the betting window is now open (oil leak) + pic

[NotSoSlowSHO]

I just got my SHO back together this evening. She fired right up without hesitation. Has a bit of an issue with idle, but that is easy stuff...

On to the oil leak. And the betting:

A drip, drip, drip, from one of the pan studs. The block had a bit of oil from before the replacement of seals, as did the lower radiator hose. The oil was dripping once every 2-3 seconds while the engine was running. The oil leak STOPPED when the engine was turned off.

So, where is it coming from?
BTW: I JUST replaced Cam seals, pan end seals, and oil pump to block gasket. And the sealant was good and cured.

1. Cam seals
2. Oil pan
3. other??

Im stumped. But whats worse is that I have to tear the dang thing apart again squint

My neihbors LOVED me stinking the apt complex up as it was dripping right onto the front cat. finger
Oh well, Im taking bets now

 

[AREA 91]

My guess is the cam seal. frown

 

[Yamaha V6]

From experience: The stud itself.

Remove the nut, goop the **** out of the ID of the nut & around the stud itself with RTV. Sock it back up, and HOPE it does the trick, otherwise, you're pulling the pan AGAIN & re-RTV'ing.

Good luck.

 

[sdpatt]

I'll go with the front bank intake cam seal too. What method was used to remove the old seal?

It could also be the valve cover seal, but you can rule that out with a visual check or quick wipe with a paper towel. You also said you replaced the oil pan end seals, but not specifically the silicone on the pan's edge. You can also visually verify if the source is the pan seal since there will be no oil trail above the pan.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Thanks for the input guys.

Valve cover seal is good. As you said Scott, that is an easy one to just look for. And as far as I could see down the face of the block, there was no oil from the cam seal. It might be draining down the inside of the timing covers, and then finding its way to the pan.

I had an easy way of removing the old seals. No drill or pick needed. I replaced the cams so all I did was remove the large bearing caps (i am forgetting the correct term, is sit cradle??) on the front of the engine, then just puched the seals off the cams. Install new cams, caps, then insert new seal.

It does look like it is the stud itself, but I am going to pull the upper timing cover off again to see if that cam seal is leaking.

Thanks thumb

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Looks like Fred takes the cake on thtis one.

I pulled the top timing belt cover and the new cam seals are nice and dry thumb (thank goodness jpshakeh )

I will know for sure in a bit. I think Ill check the nut for proper torque (maybe I didnt torque it somehow shrug ) then Ill try sealing it from the outside as mentioned wink

 

[TYSHO]

Yea, I'm a little late but I would've went the same way as Fred. I had my transmission pan bolts loosed that needed to be re-torqued and it caused a great deal of leaking. It would also point to the bolt since there was no signs of oil passing down to the bolt from on the pan itself, well from what I could see in the picture. I've also had that happen to my oil pan bolt which lost a quart within 500 miles.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Well, I tried Fred's trick. It didnt work.

Looks like Im dropping the y-pipe and the pan AGAIN squint

Oh well, easy fix. Its just a PITA

 

[AutoSHO]

If it only happens while the car is running, I would guess that means its a pressure leak, which would point to the oil-pump to block gasket.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Thanks for the response.

Initially I was thinking the same thing.
But after a few attempts at trouble shooting this thing I BELEIVE that it is more oil TEMP related than pressure related.

After a good cleaning, upon startup, it took about 2 minutes for the leak to rear it's ugly head.

I hope squint

My initial thoughts and your thought might still be correct. But I hope not.

 

[SHOTIME]

AutoSHO:
If it only happens while the car is running, I would guess that means its a pressure leak, which would point to the oil-pump to block gasket.

Totally agree.

 

[sdpatt]

Heads up, but the front cam seal can have a leak path that runs down between the head and the rear timing belt cover and does not appear inside the timing belt covers. It can also find a way onto the lower radiator hose and yours looks oil wetted in the photo.

 

[twr]

AutoSHO:
If it only happens while the car is running, I would guess that means its a pressure leak, which would point to the oil-pump to block gasket.

Would second that diagnosis..

 

[Off Road SHO]

I think it's the oil pan. The inside of the block is under a slight positive pressure and oil is dripping down the walls of the block, right past the block/pan interface on its travels. If there is any pinhole in the pan to block gasket seal, it'll blow oil drops out when the engine is running only.

Mix up a soapy solution of 1 part liquid dish soap to 2 parts water, put it in a spray bottle. With the engine cold but running (cooling fans off) spray the solution anywhere there is oil on your engine. Look for bubbles.


What do I win What do I win!!

Tom

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

shizzit... squint

Well, I pulled the pan again re sealed it, and reinstalled it. Im using this new permatex sealant called The Right Stuff . It says that it needs no cure time. Well, I gave it an hour. Then dumped oil in her, and fired her up.

Drip....drip.... drip.... from the SAME exact spot. But no oil on the lower radiator hose, the bottom of the oil pump, or even above the pan shrug

Getting a little fed up with it, I dropped her off the ramps, and took her for a spin. I havnt driven the thing for about a month, I needed to drive it . Damn she feels good. Its running incredibly smooth than before all the work. New bearings and new plugs and wires sure helped wink

Now I feel like working on it again... it's ALL worth it thumb

But I guess Im taking the upper timing cover off... otherwise, Im dropping the pan AGAIN... and checking the oil pump seal as well frown

 

[Yamaha V6]

Check the bolt at the bottom of the alt tensioner pullet bracket (12mm hex).

 

[revhardSHO]

yup could definitly be from the oil-pump-to-block gasket.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

cuss I found it cuss

it IS the oil pump to block gasket...

noww I have to drop the pan YET AGAIN headbang

 

[Shoaz]

it IS the oil pump to block gasket...

Can I ask how you figured that out without dropping the pan?

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

I can watch it leak as my fiance cranks the engine over. (not starting, just cranking the starter)

I pulled the upper timing cover, crank pulley, and lower timing cover. Then cranked it over a dozen times or so.

Oil basically streams from a spot right behind the lower alternator belt tensioner bolt. When I removed the bolt a bit of oil spilled out as well.

I just ordered a gasket from fel-pro. It better do the trick jpshakeh

In the meantime, I just measured all of my valve gaps, and will be ordering a few shims tomorroww