Dr. Teeth

iTrader: (4)

When I bought this 96 TA, it had an oil leak that took out the opti. the front cover of the engine was coated in oil, so I replaced the opti and the seal. Start her up, she purrs, no leak, go for 3 minute drive, massive leak. OPti seal dry, rest of front cover wet. Proceed with replacing waterpump seal x2, crank seal, manifold seal dry, still same problem. Seems like the crank is slinging oil when I drive it. I watched everything from under the car while it ran after a cleanup for like 10 minutes, nothing. Drive for a few and a mess.

There was no visible groove in the crank snout, but could this be out of spec and leaking past the new seal?

The other 2 openings (opti and waterpump) are dry.

Thanks for any advice.

HBHRacing

it could still be anything. It could be the cover seal itself, the manifold gasket, anything. There is just no way that we can tell you. It's something your going to have to investigate and find the source.

Hot94Z28

The intake gasket is a good start they are known to leak mine did bad I could not tell were it was coming from

Dr. Teeth

iTrader: (4)

Thanks, but the question was do you think it's possible that the snout could be worn out of spec after 130k miles, even though it visibly looked good?

HBHRacing

anything is possible. We cant answer that either. In the end it's still up to you to investigate.

David94TA

Have you pulled the intake? These cars are famous for the intake gasket leak.

LT1MAN

iTrader: (6)

my snout is not out of spec after 186K miles.

Speedy

Sounds like the timing chain cover filling up with oil. Remove timing chain cover, clean out sludge, change timing chain set while you're at it, reassemble. Happy days are here again.

onebadblackz

iTrader: (1)

I'm having the same problem going to put in new opti and seal. also going to put gaskets on timing chain cover, intake, water pump and anything else in that area this weekend... let me no if you figure it out....

Dr. Teeth

iTrader: (4)

Thank you very much for answering my question. I appreciate it.

Dr. Teeth

iTrader: (4)

Someone else told me that they had a similar problem and their waterpump driveshaft was worn. Mine is dry there, so I'm not sure that's it.

I never looked into the timing cover filling up issue though... Interesting....

Dr. Teeth

iTrader: (4)

Thanks! Do you know if I need to drop the oilpan to get the cover off?

Dr. Teeth

iTrader: (4)

Yeah I heard that, but that's one of the few places that is usually dry.

borninatransam

iTrader: (4)

you dont have to fully remove the oil pan to get the timing cover off you just need to loosen all the bolts on it so it will drop down a little so you can just get it on and off.

dhdenney

iTrader: (53)

Yeah there's a lip on the timing cover that sits inside the oil pan.

LT1MAN

iTrader: (6)

Speedy

No. The pan gasket is rubber. Very flexible, but be gentle with it. When you take off the timing cover clean out the lower area. Replace the timing cover gasket, the camshaft seal, the water pump seal and the pump O-ring (very, very important). Then after you reinstall the timing cover replace the optispark seal and install the optispark shaft (trying to install the timing cover over the opti shaft with the seal installed will DAMAGE the seal). When you reinstall the water pump make damn sure you install the outer O-ring.

Fel-Pro has a good gasket kit. I used it when I installed my MSD unit.