CID Cam seal...

[SolidState]

correct my if I am wrong here, guys... (and gals)

I have an oil leak on the right bank near the CID. I have replaced my cam cover seals, so I automatically figured that wasn't the case. My front main seal is leaking a bit, but not enough to cause the burn off I am seeing right now.

The back side of the engine is coated, from the cam cover down, so I pulled the CID off with its 'ring', but found no oil in the CID. So I am guessing that the cam seal is fine, and I am going to have to pull the cam cover...

sound right to you guys? thoughts, comments?

 

[roswell998]

Did you replace the cam cover seals in an attempt to fix the leak or did the leak start after replacement of the seals?


In any event, before removing anything, I would take a small mirror and carefully inspect the rear cam cover seal to make certain that it wasn't rolled when the cover was put back on. Also, check the plug wells for oil.

 

[SolidState]

plug wells are clean, and it seems like the leak isn't from the cam cover at all...it is a bit dirty, but no apparent oil seepage...

I rechecked, and if seems as though it is the CID seal....since I have to torn down, Imight as well replace it...

I am just wondering now if I should tear the entire front down again and replace all the cam seals and front main...

 

[roswell998]

plug wells are clean, and it seems like the leak isn't from the cam cover at all...it is a bit dirty, but no apparent oil seepage...

I rechecked, and if seems as though it is the CID seal....since I have to torn down, Imight as well replace it...

I am just wondering now if I should tear the entire front down again and replace all the cam seals and front main...

Probably not a bad idea since you said the front main seal is leaking. Not a very expensive project in dollars and not too bad in time.

 

[SolidState]

true...the last time I tore it down was to change the timing belt...took two hours start to finish...in the snow..

I would have changed the front main, but couldn't get the part in time....

 

[Yamaha V6]

Sounds like you either have a dried out cam cover gasket or you rolled it off the cover when you reinstalled. Not all that hard to do, given the space constraints. There are a couple of tricks to getting you the space you need to drop it on as easily as the front.

 

[SolidState]

can you fill me in, fred? I am thinking of doing a valve lash anyways, since the car is no longer my daily driver.

I remember having to wrestle the rear cam cover in there, but that was march of 03, some 30k ago. I remember checking it thoroughly for the following week, as I was afraid I rolled it, but it hadn't leaked thus far. However, if I have to tear it down I will....

for the other cam seals behind the timing belt sprokets; would there be oil on the front of the rear timing cover? I haven't seen any, but if I am in there for the front main, I might as weel do those as well...

 

[projectSHO89]

for the other cam seals behind the timing belt sprokets; would there be oil on the front of the rear timing cover? I haven't seen any, but if I am in there for the front main, I might as weel do those as well...

No.

When the two inner cam seals leak, the oil runs down the front of the engine and makes it look like your crank seal is leaking. Impossible to isolate without removing the timing belt covers.

Steve

 

[SolidState]

thanks steve...I'll change them out of good measure. The third seal was leaking, so these ones can't be far behind.

It looks like it was the CID cam seal after all. After wrestling with the old seal for a while, I ended up using a dremmel to punch holes into the ring of the seal. after that, it was pretty much smooth sailing...putting the new one in was a snap; the ford seals just fell right into place with the help of a PVC coupler.

cheers, and thanks for all the help