ALL OLD CARS LEAK

 

When it comes to owning a vintage Corvette, truly any vintage car, there are some things you should be prepared for. A vintage car is not fresh off the lot. It has seen the wear and tear of many moons. It is rare, near impossible, to find a vintage Corvette for sale that does not have some form of a leak here or there.

 

But not all leaks are major cause for concern, and can be lived with just fine. Within this post, we will discuss some of the leaks you may find on an old car, why, and how to move forward with your leak.

KINDS OF LEAKS

 

Leaks can occur in two broad forms when it comes to your vintage car. Liquids within the vehicle can leak out, and liquids from outside the vehicle can leak in. For example, some common inside to outside leaks are oil, power steering, and transmission fluid. On the flip side, particularly in regards to Convertible and T-Tops, such as with our beloved Corvettes, rain water can seep through old seals.  

 

 

The reason leaks are practically inevitable in older cars is due to technology and tolerances of the time. Tight seals are required to keep liquids in or out of cars. Seals can only be airtight if the two surfaces are flush. The surfaces on which these seals are affixed, change and warp over time. Even the slightest bend or curve or crack in the surface will affect the tightness of the seal, allowing rainwater to slowly make its way into the Corvette, or vehicle fluids to leak out. .

HOW TO EXIST WITH YOUR LEAK

 

OIL/POWER STEERING/TRANSMISSION

 

Oil, transmission, and power steering fluid leaks are quite common in vintage cars. These leaks vary on level of severity depending on the pace of the leak.

 

If you find that your vintage Corvette has a leak, it’s not too tough a fix and can be maintained regularly if it is not too rapid. First, you will want to determine which liquid is leaking, and where from.

 

If you find that it is an oil leak, first you will want to determine if it is normal seepage or a concerning leak. Find the location of the leak. It could be coming from valve covers, the oil pan, oil gauge hose, or the timing chain cover. These are common sources of leaks to check first.

 

Replace the gasket or hose that has failed. Many of these are easy to get and fix yourself, but depending on the amount of disassembly required, you may opt to leave this fix to a mechanic.

RAINWATER LEAKS IN CONVERTIBLES & T-TOPS

 

Rainwater leaks in vintage Corvette convertibles and T-tops are more common than we’d like, but a small price to pay to own such a pristine piece of Corvette history.

 

This occurrence, however, is not catastrophic if the leak is fairly slow. In addition, this issue only arises when it’s raining out. What many vintage Corvette owners do is keep their prized possession under a carport, garage, or car cover. This is best practice even without a leak, merely to shelter your vintage treasure from the elements.

 

If you happen to be out and it begins to rain, if the leak is fairly slow, there is still no need to panic. Simply be sure to fully dry up the area upon your return. This practice merely becomes a normal part of your vintage Corvette maintenance routine.

 

REGULAR CHECKS AND MAINTENANCE

 

There is no surefire way to prevent leaks altogether. Your vintage Corvette is already advanced in years, and will continue to age. With age comes wear. With wear, comes tear. Your best bet to limit the amount of leak-related trips to the mechanic, is consistent and thorough maintenance, and maintenance checks.

 

 

Because the best way to avoid the dangers and costs of irksome leaks is to perform regular maintenance checks, we suggest creating a thorough maintenance checklist. Schedule these checks into your calendar and make it part of your regular routine. It won’t take long and it will save you the aches and pains associated with lengthy and costly mechanic visits down the road. Do a thorough look over, with your eyes and hands, of your whole vintage Corvette. Check for pooling liquid, damp surfaces, or visible cracks.

 

As a vintage car enthusiast, you more than likely have some vehicle maintenance know-how. When it comes time to change your oil in your vintage Corvette, be mindful to change the filter at the same time and be sure to clean up and dispose of that oil properly.

USEFUL RESOURCES FOR LEAK PREPARATION

 

Before you even find yourself with leaks, there are things you can keep on hand in order to be well-prepared in the event of a leak. New Pig is a reputable company located in Tyrone, Pennsylvania that manufactures and provides leak and spill solutions.

 

When it comes to potentially dangerous leaks, on a grand scale, such as in large plants or garages, or for smaller scale operations such as your home garage, New Pig has you covered. To learn more about how New Pig can help you prepare for leaks, check out this post, Vintage Cars Leak: How to Be Prepared with New Pig Products.

 

 

While preparing for leaks has an upfront initial cost, it’s far cheaper and less time consuming than remedying a damaged floor after the leak happens. We speak from experience.

 

CONCLUSION

 

Leaks are never a welcome scenario. But the vintage Corvette enthusiasts we are, we feel that it’s a small and manageable price to pay to be in the presence of greatness. We don’t collect and sell vintage cars because they are in perfect condition and reliable for long road trips. That is not what vintage cars are for. We collect and sell vintage Corvettes because we cherish the history and the beauty of these magnificent cars, and we want to share them with the world.

 

We hope you found this post to be enlightening. We have been working with vintage Corvettes for over 30 years and over time, have learned a thing or two. We hope to be a valuable resource for all our interested used Corvette customers.

Thank you for stopping by our space on the web here at Hobby Car Corvettes! Should you find yourself in the market for a new and shiny toy for your garage, sift through our inventory of beautiful Corvettes, which we house here in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania.