Do leaks ever fix themselves? | FerrariChat
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Do leaks ever fix themselves?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by jrg1, Mar 25, 2006.

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  1. jrg1

    jrg1 Karting

    Nov 20, 2003
    60
    nyc
    Full Name:
    john
    #1 jrg1, Mar 25, 2006
    Some of you might remember my recent troubles with the clutch slave- cylinder seals (I hope) on my '83 bbi - the concensus was that the cold weather had caused the seals to contract/harden and a rebuild was necessary......the resevoir would empty in about two days of sitting, but I could fill it, and would then have good pedal pressure (I did have to bleed it once), and the car seemed to drive fine. Anyway, I picked the car up yesterday, filled the resevoir - it was dry after sitting a month, and the tell-tale signs of ferrari-ownership were all over the floor - drove about 20 miles to a heated garage, and put down a bunch of cardboard under the car.....lo and behold, tonight I check it, no signs of leakage and the resevoir is full???? - any thoughts? thx in advance - John
     
  2. CliffBeer

    CliffBeer Formula 3

    Apr 3, 2005
    2,198
    Seattle, Washington
    Full Name:
    Cliff
    #2 CliffBeer, Mar 26, 2006
    Once the clutch slave seal goes bad it's never right again w/o a rebuild. You might temporarily not have a leak but once you start moving the piston in the cylinder you'll most likely have a progressively worse leak. You're best off just changing it and then you don't have to worry about getting stuck somewhere with no clutch pedal. The slave cylinder isn't too tough to change out and you may be able to rebuild the existing cylinder with a seal kit and a little 600 wet/dry sandpaper to remove any corrosion. If there is major pitting you'll need to replace it however. Good luck!
     
  3. bwassam

    bwassam Formula Junior

    Jan 3, 2005
    635
    North Bend, Oregon
    Full Name:
    Robert Wassam
    #3 bwassam, Mar 26, 2006
    This reminds me of an old airplane I rode in once. I was in Japan and was to catch a hop to the Philippines on an old Air Force C-54. I noticed that one of the engines was leaking a lot of oil. I mentioned it to the pilot. He told me to watch it and if it quits leaking let him know. That means that it's out of oil.

    I'm guessing that temperature had some to do with your leak plugging itself up. When everything heats up with operating or weather, the tensions change.

    Bob
     

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