notorious oil leak

[Turbotickler]

hey again all.

Ive seen threads on this subject a million times, but was wondering if mine was a different case.

I am leaking oil like crazy on the driverside of the engine, under the timing cover. I have changed several seal, like the crank, the oil pump sprocket, and the valve cover gasket. But still no change!

I do notice that oil only gets on the top (the outside)of the timing belt. the actual grooves are dry.

I cant figure out what could be leaking and only getting on the outside of the timing belt.

thanks ahead of time!

 

[blk91tsiawd]

Same thing with my car....just bought it to a shop today and they said it might be the cam seal or crank seal... gonna cost like 300 for them just to rip it apart, and then they gotta do timing belt and whatever the leak is......this sucks

 

[Enigma_Man]

How's your oil fill cap seal?

Mine leaks a bit, and sprays oil everywhere sometimes, including all over that side of the engine. They're known to go bad often.

-Jesse

 

[dls93tsi]

I am having the same *(*&ing problem...i replaced my pan gasket and all but the oil doesnt seem to be coming from there...one thing i think i figured out is that the oil pump sprocket was a little loose on mine so i tightened it up, and the leak stoped while the car was idleing...but as soon as i drove it the leak came back full force..im losin a lot of oil too..its bad...

 

[Turbotickler]

Just got through driving my car, and before leaving I checked the oil and filled to the right notch. When I returned, I found that this leak has caused me to leak about 2 quarts. the dipstick doesnt even show any oil on it.

this **ckin leak is driving me crazy! PLEASE HELP!!!!!


Oh and my oil cap is brand new. there isnt any oil on top of the motor, except when I take the top of the timing cover off and the belt throws oil.

 

[Newlogics]

Two most probable causes (excluding oil pan gasket and oil-pump cover gasket) would be bad front main seal and damaged oil sproket.

The main seal is self explanatory.

As for the oil pump sproket (happened to me)

If the mating surface is scrateched, damaged either on the sprocket or the shaft, oil will sip through pretty badly.

If you're no lazy, you can remove T-belt cover, re-assemble the engine, wipe it dry and run it untill you see where the oil is coming from.

Also, look at your oil sprocket while it's mounted. If you see oil streaks going from the center of the sprocket outwards, then oil sprocket is your most likely culprit.

I have also seen oil seeping from under the headgasket on that side, but considering the amount of oil leaking that you're describing, I doubt it's HG.

 

[blk91tsiawd]

Dude I have the same exactly leak, and i know its not main seal or oil pump anything around there....

it doesnt leak just sitting there, only when oil is being pushed to the top of the motor, so I think it might be the cam seals or something up there?! I had a shop look at it, but they cant see and want like 300$ just to rip it apart and see whats leaking??? I'm not sure what I should do....

 

[Newlogics]

Originally posted by blk91tsiawd
Dude I have the same exactly leak, and i know its not main seal or oil pump anything around there....

it doesnt leak just sitting there, only when oil is being pushed to the top of the motor, so I think it might be the cam seals or something up there?! I had a shop look at it, but they cant see and want like 300$ just to rip it apart and see whats leaking??? I'm not sure what I should do....

How do you know it's not seal or oil pump?
Have you actually looked at all these things with t-belt cover off?

cam seal failure should be fairly easy to spot. especially if you leak as much as to drip it all the way on the ground. The whole side of you head, block and everything else will be in oil.

Besides that, there aren't many thigns that can soak T-belt in oil, besides oil pump assy, front seal and oil filter housing.

 

[dls93tsi]

Well I know its not my front main seal, and the oil is clearly comin from the oil pump sprocket...so is ther newhere i can get the sprocket assembly alone or do i need to get the complete front case...

 

[blk91tsiawd]

Originally posted by Newlogics
How do you know it's not seal or oil pump?
Have you actually looked at all these things with t-belt cover off?

cam seal failure should be fairly easy to spot. especially if you leak as much as to drip it all the way on the ground. The whole side of you head, block and everything else will be in oil.

Besides that, there aren't many thigns that can soak T-belt in oil, besides oil pump assy, front seal and oil filter housing.

The oil pump and gasket is brand new, and the main seal is new, I dunno if it got pinched going in or what, but when the car is running I can look at the cam gears, with the top cover off, and i dont see oil all over there soo....

Can I take the lower timing belt cover off without removing a whole bunch of stuff and still be able to drive the car (just to get the oil to start coming)??

 

[Newlogics]

Originally posted by blk91tsiawd
The oil pump and gasket is brand new, and the main seal is new, I dunno if it got pinched going in or what, but when the car is running I can look at the cam gears, with the top cover off, and i dont see oil all over there soo....

Can I take the lower timing belt cover off without removing a whole bunch of stuff and still be able to drive the car (just to get the oil to start coming)??

You will have to remove all those belts, remove the cover and then put it all back.

Just idling should be enough to expose oil leak. Driving with open T-belt may be a bit risky. You never know if something gets caught in that belt.

 

[Turbotickler]

Allright Guys!! Found the problem.... yaaaaaayyy!!!

After replacing all the seals at the bottom of the engine and still seeing oil misting around the T-belt, I decieded to try a process of elimination.

Turns out that A). my autotensioner went bad after 3 months, maybe sooner; and B). There are 2 screws that hold the tensioner to the engine, one of which was the original, and the other a replacement that I got from a hardware store. Well the screw that was replaced wasnt holding the tensioner tight enough to seal and caused oil to leak out and drip oil on to the outside of the T-belt.

So... after adding silicone and a new screw problem solved!!!

So for all of you guys that find and diagnose oil leaks in this area, BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR TENSIONERS BOLTS AND GET THEM TIGHT!!!

thanks for the help!

B

 

[dls93tsi]

Oh....ohhhhh.....oh no......dammit!! That was the one area of the motor that was messed up when I got it. Ill try to fix it hopefully i can pull it off without too much mess...i never even thought of those bolts