reseal. If no joy clean and cover with JB, etc.

You are correct. Not NPT. My fault for not looking closely and being to fast to comment early in the morning . (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

It is straight cut thread and a very short thread at that. OEM design counts on this plug being threaded in deeply enough, and with enough torque to basically roll form a 1st thread from the steel plug into the aluminum case and on thread sealant after the fact.

The principle of a steel plug loosening over time and heat cycles is still relevant though. Honestly I had forgotten about that plug being straight cut and will have to look into addressing machining on my cases. Truly not a great design. In the case of the other lifter galley plug and the oil pressure relief valve they use a crush washer to ensure a good seal. Not sure why they didn't do the same here? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Maybe ultra tight clearances to the engine mount bracket?

Thank you for keeping me honest. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

[falcor75]

I will go for a thorough clean and some sort of exterior sealant first. The engine barely has 3500 miles on it since it was built.

[Tbrown4x4]

Mine was staked. Not sure if it was staked at the factory.

[wndsrfr]

Devcon Titanium Putty for exterior repair...Peter Dawe recommended it to me for mag case cracks... expensive but top of the food chain...

[barefoot]

So I've been chasing oil leaks for a bit and itseems to be coming from this plug.



The offending member weeps a bit of oil after sitting for a few days, I'm suspecting that it leaks more when being heatcycled.

I'd prefer to not pull it and reseal it, has anyone had any luck with some sort of exterior sealant?
[/quote]



Sorry wrong.

This plug is steel, but it's a factory plug there's no way it's NPT, it's a metric thread.
It's the machining hole for the oil pick-up. It won't leak running as it's suction from the oil pump, but it's likely leaking air into the pick-up circuit.

I've had it out before, worth a try at removing and reseal. If no joy clean and cover with JB, etc.
[/quote]

Interesting, both my 2L GC & GA cases have a pressed in plugs for the suction port.
Both cases have been tapped and plugged for all the other gallery plugs.

Barefoot

[falcor75]

Pondering of wrapping the lower panels to get a more original and less fatbellied look...

[Frankvw]

Pondering of wrapping the lower panels to get a more original and less fatbellied look...

Matts, I like both, but the rockercover black is looking good. No Martini of Porsche Script on there ?

[gereed75]

Really love the refinement that your car represents. Very sano.

How about Martini dark blue

[Tbrown4x4]

The car's beautiful! What did you reseal the plug with?

[raynekat]

The black down low looks great Mats.

[sixnotfour]

Porsche script ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[Spoke]

The car looks spectacular in white trim on the bottom. Very clean look.