Starter Motor Protection

[TwistedD85]

Other than relocating the oil filter has anyone figured out a way to keep oil from seeping into the starter motor? I have aluminum metal tape but I severely doubt it's abilities to cope with the heat, I also imagine the adhesive might seep in instead of the oil? I've tried to find just where the oil is leaking from but I can't seem to find it, I'm willing to try just about anything short of fabricating a shield for it, I don't really have the facilities to do that.

 

[SHOCH]

C'mon, fix the leak.

 

[TwistedD85]

Been trying, I can't figure out where it's coming from, I've tried everything and it's even persisted through half a dozen oil changes.

 

[jayro]

Been trying, I can't figure out where it's coming from, I've tried everything and it's even persisted through half a dozen oil changes.

What all have you tried? Does it leak when it is just parked, or only after is runs. There are only a limited number of places that the oil could be comming from. Did you try cleaning everything really well and then pulling the starter so you could try and trace the leak back? The most obvious would be the oil cooler.

 

[SHOZ123]

Probably the oil filter adapter to block gasket. As long as you keep the end where the brushes are clean the oil won't hurt the rest of the starter.

 

[rubydist]

10 to 1 its the seal behind the oil cooler.

 

[TwistedD85]

I'm trying to think of just where the oil cooler is, I mean I know there's a transmission cooler and a power steering (I think it's power steering, that tiny one I always have to unbolt from the subframe when working down there), but I can't recall an engine oil cooler.

 

[rubydist]

the engine oil cooler is between the oil filter and the block. the gasket on the oil filter is changed every time you change the filter. the gasket between the oil cooler and the block has likely never been changed. if its like most, it leaks significantly, and drips hot oil on the starter as you drive down the road. the starter doesn't like that, and eventually it shorts windings.

 

[SHOZ123]

Clean oil will not short as it is a dielectric non polar fluid. Add some dirt that has metal and the it will short the windings.

The real problem is the brushes and carbonization of the oil as the arc burns it.

 

[TwistedD85]

It must be totally slipping my mind because I swear I wipe down the mating surface on the block when I replace a filter. But everything's upside down while I'm doing that so I'm probably just missing it.

 

[TwistedD85]

Seems I am crazy, I must just never notice it while under the car Looked up some old pictures I took when an old starter was going haywire and there it is, goes to show how much I pay attention while I'm down there.



I felt like I was losing my mind, now I gotta try and think of just who else I've changed oil for that didn't have a cooler, I haven't touched any other car but my own in a year or two