The Official 356Talk Forum

Is it leaking engine oil or transmission oil?

Was the fuel tap turned off.....

Yes, the leak is likely coming from somewhere in the car.
Suffice to say, your description is far too general to offer any real guidance. You're gonna have to get out and get under and/or give us more info than we have.

Agreed Ron, the 356 gurus are good but good but they have not yet achieved clairvoyance ! Complete and detailed data is still required.
So Thomas consider the following:
1. engine or trans oil ?
2. Does it leak when parked on the level ?
3. Fuel cock turned off when parked?
4. How much oil ?
5. Stick your head under the car and try to determine about where said oil is dripping from, a picture
would be best ! Even then the oil could be coming from numerous sources
6. Take car to a 356 mechanic for help. Local "experienced expert eyes on" is the best
solution for such broad problems, especially when the situation calls for experience and/or
knowledge beyond your capability.

Check the valve cover gasket--most likely it's aged and/or not evenly flat due to a warped valve cover.
Also, if the top of the valve cover is wet, itn could be from some leakage from the vertical cheese-head screw
holding the vertical & horizontal side plates to the head; Either loose or MISSING could be the reason since the
threaded holes (1-on each side of the manifold) are thru-drilled into the rocker chamber. The 912 heads have blind holes.

Dick

thanks all

Smell the oil. If it smells of gas and you did not turn off the fuel cock do not try and start the car until you have checked for gas in the oil because you might have a cylinder full of oil and liquids are incompressible while connecting rods are.

I think he might have fixed it David. He's just now responding to the suggestions from last September... Better late than never.

Thats what happens when you get old you miss the fine details like the date when things happen. I was doing OK till a few weeks ago at Christmas.

No, you're doing much better than that and we're all happy you are. Keep up the good work.

Cheers,
Wes

David