Air Cleaner Oil Leak

The oil bath air cleaner on my '59 (original to the Jeep as far as I know) is leaking oil when I drive. It is either leaking from the where the pan mates to the body or making its way up through the filter and leaking out the air inlet holes -- not even sure if that's possible. I've tightened the clamp bolt as far as I dare fearing that I might break something if I go any more.

This is just normal driving up and down the street, I'm not off roading or going up any steep inclines (well no steeper than a typical West Virginia street.)

What concerns me is when I restored it, I took it all apart including the steel wool mesh inside, which I later found out should never be removed. I hope I didn't ruin something.

 

Is it overfilled perhaps? There ought to be a "fill line" marked on the bottom pan.

 

It is filled to the line. By the way, I filled it with 10W-30 because that's what I happened to have laying around. Too thin?

 

10-30 ought to be fine. I don't think the pan clamp is meant to be any kind of seal.

It seems at least possible, from your description, that the steel wool is no longer intercepting and draining back the oil vapors the way it should.