Changed water pump, now oil leak
#1
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I changed my water pump for the first time on my own and was pretty proud of myself. It's the 5th water pump for this car in it's 19 year life. I bought a new unit from O'Reilly's with a lifetime warranty and am very pleased with its performance so far. I have driven 750 miles since I installed it and the car is cold as ice.
There are no coolant leaks but about 2 days after I installed the pump, an oil leak appeared. I had only done around-town driving up to that point. On the third day, I drove 320 miles and lost 1/4 quart. This week I just drove another 430 miles and lost another 3/4 quart.
When I took the old pump off, the drive seal was totally dry. Even now I can see the top of the opti and it isn't covered with oil or anything, it's just got droplets on it as does the whole front drivers side of the engine. Checked underneath on day 2 and didn't see any obvious leak but I'll check again now that it seems to have picked up the pace. Did I miss a step when I installed the new water pump?
There are no coolant leaks but about 2 days after I installed the pump, an oil leak appeared. I had only done around-town driving up to that point. On the third day, I drove 320 miles and lost 1/4 quart. This week I just drove another 430 miles and lost another 3/4 quart.
When I took the old pump off, the drive seal was totally dry. Even now I can see the top of the opti and it isn't covered with oil or anything, it's just got droplets on it as does the whole front drivers side of the engine. Checked underneath on day 2 and didn't see any obvious leak but I'll check again now that it seems to have picked up the pace. Did I miss a step when I installed the new water pump?
#2
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I wouldn't imagine so, if the drive seal is dry that is..
I'm my case, I cleaned the the timing cover and front of the intake when I swapped in the new water pump. I must've somehow scraped off a chunk of RTV revealing an intake manifold leak..
Had the same thing going on
I'm my case, I cleaned the the timing cover and front of the intake when I swapped in the new water pump. I must've somehow scraped off a chunk of RTV revealing an intake manifold leak..
Had the same thing going on
#3
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Front of the intake and valve cover gaskets are my guesses. Clean the engine with simple green, drive it around and then start feeling around the problem areas starting at the very top and working down.
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#8
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you can but just the seals and O rings at the dealer.....and pay at least $10. Just get the felPro kit at just about any auto parts store
#9
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Thanks for all your help everyone. I've got everything I need to pretty much change out everything having to do with the timing cover. Here's what I saw after removing the water pump:
![](http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/carebarexc/IMG_20130523_164927.jpg)
![](http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/carebarexc/IMG_20130523_165009.jpg)
I expected to see more of an oily mess on the timing cover. Could it still be the seal?
Also how would you go about cleaning all this?
![](http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/carebarexc/IMG_20130523_164927.jpg)
![](http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/carebarexc/IMG_20130523_165009.jpg)
I expected to see more of an oily mess on the timing cover. Could it still be the seal?
Also how would you go about cleaning all this?
#10
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Managed to get the pulley off with the claw puller. I then used a pulley puller to get the crank hub out enough to finally pull the opti. Here's what it looked like. Could this be the source of the oil leak? I've never pulled an opti so I don't know if this oil is normal.
![](http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/carebarexc/IMG_20130525_185631.jpg)
![](http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/carebarexc/IMG_20130525_185642.jpg)
What would you use to clean all this? I was thinking brake parts cleaner and simple green.
I'll be doing searches but in the meantime, how would you get the crank hub back in?
![](http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/carebarexc/IMG_20130525_185631.jpg)
![](http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/carebarexc/IMG_20130525_185642.jpg)
What would you use to clean all this? I was thinking brake parts cleaner and simple green.
I'll be doing searches but in the meantime, how would you get the crank hub back in?