oil leak
 

I just got an engine rebuild 2 months ago from a performance shop. After breaking in the engine for 1000 miles the mechnanic told me that I could race the car. I took it to the race track and after 40 miles of racing the engine started smoking. I pulled over and noticed a lot of oil on the left side of the engine and consequently black smoke coming of the engine.

I brought it back to the mechanic and he told me that it was normal for a rebuilt engine to leak oil if it is pushed hard for a long time (although 3 20 min race sessions with 30 min. breaks is not that long). He said it was leaking from under the oil filler cap and that it was not possible to fix the leak because the seal would always leak. He said the boost from the turbos is causing the oil to go through the seals.

It doesn't leak under normal driving but it burns alot of oil, about 1 quart in 200 miles. It went through a half a quart during the race but that may be due to the leak.

He said the solution was to put an oil catch can on the engine and run a hose into the area of the leak to catch the leaking oil.

Somehow his solution and reasoning does not sound right. #1, a rebuilt engine should not leak oil. #2 a oil catch can sounds like a workaround not a solution.

Does anyone of you who races use an oil catch can? Do your engines leak alot of oil when you race? Also, is my high rate of oil consumption normal without a leak?

Thanks.

An oil catch can?? I sure hope he didn't charge you for the rebuild. He's full of it. Where does he want to mount the oil catch can? Next to the antifreeze catch can or the freon catch can?