Can't Find Oil Leak! Please Help!!! Searched Everywhere

[GsxKydd]

Okay I have read every post remotely close to my problem and still no help. Brand new 6 bolt in 99 gsx... oil leak is on the front case side but I have checked everything. Below is what I have already done. Please help, its bad enough its been 9 months since it crankwalked and now three days after turn key on the 6 bolt still cant find the leak.

1.) Taken off timing cover
2.) Cleaned every drop of oil off the front case side of the engine including oil pan and oil filter housing
3.) Ran engine for 5 minutes without any pulleys or belts even at increased rpms showed no leaks.
4.) Re-rtv'd BS pulley bolt just to make sure (BS removed)
5.) Inspected the whole oil pan for leaks
6.) Not valve cover or cam seals
7.) Reassembled everything without timing cover and drove around for five minutes (lost 1/4 quart or so)
8.) Not star plug or any other plug on front case
9.) Found very minor dripping off one oil filter housing bolt maybe 1 drop every minute or so while running.
10.) If its not running doesnt leak at all.
11.) Also my friend said there might be a relief valve near or on the oil fitler housing but I havent found it.?

So is it possible that even though that housing bolt leaks very slowly under even higher rpms like 4000-4500 and about 75 psi of oil pressure that under driving it can spew oil. This is really frustrating cause I have cleaned it off not 5-6 times and every time cannot find it. Any comments are well appreciated! -Ryan

 

[unlikely hero]

Are you missing any exhaust mani studs? I recomend taking the turbo and mani off and running it to see. Could be a number of things.
=Jason-

 

[GsxKydd]

No I just assembled the whole motor. All studs are there. Its a major oil leak and I dont see how it would come from the studs, plus its on the front case side... and not as high as the head. Thanks

 

[gen1gsx]

wild guess but on my engine there is an o-ring on the lower balance shaft and a little aluminum cap goes over it. but i don't know if your engine is the same. might not hurt to look into that though
later

 

[GsxKydd]

Do you mean on the front BS or the rear... All I can see is the O-ring around the front case but inside there there is the BS eliminator cap that seals it off... I have reached in there as well as I could but havent been able to feel any oil. Don't think its coming from there. I just cant understand why its only while I drive it... when I run it in the garage even at higher rpms it shows no leak. Drive around for five minutes and its dripping off everything under the car when I get out and look. Someone had to have this problem. Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[Hangman]

Have you tried the oil dye kit to see if you might locate the problem? The have the kit at Pepboy and Murray. Try that and see if you can see anything.

 

[GsxKydd]

I actual read about the dye yesterday and am going to try it today. I heard napa also sells. Don't know how its going to work since I dont see any leaks unless under actual crankcase pressure (boosting) and by the time it leaks onces its splashed everywhere. Although it really doesnt seem to get on the timing belt much so I dunno. Thanks

 

[GsxKydd]

Okay I ran the engine with that blacklight dye in it. That stuff is so cool for those of you who haven't used it... mine glowed bright orange! Okay enough about the dye. I am almost posivite its leaking from the front BS hole now. Even though I didnt think so before I ran the car, revved it up and after I turned it off I didnt notice anything until I stuck my finger in the BS hole and it turned orange. Heres the problem! The engine came with a metal cap/freeze plug looking thing in where I would assume the BS bearing used to be. When I installed the front case I figured I didnt need to JB Weld the other plug on the front case because it was already sealed off. Can oil under high enough crankcase pressure flow up the oil channel on the front case to that hole there and leak out OR is the metal plug that came in the engine definitely leaking. Will I be okay to just JB Weld the Eliminator plug in the front case even if the metal plug in the block is leaking. Will it drain and not cause any problems to the front case. So close to having this leak fixed!!! Thanks Ryan

 

[98TsiAWD]

Originally posted by GsxKydd
Okay I ran the engine with that blacklight dye in it. That stuff is so cool for those of you who haven't used it... mine glowed bright orange! Okay enough about the dye. I am almost posivite its leaking from the front BS hole now. Even though I didnt think so before I ran the car, revved it up and after I turned it off I didnt notice anything until I stuck my finger in the BS hole and it turned orange. Heres the problem! The engine came with a metal cap/freeze plug looking thing in where I would assume the BS bearing used to be. When I installed the front case I figured I didnt need to JB Weld the other plug on the front case because it was already sealed off. Can oil under high enough crankcase pressure flow up the oil channel on the front case to that hole there and leak out OR is the metal plug that came in the engine definitely leaking. Will I be okay to just JB Weld the Eliminator plug in the front case even if the metal plug in the block is leaking. Will it drain and not cause any problems to the front case. So close to having this leak fixed!!! Thanks Ryan

Put a coat of RTV around the lip of the plug, then install it. Also use RTV on that bolt where the balance belt tensioner used to be.