Beware of the welded timing cover... The source of my MASSIVE oil leak.

[Hilux]

Found my super duper can't-run-5secounds-without-spewing-oil, leak...

This was one heck of a learning experience!

I have a renewed anger for PO's... AGAIN!

To the eye, this looked fine...

But check this out...

When this was what it should look like...

This timing cover has had me remove this engine SEVERAL times... It's been on since my 20/22R Hybrid and might have caused me the massive migraine that I endured when I broke the ear of the block off, that holds the upper right of the timing cover on... That happened when I put a bolt in it that was too short...

Anyway, dear god I HOPE it's fixed... PO's suck, and get yourself what is VERY decent to me, straight edge...

It's an Empire and it's not supposed to be as accurate as a mechanics straighedge, but with everything I've checked with it, it's surprisingly accurate...

$10-$15 at Sears... Straightedge/ yard stick...

 

[cruiser88]

lol..I see JB Weld

 

[Hilux]

STOP THAT!

wasn't me, I swear.... I think it's about time for an image change with "JB Weld"...

How's "Wob's Weld" sound?


UPDATE: Just pulled the pistons out of it and low and behold... Both rings in #1 were shattered.. And every other one had a broke ring in it... Not bad for blowing 50, 150, 150 and 150...

damn these things will run till they die!

 

[NorCalBorn]

BTST..almost always they're welded b/c of the timing chain having gouged it, or worst case, I have seen a dealership mechanic clean off the sealing material with too aggressive a scotchbrite wheel, and gouge it all to hell. *That was on my 20/22R hybrid also, I ended up having the vehicle towed in for them to fix properly and eventually sued them over it all. I only had to pay for some addt'l stuff I added.

Glad you found the issue,

 

[me_tu05]

I think you need a new straight edge it doesn't look straight.

 

[aedavis]

I don't understand what you mean by welded t-chain cover? Was a leak in the cover welded up and that's what warped it?

Regardless, I put two timing covers on my 22RE this winter. The original (25 years old) had a hole worn in it right behind the water pump (not a hole from a loose t-chain). I bought a replacement cover off Ebay and it was warped badly on the sealing surface. I was in a hurry so I installed it anyway and of course it leaked badly. The Ebay vendor had a 3 day return policy, which was no good to me by then. Of course, he had installed dozens of these covers and never had a problem, blah blah blah.

I junked that cover, bought one from EngnBldr, and installed it. It fit up fine and works well; no leaks. If you end up buying a new cover, buy from EngnBldr - he also throws in the gasket set and the price on his website includes shipping.

ENGNBLDR.COM Engine Parts Network

 

[Hilux]

Your guess is as good as mine... My guess is that the cover had some slag on it and or if was ground down with a wheel...

I think the chain made it all the way through on this cover... There are two track marks on the outside of the cover... I don't know if it's weld or not though... Between the 25 and 26 in the 2nd pic.

The moral is mainly, watch out for any modified cover... And you can check a cover inexpensively. I'm putting one on that looks Virgin out of the mold so I know they're not impossible to find... I just prefer AISINs...

It's my fault it made it this far...