The V8 Owners Forum -

I have 3 Rover V8 engines all using the SD1 sumps. Each time I fit a sump I,
1. Place the sump upside down on a flat surface and, using a blunt bolster chisel, ensure that the mating surface is flat. It is surprising how distorted they become.
2. Use a thicker neoprene/rubber (?) gasket with blue Hylomar applied on both sides.
3. Each bolt is then fitted with a spring washer, flat washer and then a fibre washer, to seal against the sump face.
4. Each bolt is then torqued up to 5ft/lb.
And the sump still leaks!
How can I improve on this, any suggestions please?

I found oil running down the threads of the two long sump bolts that go into the rear main bearing cap. Lots of sealant on clean threads sorted that out.

Chris.

I saw someone stand a newly rebuilt engine on it's sump, then complain when it leaked.

Oh I was told
“It’s Rover, he’s just marking his territory!”

And spots of oil mean you still have some in the sump!

Neither are much help to you, but I would fill Chris’ advice

Ian

Wonder if rectangular washers - to spread the load - on the bolts would help?

The answer is not to use a gasket, they're pretty much crap. Let's be honest, no OE manufacturer specifies cork or simple rubber gaskets these days, especially on sumps.

I now always use proper automotive grade silicon gasket - never had a leak since (although you'd better be sure you don't want to take it off again).

Thank you for your replies.

russell_ram, can you please provide the name of the automotive silicon you use?

When using a gasket on a rover sump I pre glue the gasket to just the sump flange with evostick or similar and this prevents the gasket wandering as the bolts are done up. Using gasket cement on both sides of the gasket is not a good idea as this tends to lubricate the gasket and allows the gasket to slide out of position as the force is applied. If it's a cross bolted block, then the sump bolts that coincide with the cross bolts need to have sealer on the threads as the cross bolt bores are subject to some main bearing oil pressure seepage.

3 bond is a sealant for such things

https://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorcyc ... -250g-tube

But really, any good quality flange sealant type of thing will be fine if both surfaces are clean and flat etc. And often will be hard work to remove again !

Loctite 5970 is what I generally use.