Wheres it leaking from!

[BoostinAWD]

Ok, I have had a mysterious leak coming from the front crank area for about 1/2 a year now. It started out of no where, and hasnt gotten worse. But basically if I start the car it will drip right through the lower timing belt cover then all over the subframe.

Now it is everywhere under the car, drivetrain, t-belt and everything else that is in the oils pathway. Well I finally got tired of having to stick layers of cardboard under my car.

I borrowed a jack from TalonBLINGBLING (Thanks man). Jacked the car up and got started.

First thing I did was take off the drivers side wheel, and splash guard.
Then I loosened the alternator, AC belts, and took off the crank.

I then realised that the water pump pulley would have to come off also. Which took me about 2 hours, it's kinda hard to remove the 4 bolts when there is no room and nothing to keep the pulley from rotating.

So I removed the motor mount, which would have been impossible without a torque wrench. I also took off the brackets that were around the AC pump.

After that I spent upwards to 2 hours trying to get all the bolts out of the lower timing belt cover. This one bolt in the center by the water pump pulley was a complete pain in the ass. No matter what I tried to use wouldnt work because the water pump was in the way. By this time I was really pissed. I finally did manage to get it off, I won't say how.

Now I got a million peices all over the garage floor, and still have no idea where exactly the leak is coming from. Considering everything around and including the belt are saturated with black grimey oil.

The leak doesnt seem to be coming from the crank seal, like I thought before. Simply because oil is dripping off of everything.

So basically it could be either one of the balance shafts, which doesnt see to be it either. Maybe the frontcase. I have no freaking clue. I took some pics take a look. Maybe somebody has an idea where it is coming from.

ftp://awdturbo.myserver.org/DSMTuner Pics/
They will probably have to be saved to your local drive, I don't think they will open from the FTP site.

 

[DSMSPOON]

check the cam seals, sounds like my problem too, i couldnt find the leak worth crap so i decided to take everything apart when i did my timing belt well it ended up that my cam seals were the cause of the leak aaround the belts area...but unfortunately i still got a head gasket leak

 

[BoostinAWD]

Well its not the cam seals.
My belts look like they need to be replaced, probably should get a balance shaft removal kit also.

There are just so many pulleys in there. Anyone know if it would be ok to start the car for a few second without any of the accessories connected? I need to get some oil flowing to maybe help me pin point where its leaking.

 

[crashed97tsi]

I started my car when it had no accessory belts, but it was only for like a minute. I'm pretty sure its ok to do that, just don't try to drive it anywhere

 

[candela]

Ya thats fine to start it without accesoryies. But why dont you just disconnet ign, and crank it? If its coming out badly, then have Bling crank it while you watch to see if you can find it. Make sure you clean eerything off REALLY well before you do though, so whereever it shows up next you will know where its coming from... good luck

 

[spoolinawddsm]

mine is also leaking heavily where you are describing. Also it is much easier to break the 4 water pump bolts loose while all the belts are on the car still. Just a little trick I picked up along the way.

Let me know what you find out. Thanks


EDIT: I just noticed that this thread is two years old. stupid me. Anyway did you figure it out?!