Oil leak from cam chain cover

[Derek77]

Hey Guys,
Took my car to a shop to have some oil leaks fixed. Both my cam seals were bad. That was resolved but they created a rather large leak from my right timing chain cover. Can someone instruct me on how to fix this? I know I’ll have to remove muffler and rear engine tin. I don’t know where to source the parts I’ll need and I may need to experiment with finding correct size insert which I believe is causing this problem. Before someone suggests taking it back to the shop that is not an option. Shop had similar problem on my left side but found solution and it’s holding. Would my covers have holes that are larger than normal? Engine is a ‘79 3.0. This leaks constantly while car is sitting, I’m amazed how much oil drips out. Thank you for any suggestions.
Derek

[Flat6pac]

I would look at the aluminum washers around the banjo bolt to the tensioner.
Constant leak because after you park the oil level in the case rises into that area
There is also an Oring on the tensioner to seal the cover.
Bruce

[proporsche]

Derek ..take the car back is the solution to your oil leak.As Bruce said..the O ring---they most likely did not use new o ring on the chain tensioners when it meets the camshaft cover...you payed for the job and they should fix this...
Ivan

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by Flat6pac

I would look at the aluminum washers around the banjo bolt to the tensioner.
Constant leak because after you park the oil level in the case rises into that area
There is also an Oring on the tensioner to seal the cover.
Bruce

Check this ☝️ first. Don't over tighten. If it still leaks from there you have to pull the cam cover and replace a rubber o-ring that seals the fitting where the banjo fitting attaches to the cam chain cover housing. It's a curious bit of engineering.

[Flojo]

It looks as the O ring was forgotten...

[Derek77]

Thanks guys, I wouldn’t take my car back to this shop if it was the last shop on earth. Owner wouldn’t agree to fix this unless he felt he did something wrong. He Did something wrong, my car never leaked like this.

I don’t think the o ring was forgotten. It didn’t leak until I put about 100 miles on it. Then it got worse and worse. Also mechanic said when to put things back together there was not much resistance pushing the cover back in place, indicating that was not normal.

Can someone show me a parts schematic so I can see all the parts? Is the aluminum looking piece coming out of cover hole part of the tensioner or a collar of some sort?

[yelcab1]

In order of appearance from the inside out.

1. the knub is part of the oil fed tensioner, with an oring around it.
2. The aluminum crush washer
3. The oil line banjo fitting
4. A second aluminum washer
5. The hollow bolt going through the whole thing, and into the oil fed tensioner. The bolt does not HOLD the case cover on.

Use new washer and torque it just to spec and no more.

[tirwin]

I had the same leak from the o-ring. If my memory serves, you can take the engine tin out and then it’s just a matter of taking the banjo off and removing the chain cover. I don’t have a stock muffler so maybe that wasn’t in the way when I did mine. If I was a shop owner who wanted repeat business I would fix it. It’s not like you have to pull the motor. I know there are great shops out there but honestly, this is why I do my own work as much as I possibly can.

[Flojo]

Originally Posted by Derek77

Can someone show me a parts schematic so I can see all the parts? Is the aluminum looking piece coming out of cover hole part of the tensioner or a collar of some sort?

99970169040, parts catalogue cars 1984-86

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by Flojo

99970169040, parts catalogue cars 1984-86

That's it. Had to do both of mine recently. Re-seal the cover going back on too.

BTW, while you're that far in it's a good time to change the rear main seal (behind crank pulley) and you'll need new header to muffler gaskets too.
-C

[Helix8]

The pipe is also prone to cracking. There is a retainer for the pipe available on later models that is advisable. MY ‘84 had this issue maybe the same for yours?

[Crude Rudy]

Oh man that looks exactly what my floor looks like out of the blue.

Changed the oil to the Gibbs Driven 10W-40 went for a drive to warm up the car and check he level and the next day there was at least a cup of oil on the floor. Have not been able to check because I put her on a trailer and moved her to AZ. After I parked in the new garage. We went back to the old house but when I returned to AZ there was 2 cups of Gives Driven on the floor left side and I cant jack her up yet to check

[rokemester]

I’ve been following this thread closely. I have my drivetrain out for a suspension refresh. While motor out decided to blast and powder coat tins and mounts. I’ve had low level drips from both covers. I’ll post a sequence of pics starting with right side.











These are all the potential leak points on the right side. There are many!

Some shots from the left side










Do you think it is worth the time and cost to go after these small drips? I really want to avoid opening a can of worms. Is replacing washers and gaskets fairly straight forward? I certainly do not want to mess with cam timing. Way above my pay grade and skill level. Thanks, hopefully this post with pics will help someone down the line.

[donbecker1234]

Is it that common for people to reuse the tensioner orings? Or are they just unaware?
99970169040

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by Derek77

Hey Guys,
Before someone suggests taking it back to the shop that is not an option.

Not sure of your reason Derek but I'd not go back to that shop.

Am not inclined to bad mouth or listen to same but any business working on our cars that fails to do work correctly, then also fails to inspect their work... they seem worth sharing.

[rokemester]

Something tells me these could be a pain, even without interference from engine mounts and rear tin.

[proporsche]

looks like derek is not communicating..maybe he took it back to the shop;-)))..

you`ve asked for an advice...you got your answers..we hope ??
Ivan

[rokemester]

Can someone walk me through an R&R of the chain tensioner covers and oil line fittings? Difficult or fairly straight forward?

[Derek77]

Thank you for all the replies. I am listening but right now I am working on getting my wife’s daily back on the road. I’ll report back when I start working on this.

[nene]

Originally Posted by rokemester

Can someone walk me through an R&R of the chain tensioner covers and oil line fittings? Difficult or fairly straight forward?

I needed to check the timing chains and tensioners on my 86, which included taking the chain covers off. This is fairly straight forward, just don't pry them off with a screw-driver, as they will be a bit stiff.