On Sep 30, 5:07 pm, Bill <wtjohns...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> I have an oil leak that finds its way to the passenger side CVJ and
> then slings out. I cleaned the underside well then got underneath
> with the engine running and waited for the drops of oil to start.
> Soon I saw a drop appear on the underside of the PCV breather/
> separator. Last weekend I removed the breather/separator and
> reapplied RTV to the surface interface with the timing chain cover.
> The leak continued. I thought: darn, I should have removed the new
> PCV valve, put Teflon tape on the threads and put it back but at the
> time I saw no evidence of oil from the area of the threads. This
> weekend I again removed the breather/separator but this time
> completely. I had another from an old engine into which I threaded
> the PCV valve using Teflon tape. Also I mashed some RTV up against
> the timing chain cover surface interface with the block at that spot
> just in case the leak was there. Cleaning the timing chain cover/
> breather interface well, I used RTV again. After 24 hours for the RTV
> to cure, I took the car for a drive and the oil leak persists. The
> leak amounts to a couple of puddles, one the diameter of a golf ball
> and the other the diameter of a racket ball, appearing after I get to
> work in the morning. The head had recently been replaced and I had
> put in a new timing chain, guides and tensioner. When I last removed
> the breather/separator/PCV there again was no evidence of oil under
> the PCV valve itself. There's a brace for the power steering just on
> the outside of the breather which prevents me from getting eyes on the
> timing chain cover. I don't see how it's possible to remove this
> brace without lifting out the engine. What I just tried a minute ago
> was rolling paper towels and tucking them: a) between the power
> steering brace and the breather, b) on the inside of the breather
> outer top where there's a half inch opening. I let the engine run for
> a few minutes but no evidence of oil at those spots.
>
> I realize it's difficult to get a clean seal between the breather and
> the timing chain cover so the RTV will bond cleanly but I went over it
> well with brake cleaner which dries without a residue and I don't
> believe I could have failed to get a good seal there twice.
>
> Anyone seen or heard of this kind of oil leak?
>
> billy.johns...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Heard County, GA (formerly of Long Island)
Well, I was under there today. Turns out it probably isn't damage
from the local garage prying the engine over as I don't see any clear
damage to either timing chain cover. First thing I did was to run the
car and watched closely near the oil pump area of the timing chain
cover. Oil did appear but its source wasn't clear. Also, there was a
bit of oil on timing cover bolt near the water pump. Shutting down
the engine, I unbolted the power steering and wired it to the
firewall. I removed the metal brace that looks like a British Pound
symbol near the head and the engine mount. Nothing appeared to have
been leaking there. I inspected the PCV breather enclosure closely
and noticed there was a bolt missing. It threads outward and holds
the breather together. Somehow when I changed breathers I hadn't
noticed that was missing. Fortunately I could get the bolt from the
old breather into it without removing the breather. That snugged up I
was pretty sure that had been the latest leak as it sits directly over
the plugged access to the oil pump in the timing chain cover where the
drops of oil had been appearing first. So, back went the power
steering and the alternator snug and I started it back up, waited a
minute, and there was soon oil ac***ulating that sealed hole to the
oil pump in the timing cover and soon dripping from the bottom of the
CVJ under the power steering brace as well. I go in again, unbolt the
power steering pump, wire it to the fire wall, and take a number of
paper towels. I tucked one in between the PCV valve breather
enclosure and the block, taped one under the breather with duct tape.
taped one over the timing cover sealed access to the oil pump and this
paper towel also covered the small bolts above and below the oil pump
sealed access. Ran the engine and one or a couple of those paper
towels were effectively interdicting the oil drip. Shut down the
engine, unbolted the power steering pump, and first checked the paper
towel between the breather and block, no oil, checked the paper towel
taped to the bottom of the breather, no oil, checked the paper towel
taped over the plugged oil pump access and yes, oil in three spots,
from the top bolt from around the sealed hole and from the bottom
bolt. I suspect that the mechanic didn't seal those two bolts
properly nor the bolt near the water pump. Oil seems to well up
around the threads and through the slit in the lock washer. Like he
put a thin bead of RTV outside the bolts but not on the inside of the
bolts. I checked the old block I have here and those are blind bolt
holes. So, after it dried from cleaning, I got a good bit of RTV into
those holes and around the base of those bolts and tightened it up.
Also covered the tin plug in that access hole. Now it's drying and
hoping for the best tomorrow.
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