Hey all, I believe I have a leak from the timing belt tensioner, is this an easy fix? (Hopefully lol) I thought I read there was an o ring in there? But I wasn’t sure if it’s an easy unbolt the 2 bolts type thing or if I remove it it will cause all sorts of timing havoc. Any input on this one? Here’s a pic of the leak. It looks like the tensioner is the main source of the oil.
Timing belt tensioner oil leak?
- Thread starter LC CT
- Start date
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It is not the tensioner leaking. That is just where the oil is finding it’s way out of the timing cover.
Do not unbolt the tensioner.
Likely the pass. Side cam seal is leaking above it inside the timing belt cover. Is the passenger side valve cover leaking as well? Could be working it’s way down there.
Do not unbolt the tensioner.
Likely the pass. Side cam seal is leaking above it inside the timing belt cover. Is the passenger side valve cover leaking as well? Could be working it’s way down there.
The timing belt idler pulley bolt is a possible source of the leak, it’s right next to & above the tensioner. This bolt must have its threads sealed before installation. New bolts come “pre-coated” with sealer, or you can re-use the old bolt with new sealer/thread locker.
Any recent timing belt work?
Any recent timing belt work?
- Thread starter
- #4
The annoying thing is timing belt was done on the car 30k ago, I believe the valve confer gaskets are clean, I’ll check again tomorrow. I was dealing with this in the fall and then it got cold and I didn’t want to mess around in the driveway with it but I pulled the cover on the left off and I didn’t see any kind of oil from the cam shaft seal. I will check again I guess and see what it looks like now. I probably put 400 miles on the truck over the winter if that.
- Thread starter
- #5
This is the pics I was able to take last fall when I checked the timing cover, is there anything you see here that would indicate a leak from that seal?
2001LC
SILVER Star
Clean area of all oil spotless. Using a de-greaser is helpful. Best done with engine running, so alternator spins water outward. Avoid spraying into alternator.
Then look close after driving. The idea here, is to see where oil first appears from.
If oil first appears slightly below tensioner bolt at lower T-belt cover (red circle area below), before appearing at weep hole at bottom of lower cover. It's most likely tensioner bolt threads not sealed as @Ayune pictured above. I see this leak very often. More often when Timing belt service not done at Dealership. But even Dealership don't always get this one right.
Only cure is to reseal bolts threads. Which we waiting until timing belt service for if we can. If belt stay dry (no oil), you can wait.
If cam seal leak. We most often, see oil here first.
If tensioner bolt thread leak. We most often see oil here (red) first.
Then look close after driving. The idea here, is to see where oil first appears from.
If oil first appears slightly below tensioner bolt at lower T-belt cover (red circle area below), before appearing at weep hole at bottom of lower cover. It's most likely tensioner bolt threads not sealed as @Ayune pictured above. I see this leak very often. More often when Timing belt service not done at Dealership. But even Dealership don't always get this one right.
Only cure is to reseal bolts threads. Which we waiting until timing belt service for if we can. If belt stay dry (no oil), you can wait.
If cam seal leak. We most often, see oil here first.
If tensioner bolt thread leak. We most often see oil here (red) first.
