Oil leaking from where?

Shane001 · Post by **Shane001** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:07 am

Hi guys,

I've got a minor oil leak in the front of the engine but can't think where it would be coming from. When I changed the timing belt recently I cleaned the front down spotless so I could check for the leak after the next track day. After OP a few weeks ago I checked it and it's definitely not leaking from the cam seals, but seems to be coming from somewhere on the front rear bank somewhere below the cam seals.

Without taking the whole front of the engine apart again, can anyone suggest where this might be leaking from? I don't believe it's the crank seal, the origin appears to be higher and further towards the firewall side of the engine but on the front, somewhere behind where the alternator belt tensioner pulley bracket mounts up.

Hope I've explained this well lol!

Thanks.

Post by **vipfto** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:23 am

rocker cover or cams seals would be usual culprit....

maybe run it with cam covers off in garage for a while to spot the leak?

Shane001 · Post by **Shane001** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:01 am

its def not the cam seals or anything that high on the motor, I've checked.

After OP it was wet with oil (not dripping but fresh oil) from around the alt pulley bracket down, but no sign of fresh oil anywhere near the cam seals. I haven't taken the lower covers off yet, that will be the next thing but was hoping someone might have an idea before doing this and how bad this might be. It's quite a lot of work to take all the front of the engine off

Post by **Bennoz** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:05 am

Could possibly be the cam carrier seals. And yes, an asshole to get to

Shane001 · Post by **Shane001** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:09 am

Yeah I don't think it's quite that high either.

Looking through the engine manual I'm starting to think it might be the oil pump cover?

Post by **Bennoz** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:18 am

Unsure... Just as much work to get to that as well! Good opportunity to change the timing belt & water pump thou

Shane001 · Post by **Shane001** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:28 am

Just did the #*&@ing timing belt lol!

Are these things known to leak there?

I'll probably take the engine out after OP, do the plugs, tappets and any seals that look dodgy... want to pull the lsd out and confirm it's a cusco too...

Just worried about the leak getting worse over a 1 hour race...

Post by **Bennoz** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:42 am

Not a usual culprit no. I'd say its more than likely the crank main seal if its down that low. Fortunately it can be done in car by just removing the lower section of the timing cover.

I doubt it would get much worse over an hour race.

Shane001 · Post by **Shane001** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:45 am

Yeah, pretty sure it's not the crank seal, it's not wet around there and there was no sign of oil leak there when I was doing the timing belt, appears to be leaking more to the firewall side.

Heading out to OP on Tues so I'll monitor it again. Got fresh oil in it now too.

AMACHA · Post by **AMACHA** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 3:26 pm

i was orginally goign to say half moon seals, but you said not that high up...so next clprit owuld be the crank seal.....its defnitely on that side of the motor and defnitel not on the gearbox side of things?

Post by **aza013** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:16 pm

Give it a good cleanup and then see if you can spot where it's coming from.

nathan · Post by **nathan** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:24 pm

AMACHA wrote:i was orginally goign to say half moon seals, but you said not that high up...so next clprit would be the crank seal.....its defnitely on that side of the motor and defnitel not on the gearbox side of things?

jus quickly, i have to change the half moon seals in petes GPX, do i just have to remove the rocker cover? or is it deeper? PM me ... anyone lol

also sorry shane for jacking your topic for a minute lol

AMACHA · Post by **AMACHA** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:28 am

yeh take the rocker cover off mate

while its off you can even adjust your tappets! if you dont wanna do that jsut make sure the rocker gasket is in good nic before u put the rocker cover back on

Shane001 · Post by **Shane001** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:53 pm

I think we may have found the problem. There is a tiny hole at the top of the dipstick tube that faces slightly back towards the engine. It appears it may be spraying a small amount of oil out of this hole. This would explain where we are seeing the oil from. Note the hole is below the bottom o-ring on the dipstick.

Has anyone else noticed this hole before? I can't understand why there would be a breather hole at the top of the dipstick shaft?

Post by **vipfto** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:39 pm

just checked motor i got in garage and no hole there