We bought a 1978 O'Day 37 with a Westerbeke 30 engine. Knew it had an oil leak at the V/C gasket. Replaced that and then found that it was leaking at the rear of the engine. I figured it would just be a matter of replacing the rear main oil seal. But after checking into it, found that this particular engine does not have a rear main seal. It's my understanding that it had a groove cut into the rear of the crankshaft to allow the oil to return to the pan before exiting the rear. Unfortunately mine is exiting from the rear. I've worked on a lot of engines both gas and diesel but this is the first one I've come across without a rear main seal. The oil leak is substantial, two quarts about every forty or forty-five hours. Does anyone know of a repair that doesn't involve repowering or removing the engine? The engine is showing just under 3000 hours. Other than the oil leak, it starts and runs strong.
Westerbeke 30 oil leak
- Thread starter sailorman295
- Start date
with what you describe, it sounds like the oil return gallery is plugged up... i dont think you have any choice but to remove it...
but are you SURE its coming out from around the crankshaft?
but are you SURE its coming out from around the crankshaft?
I have no personal experience with this engine, I am just repeating something I read - if this block was also used in an earlier gas version - check to make sure the hole in the casting where the distributor would have been is not leaking - has a cover or plug with a gasket prone to fail - should be very close to rear crank exit.
I've got a question. Does the crankcase vent well through the VC like it should? I'm just wondering if you're building pressure in the lower resulting in, well, you know..
Oil Leak
I've checked over the entire engine and other than a bit of oil at the front seal, it appears the majority is coming from the rear of the oil pan under the bell housing. Just wondering if by pulling the gearbox and flywheel if there is anything that can be done there.
Well, on the rear of the engine, mine has an oil seal, an oil seal flange, and an oil seal gasket, the last just being a gasket for the flange proper. I haven't torn up one of these Westies yet, (which says something about their worthiness), but a lot of these little fuelers are built that way because the oil pan is flat, and does not have the commonly thought of 'rear main seal gasket'. But it does have one, and should be very much more mechanical friendly for replacement. So the answer proper should be yes, you drop the gearbox, and there it should be. It HAS to seal somewhere, this one just doesn't 'jam' up in there with oil pan pressure, but compression pressure from the flange.
Check out page 230, item #4. If this is your engine it does have a rear seal: http://www.westerbeke.com/OnlineManuals/13945_Rev_8.pdf
My thought was the same as yours, it must have some sort of seal. But according to Westerbeke, this particular engine, which was originally used by British Leyland and put into taxi cabs and other autos and tractors and the block was first used in gasoline models, did not have a rear main oil seal. Instead uses pressure against the crankshaft and a groove cut into the rear that is supposed to the wick the oil back into the pan. They are workhorse engines.
Was there a change in the motor through the years? The parts book (that link) says "Westerbeke 30" on the front page and these people sell a rear seal for a Westerbeke 30. http://www.westerbekew30parts.com/engine.html
Saw the seal on that same site, Merlin... I'd be surprised if there wasn't some kind of "seal" back there instead of open to atmosphere.. It would be tough to design a compact labyrinth to fit back there that would drain the oil back and have enough pressure drop to handle the normal crankcase pressure pulses.. It may be the "old timey" rope seal, kinda like a packing box? The Brits really liked that design.. had a leaky one on my 1959 Jag.
I know very little about diesel engines but have found the Westerbeke repair/parts group out of Lakewood Yacht sales in the Houston/Clear Lake Texas area to be extremely helpful...ask for Steve They are listed in the O'Day manual as the South Texas
parts resource.....Good Luck !
parts resource.....Good Luck !
Hi Claude,
I was going by the IPB at the first link which shows an oil seal and didn't notice the "W50 and W60" under remarks.
Do you know if this motor is the same as the Perkins 200 series? Just wondering.
Sailorman,
I saw the W50/60 later, sorry for my confusion!
I hope you share what you find with a follow up post? This is interesting. Thanks.
I saw the W50/60 later, sorry for my confusion!
I hope you share what you find with a follow up post? This is interesting. Thanks.
Thanks to everyone for the responses. I've sent an email to the site that says they have a rear main seal for the W30. Had no response yet, but I will keep you all informed. I may just pull the gearbox and flywheel to see what I can see.
Just noticed where you're at. If you ever need seals (probably have this one if there is one), bearings, sleeves or anything of the like give Miller Bearings a shot. There's one in WPB.
http://www.millerbearings.com/
http://www.millerbearings.com/
Heard back from the parts people. My W30 does not have a rear main seal, but he said it should have a deflector shield, but he doesn't carry that item. I think I need to remove the gear box etc. and have a look. Or just keep an eye on the oil and stock up on oil absorbers. If I do take it apart, I will keep you posted.
Thanks.