I have an oil leak that I am trying to figure out on my 1999 with 215,000 miles. I thought it was the steering rack but the leak seems to be coming from the front bottom of the engine. I am going to clean everything tomorrow to get a better look but I wanted to see if anybody had any ideas of what it may be. Possibly cam seals?
Oil leak help needed
- Thread starter cbenowen
- Start date
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This. Your timing belt tensioner pin is covered in oil to. Long cylinder object in first pic. I have the same leak. Its so small it does not affect the oil levels. But it bugs me. I just don’t feel like doing another timing belt job again.
This. Your timing belt tensioner pin is covered in oil to. Long cylinder object in first pic. I have the same leak. Its so small it does not affect the oil levels. But it bugs me. I just don’t feel like doing another timing belt job again.
- Thread starter
- #6
Alternator is not covered in oil. The two bolts on the timing belt tensioner pin have oil dripping from them. Most of the oil build up is behind the tensioner pin. I cleaned everything up this morning the best I could. I'm going to keep an eye on it but I have a pretty good idea where its coming from
ever get this sorted? mine is the exact same. Where do you think the leak is?
You clean them down and watch it come back when it warms up. Shine a torch in the dark places to get a reflection from wet oil.
2001LC
SILVER Star
I find the most common leak is the head valve covers. They can leak bad and run down all over. The cam caps also. I re-torque to 53in-lbf head covers (Inch not foot). Then clean engine top to bottom really well, and watch.
The second most common leak is after a timing belt job. The bolts holding pulleys on need thread sealer. So often these threads are nor sealed, then leak/weep.
One I've not seen, but can happen., O-ring at top of oil pump. This would be super PITA to replace. So I'd go with AT-205 as a try first.
What I've yet to see leak are the factory installed cam and crank seals. Not that they don't, but I've yet to see.
The second most common leak is after a timing belt job. The bolts holding pulleys on need thread sealer. So often these threads are nor sealed, then leak/weep.
One I've not seen, but can happen., O-ring at top of oil pump. This would be super PITA to replace. So I'd go with AT-205 as a try first.
What I've yet to see leak are the factory installed cam and crank seals. Not that they don't, but I've yet to see.
I suspect my crank seal. Dirty like the first pic in the post for second timing belt change. Clean up, make perfect, check again 10k miles later = light dusting on tensioner piston area, wet below the crank and to the right closer to the oil filter and wet pipes below that. Takes a couple thousand miles to get to this state. alt dry as always, valve cover gaskets dry also, 20k miles old.
I thought the guys who said he thought he knew where his was had some info.
I'm looking for things to do, seems I have months to kill and no money to waste on parts like I usually do. Thanks Paul, and all
I thought the guys who said he thought he knew where his was had some info.
I'm looking for things to do, seems I have months to kill and no money to waste on parts like I usually do. Thanks Paul, and all
2001LC
SILVER Star
If crank seal was replaced, then likely. Also look close at oil cooler housing, I do see those leaking. Especially when someone pulled to replace the steering rack.
i wanted to add this here, after the fact, and realizing whats been going on for probably 2-3 years
timing belt 20k miles ago jan 2019, cleaned up the whole area.
late 2019 and 10k miles later same dirty lower crank, tensioner area, and now slightly wet hoses running across the lower member. Overall looked like a light misting spray over 10k miles, at the same time the rear main is leaking also, more accurately, dripping more drops than just one drop a day from the inspection cover that's been going on for a long time.
Cleaned up again, go another 10k miles, same thing. Only now in addition to the rear main leaking probably 3-4 drops per day I finally see a drop of atf from the member closest to the drivers side inner steering rack boot.
I pulled the boot back on the outboard side and fluid came with a steady stream, engine off. I never went low of aft in the steering reservoir, I see it at last once a day.
My lines were never leaking, just the rack end seal. So new rack, cleaning etc. Everything looks shiny clean after a few thousand miles.
my point is that I couldn't even tell it wasn't motor oil. By the time it got to the crank it was already dirty. Sitting in the inner steering boot until it gets pushed out. Windage, fan, serpentine belt singing it all over. I could never tell.
To a lessor degree, mine looked exactly like those pics above. With additional wet parts, lower end of oil filter, oil filter drip tray, etc. And it took 10k miles to get like that and I couldn't even tell it was ATF.
timing belt 20k miles ago jan 2019, cleaned up the whole area.
late 2019 and 10k miles later same dirty lower crank, tensioner area, and now slightly wet hoses running across the lower member. Overall looked like a light misting spray over 10k miles, at the same time the rear main is leaking also, more accurately, dripping more drops than just one drop a day from the inspection cover that's been going on for a long time.
Cleaned up again, go another 10k miles, same thing. Only now in addition to the rear main leaking probably 3-4 drops per day I finally see a drop of atf from the member closest to the drivers side inner steering rack boot.
I pulled the boot back on the outboard side and fluid came with a steady stream, engine off. I never went low of aft in the steering reservoir, I see it at last once a day.
My lines were never leaking, just the rack end seal. So new rack, cleaning etc. Everything looks shiny clean after a few thousand miles.
my point is that I couldn't even tell it wasn't motor oil. By the time it got to the crank it was already dirty. Sitting in the inner steering boot until it gets pushed out. Windage, fan, serpentine belt singing it all over. I could never tell.
To a lessor degree, mine looked exactly like those pics above. With additional wet parts, lower end of oil filter, oil filter drip tray, etc. And it took 10k miles to get like that and I couldn't even tell it was ATF.
I suppose it should be said that any " where's my leak coming from" thread should have a simple workflow.
Step 1
Clean everything up
Step 2
Watch to see where the leak is coming from
Step 3
Fix leak
If not your just playing a guessing game for no reason.
Step 1
Clean everything up
Step 2
Watch to see where the leak is coming from
Step 3
Fix leak
If not your just playing a guessing game for no reason.
