Tiny leak behind balancer wheel - seal from outside? 1fzfe (2 Viewers)

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Location
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Fzj80 got the smallest oil leak coming from behind balancer wheel.

Not even 1 drop a day on the floor, but want to get rid of it nonetheless.

Any suggestions for sealing from the outside?

Quoted to replace timing cover gasket but want to try this first.

Thanjs
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@hbange97 : Can you take a couple more photos, one from above looking down and slightly to your right (vehicle left) of the crank pulley/harmonic balancer and another photo from the side of the timing chain cover/engine front (examples to follow).

It's hard to say where the leak is for sure just from those photos as any leak from higher up could drip down off the oil pump cover, so clean that area off well then watch it closely for where the leak reappears.

FWIW:

The Oil Pump Cover is a more common cause of a leak in that area.

Also check where the distributor slides into the head for a leak. There's an O-ring (out of sight located around the narrow section of the distributor housing) that can leak, it tends to drip down onto the alternator.

The valve cover gasket can also leak, then drip down.


Link to long discussion on the Oil Pump Cover (gasket) leak:


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Link to a video showing the oil pump cover gasket replacement along with the distributor O-ring replacement.




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Another possible culprit is located just above the oil pump cover which can cause a small leak coming out of a pry slot for the timing chain cover
but that does not automatically mean you need the timing chain cover to come off IME.


 
Last edited:
@hbange97 : Can you take a couple more photos, one from above looking down and slightly to your right (vehicle left) of the crank pulley/harmonic balancer and another photo from the side of the timing chain cover/engine front (examples to follow).

It's hard to say where the leak is for sure just from those photos as any leak from higher up could drip down off the oil pump cover, so clean that area off well then watch it closely for where the leak reappears.

FWIW:

The Oil Pump Cover is a more common cause of a leak in that area.

Also check where the distributor slides into the head for a leak. There's an O-ring (out of sight located around the narrow section of the distributor housing) that can leak, it tends to drip down onto the alternator.

The valve cover gasket can also leak, then drip down.


Link to long discussion on the Oil Pump Cover (gasket) leak:


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Link to a video showing the oil pump cover gasket replacement along with the distributor O-ring replacement.




------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another possible culprit is located just above the oil pump cover which can cause a small leak coming out of a pry slot for the timing chain cover
but that does not automatically mean you need the timing chain cover to come off IME.



Thanks for the response that's very helpful info.

Had a decent look doesn't look to be coming from above as no oil anywhere near alternator.

Took some more pics;

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From the spray all over it's likely the oil pump cover, but if you wanted, clean the area off again including the top of the oil pump cover, better than before (first few photos in post #3 above), and the bottom, wipe/blow off any water droplets (leaf blower works well), then run the engine for a just few minutes, shut it down and look closely for were the oil first appears.
 
I agree with above, pls clean up all the leaking oil from everything using a rag soaked with brake parts spray cleaner. I want to see shiny alum bits! Then drive around, and take pics of the leaks, but please re-orient those sideways pics so that we don't have to turn our heads while looking at them.:flipoff2:

i also believe you might be seeing oil seeping out of the oil pump cover. There are bunch of phillips head screws and I'm not sure if you can access them to see if they're still tight.
 

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