Note: I have been recently reminded that my humor is not appreciated by some here on this here Chat site. I can understand. Nevertheless humor helps make my life worth living. In two weeks I will be 86 so, if you can, please cut me a little slack. If you can't then just don't read the following post and feel better for not having done so and have a nice day. Please.
You can forget having a 216 engine that doesn't seep or leak oil. The revolutions the engine has run is directly proportionally to the amount engine seeps/leaks overs time.
A new or newly rebuilt engine - with a proper seal and correct Gene proposed installation thereof - will have its hot oil beginning to attack said seal as soon as it meets up with it. Picture mediaval battles of castles and town town walls. The desire of the oil to escape the crankcase is relentless. The seal is merely a device to slow down the flow of oil overboard. Nothing more ever intended and nothing more realized.
Those who, after having installed a new rear main rope seal, say that there is no seep or leak, have merely not driven the car far enough. A test: Run the car you claim has no leal or seep on a round trip of 100 miles or so and when you get back put down some clean bath towels under the engine. Then borrow your missus white wedding dress (easier if you don't ask) and then lay it on the towels under the engine. Center it right below the drip hole in the flywheel cover. Walk away for an hour. If you do this then "you are a braver man than I, Gunga Din" or words to that effect. No leaks. Yeah, right. By 1K miles you will need a drip pan under the car. By 30K you will need a bigger pan under it. (all estimates are guesses based on experience with 216 engines from 1953 to now.)
So the point is:
a. Forget of having a drip free 216 engine. Any attempts will produce more disappointment than trying to make sense out of some of my posts.
b. The more revolutions of the crank on the rear main seal the more the rate of engine oil will sneaking past the rear seal. As I said directly proportional.
c. Heavier oil may slow the amount of oil leaking per minute but will not help much when considering the negative or diminishing effect on lubrication.
d. Have yourself a pan for under the engine. Save the oil. Strain it and use it to replenish the loss via the rope seal. Let it drip through a clean towel or the missuses wedding gown. The gown will produce best results owing to the better, finer weave cloth.
e. Always park the 216 on dirt or in the street whenever you visit friends. An oil free driveway is not for a 216.
f. Quiet chasing after something that is not going to happen. Simple physics doesn't support your quest.
Best,
Charlie
BTW: If you use the wedding gown be prepared to shell out many bucks before you are allowed back in the house. They love diamonds. The missus will forgive but never forget. Burn the gown with as much respect as you would your country's flag. Have some scouts help you. If the missus attends the ceremony, bring some tissue and be prepared to shed some tears. Alligator tears. She will readily detect fake tears. Will too!
BTW2: Now is the time to lament having read this. Told you so.
