The oil leak from hell

sonicnofadz · Apr 21, 2005

Ok. For several months now I've been trying to track down a very elusive oil leak coming from the timing belt area. It all started when I replaced my front case with a brand new one (which came with the new oil pump, seals, gasket and everything, plus I installed a balance shaft delete kit). So naturally I thought maybe the front case gasket didnt seal right. So I tear everything back down, and install all new gaskets (oil pan gasket, oil filter bracket gasket, and front case gasket). I carefully polished all gasket surfaces to a mirror-like shine before putting on the new gaskets. The car still leaks oil at the same rate as it did before! I've put rtv on just about EVERY single bolt located on the timing belt side of the block. Still no luck. The only thing I can think of is the crank shaft seal, oil pump seal, or the balance shaft seal, (the new front case came with them installed). In the vfaq, it says that you should put rtv on those seals even if they are new. I didn't do this, because I figured you didn't need to for a new seal. Could this be my problem (this is about the only place left that I haven't put rtv on)? Is it possible to pop out those gaskets without removing the front case again (a major bi*** to do). :cry:

ADrewzki · Apr 21, 2005

Oil leaks are horrible to diagnose. Have you tried something simple like taking the lower cover off and letting the engine run. You might be able to see it. If you're going to take it apart anyway, I like to use a drill with a 14mm socket on it to prime the pump and see where it leaks out of that way. It's a little less dangerous I guess. Did you use a real real super thin layer of rtv on your gaskets? I actually had to end up replacing my oil pump cover for a new one and that finally did the trick.

sonicnofadz · Apr 21, 2005

I've tried letting the engine run on several occasions. No visible leaks occured. I'm guessing the leak is really slow at idling engine speeds, so I would have to run the engine at 3000-4000 rpm for extended intervals before any oil leaks out. I DID apply a thin layer of rtv on the gaskets. I am starting to think that the brand new front case I bought was indeed defective, OR that the seals that came with it (the crank, oil pump and balance shaft ring seals) need some rtv on them as well... OMG

THIS PISSES ME OFF! I've taken that thing apart so many times trying to find this stupid leak....argh

92awddsm · Apr 21, 2005

sonicnofadz said:
Ok. For several months now I've been trying to track down a very elusive oil leak coming from the timing belt area. It all started when I replaced my front case with a brand new one (which came with the new oil pump, seals, gasket and everything, plus I installed a balance shaft delete kit). So naturally I thought maybe the front case gasket didnt seal right. So I tear everything back down, and install all new gaskets (oil pan gasket, oil filter bracket gasket, and front case gasket). I carefully polished all gasket surfaces to a mirror-like shine before putting on the new gaskets. The car still leaks oil at the same rate as it did before! I've put rtv on just about EVERY single bolt located on the timing belt side of the block. Still no luck. The only thing I can think of is the crank shaft seal, oil pump seal, or the balance shaft seal, (the new front case came with them installed). In the vfaq, it says that you should put rtv on those seals even if they are new. I didn't do this, because I figured you didn't need to for a new seal. Could this be my problem (this is about the only place left that I haven't put rtv on)? Is it possible to pop out those gaskets without removing the front case again (a major bi*** to do).

Is the front balance shaft still in the block? If not, you should have removed the bs seal from the front cover and installed the blockoff that came with the bse kit. If you did install the bs seal plug, did you rtv it? Ive seen them pop out on one side and cause an oil leak. Ive just been getting an aluminum plug welded in to the cover to keep it from ever leaking.

Did you remove the bs belt tesioner? If so, did you install a bolt back into that hole? It goes into the block and oil can leak from there also.

Have you replaced the cam seals? They can also cause a leak which will run down the block and appear to be leaking from the oil pump area.

If you cant find the leak after that, go to you local auto supply and get some ultraviolet oil dye. Pour it into the crankcase and use a blacklight to locate the leak. You will probly have to run the engine with the tb cover removed but it will keep you from pulling it down every other week to chase the leak.

sonicnofadz · Apr 21, 2005

Holy crap I did NOT know they made an ultraviolet dye!? I will giving that a try VERY soon! THANKS! This will make things MUCH easier! My front balance shaft is STILL in place, along with the sprocket. The cam seals are brand new. The balance belt tensioner is also still there and the bolt has major rtv on it to prevent leaking. My guess that the crank seal or oil pump seal is leaking...this is getting to be ridiculous. Thanks again for recommending that dye, I had no idea they made that. :thumb:

92awddsm · Apr 21, 2005

Well, it works great. It will show up as a really bright orange/yellow color and you dont even have to clean it before checking it. I usually get it from NAPA but I think most auto supply stores carry it. If you cant find it, pm me and I can get it for you and can ship it so you will have it in a day or so. Just let me know.

carbonfire · Apr 21, 2005

Front cover / Oil pump housing..... I can almost garentee that is what is leaking, they suck, mine leaked, all fixed now.... use Felpro Gaskets on it or mitsu ones, the others dont work.

sonicnofadz · Apr 22, 2005

The first one was a felpro, now I just installed one that came from a mitsu dealership (oem) and it still leaks. I am going to try that Uv dye stuff with a black light and figure this shit out once and for all, and will post my findings. My guess is that one (or all) of the ring seals are leaking (balance shaft, oil pump, and crankshaft). I can't believe I've wasted so much time with this. Thanks for everyones input! :thumb:

WatchItExplode · Apr 22, 2005

I replaced every single oil seal on my engine and it still leaked. Turns out I had such a bad compression leak, blow by gas was blowing out the seals. I'm not saying this is your problem but it's a (unfortunate) possiblity.

sonicnofadz · Apr 22, 2005

I do not think this is my problem although it might be contributing. Right before I changed my front case, my car NEVER leaked a drop of oil, and never burned oil. My oil level would be exactly the same from oil change to oil change. Then one day I stupidly decide to change my front case and totally screw everything up and now my car freaking leaks like a damn sieve. I am very suprised I haven't accidently gone too low and destroyed all my bearings, but everything seems ok. I did notice something kind of freaky when I dropped my oil pan just the other day, the oil squirter for piston #4 (the one closest to trannny) had broken off and was laying in my pan. WTF? It look like something had wacked it, and it brokel off. I know many people claim that the oil squirters are uneccesary but this still alarms me. How in the hell could this have happened? Detonation? Weird.

sonicnofadz · Apr 23, 2005

Ok this coming monday Im going to take the timing belt cover off, along with the timing belt. Before I do that I will mix in that UV dye stuff into my crank case. I will then use a drill to spin up the oil pump to create pressure, and hopefully find the oil leak! The only thing is, I do not have any clue how to use a drill to spin up the oil pump. :confused:

sonicnofadz · Apr 26, 2005

Ok for anyone who cares at this point, I tried the UV oil leak dye and I pinpointed the leak. It was coming from the front balance shaft on the front case. I knew I should have installed the block off plate rather than just leaving the damn thing in there!!! ARGH! Anyways, I am WAY too lazy to take everything apart again (oilpan, front case, oil filter housing, alternator, timing belt, front cross member, exhaust, etc.) sooooo I tried just packing that whole area where the front balance shaft is, with Ultra Grey RTV. Im going to wait a day to let it dry and see what happens. At any rate I do know where the leak is coming from now, and I would like to thank everyone again for their suggestions. If it still leaks after this Ill just have to tear everything down (for the 15th time) and remove the front balance shaft and install the block off plate (a nice 10 hours of work, yepee!) :thumb:

sonicnofadz · Apr 27, 2005

For anyone still reading, the Ultra Grey RTV worked and my oil leak is now GONE. The front balance shaft (and the little ring seal ) is still in place. I just RTV'd the hell out of the little aluminum circle area on the front case that surrounds the front balance shaft. So even though the front balance shaft is STILL IN, I have created a block off plate made of RTV to seal up the leak and so far it seems to work just fine! God bless permatex! :thumb:

92awddsm · Apr 27, 2005

Glad to hear you got it fixed. The uv dye is the sh!t when you cant find a pesky leak.

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The oil leak from hell

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