balance shaft seals?

[LKWTSI]

I have a question on the Balance Shaft that I can't find an accurate answer to? Neither VFAQ or this forum addresses the BS seals. So my question is? are there seals on the front case cover or behind it in the block where the shaft goes into the engine. I can't tell from the pictures on VFAQ and looking at the pictures of the BSEK it doesn't look like they have replacement seals, only block off plugs.

Also if I wanted to replace the front cover gasket and water pump + gaskets, and obviously while at it new timing belt..can this be done in the car or does the engine have to be removed?

 

[steve]

There is a seal in the front cover for the upper shaft, that's where the freeze plug goes in the BSEK.
The lower shaft doesn't pass through the front cover, the oil pump it's connected to does, and there is a seal in the front case for the oil pump shaft.

 

[LKWTSI]

Thanks,

I just noticed though that I seem to have a small oil leak that coming from just behind the timing cover, were I thought the top balance shaft was, but it seems to be to high for where the BS would be. I know it's not a head gasket as I'm not getting any cross transfer from coolant to oil, but could the lower seal of the exhaust camshaft seal be leaking. Are these a two piece seal that works with the top valve cover seal?

the leak isn't bad, would just like to eliminate it.

Thanks

 

[steve]

The cam seals are one piece.
The rocker cover gasket can also leak. They get hard and brittle from the heat.

 

[JusMX141]

Cam seals are a very common leak spot on older DSM's or cars with high mileage.

 

[LKWTSI]

I'm beginning to think this is my problem, as the car has been sitting for 2 months, due to me working on replacing the turbo and some other components. It's been cold as hell here for the last month and I cleaned up the area in question when I had the steering pump off. Now that I've started to run the car again I might have cleaned up the grunge that was sealing it up in the first place .

I'll check out the forums on their replacement.

Thanks for the input guys.