Oil from the fuel pump on my 346 ????

[z3skybolt]

There is a bit of oil around  the top and sides of my fuel pump.  A slight oily mist is accumulating on the driver side firewall, inner fenders....some hoses and lines.  I had forgotten that this use to occur before my 346 was overhauled....but had not happened since until today....despite having been driven over 1,000 miles since overhaul.

The fuel pump is a rebuilt manual(original type) from Kanter and has been on the engine for two years.

Am I seeing things? I sure looks like it is coming from the fuel pump.  What would cause that?

Thanks,

Bob

[tturley]

Have you tried tightening up the mounting bolts a little?

[Steve Passmore]

You could be looking at blocked crankcase breather systems like the gauze filter on the oil filler tube or the vent system under the inlet manifold?

[CadillacRob]

If it's anything like the 331, 365 (I'm sure it is) it needs a gasket and the gasket needs  permatex high tack sealant. 

[DaveZ]

Be careful of tightening. The pumps are diecast and will warp and then it will be harder to stop a leak. If it is warped tightening will not stop the leak. If it were me, my opinion only,  I would get a new gasket clean off both surfaces, check for flatness and go from there. I have always used the old permatex indian cement. It is shellac for all intents and makes a great seal on clean surfaces. Never had anything leak with it. Easy to clean off to if you ever have to do work again. Hope you get it straightened out.

[z3skybolt]

Dave and Rob,

When you refer to a gasket....is that what appears to be a diaphram.  There are no other "gaskets" in this fuel pump except for the one where the pump is bolted to the engine block.  There is a "diaphram" both in the upper and lower part and they seem to be designed to seal between the halves and the screw holes.

Just want to be sure.  I did appear that oil was leaking around the "gasket/diaphram" on the upper half below the glass bowl.

Sorry to be so ignorant of these simple things.

Thanks,

bob

 

[Steve Passmore]

They ARE referring to the gasket between pump and block, but if you say it looks like it's seeping from the diaphragm perhaps it's just a case of tightening the top screws?     Theoretically, there shouldn't be any oil in there as there's a seal on the operating shaft but they are never 100% oil tight.

[z3skybolt]

Thanks to everyone,

Once I learned what I was supposed to do...I reassembled the pump, tightened the screws on top and installed.  Drove the car 15 miles...all seems well at the moment.

It's hell being an automotive novice. But you guys are bringing me along.

Bob