Oil leak!! Camshaft seals!!! Smoking burning oil!!!! Please help!!!

[lyonswm]

I have a 90 plymouth laser, it has an oil leak that drips on the diver side and has a made a mess all down the right side of my engine. My theory is that it is from the camshaft seals. How can i confirm this? it is very difficult to clean this area with all the belts and such around it. I used to drip oil and that was it but now all of a sudden my car will start smoking from the engine on the drive side. Im not sure if oil is hitting some part of the exhaust making it do this or if it is worse. the smoke isnt always there but then at some stop lights it will be smoking. If it is the camshaft seals is that something that i can do at home? I am a pretty amature mechanic but i do have some people who are handy. If i took it to the shop how much would it cost to get those two seals changed? If anyone has any advice it would be well appreciated

 

[92AWDHX40]

Well to make this easy if it is youll have to do a timing belt job because the cams have to come off to put the new seals on, seals are cheap, call around town for timing belt install prices. Change all components for cheap insurance no since in replacing one part of the timing system and have it fail after youve just spent a bit of money on the job itself, i learned that the hard way do it once, anad right especially with timing.

 

[LKWTSI]

Well to make this easy if it is youll have to do a timing belt job because the cams have to come off to put the new seals on, seals are cheap, call around town for timing belt install prices. Change all components for cheap insurance no since in replacing one part of the timing system and have it fail after youve just spent a bit of money on the job itself, i learned that the hard way do it once, anad right especially with timing.

+++1 ^^

Take a look at my post "price of bad maintenance" and you'll see what'll happen if you don't take care of dealing with oil leaks and timing belts.

 

[haswesley]

All of your timing components need to be removed anyway to reach the cam seals. The cams do not have to come off to change the seals, however. Just the cam gears need to be removed. Remember, put a small amount of silicone on the outer edge of the cam seals when installing them. To install new timing components, look on here because there are MANY write ups on installing a new timing kit. Good luck.

 

[92AWDHX40]

My correction the cams can stay in the head, i got ahead of myself, replaced mine when the head was rebuild last year.

 

[lyonswm]

ok sounds like this will be sorta a big job for a little part but it shoud fix my problem. I am tyring to keep this baby running for awhile. Should i get some oil dye just to check for any other possible places? If i have to remove my timing cover and all it would probably be a good to time to change the water pump too? I will check around and see if i can get this problem fixed. Thanks for the info

 

[LKWTSI]

ok sounds like this will be sorta a big job for a little part but it shoud fix my problem. I am tyring to keep this baby running for awhile. Should i get some oil dye just to check for any other possible places? If i have to remove my timing cover and all it would probably be a good to time to change the water pump too? I will check around and see if i can get this problem fixed. Thanks for the info

Seriously dude, take a look at my post or pm me and I'll send you some pic's of my damage, FROM an oil leak!!

Trust me don't drive this for too long or you may end up damaging a lot more than you would replace if you do it now.

Just my 0.02 worth.

 

[haswesley]

You should replace the water pump while you are replacing the timing components. Its a cheap and simple additional step, but well worth it.