3.6 conversion oil leak & other questions

jevvy · 05:22 AM

Hi guys

I'm still working through the last bits and bobs on my 3.6 conversion which im overall happy with however I have 1 slight concern, an oil leak:

As you can see it appears to be coming from the topside of the right hand bank and is leaking out from under the cowling. I have never had the cowling off an engine so not sure what lies beneath - any ideas anyone?

The engine was from a 993 with 45k miles on - when i was preparing it to go into my car I didnt see any evidence of the leak being there when it was previously run in its old car.

In the 100KMS I have done since I installed the engine it hasnt really used much oil and doesnt leave any on my garage floor however it looks like it is only loosing oil while it is running.

Any thoughts/pointers or suggestions most welcome....

Edit - my other question was what did all you 3.6ers do with the old heater blower motor wires that come with the 3.6 loom?

einreb · 02-15-2006, 06:17 AM

the breather hose (top back of the engine) tight?

I just taped up the blower motor wires. Shouldnt hurt anything. You'll need to do this mod...

Help! Does anyone understand the footwell blower circuit?

to get your inline blower fans to work.

-Bernie

jevvy · 02-15-2006, 06:31 AM

yup, breather hoses tight and at the opposite end of the engine - thanks for the suggestion and I will of course now go and double check....

Thanks also for the link - I havent hooked up the heat yet so I guess I will be reading that once I do - hehehe

jevvy · 02-17-2006, 12:37 AM

Did someone say headstuds....?

jevvy · 04-25-2006, 11:29 AM

well guys I have been blasting about with the 3.6 and loving it more each day I drive it however I have this niggly feeling always cos I know I have an undiagnosed oil leak.....

I had a few hours spare today so I pulled the fan and alt out to have a look behind the shrout to see if there were any clues as to what was going on.

Heres what it looks like from the top now:

Heres what is seen holding the camera inside the shroud looking back at the inside of previous pic:

closer in:

and from the bottom looking up and back:

While i was in there I pulled the top valve cover and checked the front top of the rear cylinder and the rear top of the second cylinder on the right hand bank(the oily ones) and they both seemed well tight.

I assume there are studs towards the rear of the first clylinder on each side but I couldnt find how to get to them to check if they were pulled - any clues?

So, with the updated pics has anyone got any guesses as to what it is and if I should worry or just live with it?

hope someone can help...

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Here's whats there

Are you sure the leak isn't in the back, like maybe around the oil prssure sender and just draining across the top of the block to the front?

jevvy · 04-25-2006, 01:28 PM

Hi Bill, thanks for digging out the other pics, I pulled the fan and alt out today so I had the view you show in the second pic and the only place that is damp is the top and backside of the rear-left cylinder so I'm pretty sure its from that local area.

I have never seen a pic of an engine with the chain boxes off so dont know what that join looks like - might go and see if I can find a diagram...

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Here is sans chain box

Your leak appears to be above the level of the cylinders

jevvy · 04-25-2006, 02:00 PM

thanks again bill, was just looking at some diagrams of that area, photos do help too.

you are right it does seem that the oil is comming from higher up than cylinder level but there is just nothing oil related in that area.

Could the leak be between the head and the cylinder and be somehow spraying oil at higher RPM creating that splattered effect?

jevvy · 04-25-2006, 02:03 PM

here is another pic from slightly further away showing how localised the leak is to the back of the rear cylinder:

jevvy · 04-26-2006, 01:48 AM

cheeky bump for uk pelicans that might be able to offer some ideas

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

I'm guessing it's leaking between the cam carrier and the chainbox. There is a gasket and an O-ring that seals where the cam passes from the cam carrier to the chainbox.
-Chris

jevvy · 04-26-2006, 04:07 AM

Thanks Chris, do you mean part 22 in this diagram?

I think I can see how you might think this however I just cant see how the oil would show up the way it is on the top of that cylinder - then again oil can seep in some funny ways especially with all that cooling air blowing about.

jevvy · 04-26-2006, 04:08 AM

Just looking at that diagram again the O ring is looking like a bit of a bugger to get to - anyone done this?

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by jevvy
Thanks Chris, do you mean part 22 in this diagram?

I think I can see how you might think this however I just cant see how the oil would show up the way it is on the top of that cylinder - then again oil can seep in some funny ways especially with all that cooling air blowing about.

The gasket #23 keeps pressurized oil from the cam carrier from leaking out between the cam carrier and the chainbox. I think the O-ring plays a minor roll but I could be mistaken.

Yes, you need to remove the chain sprocket from the end of the cam (at the very least) to get to the gasket. If it was my motor I'd pull the motor in the off season and remove the chain boxes and reseal them and the power steering pump drive, etc.
-Chris

jevvy · 04-26-2006, 04:43 AM

hey chris, thanks for that.

I will keep an eye on it and wait till the engine is next out to deal with it. I need to take it out at some point to tidy up all the conversion bits I now know how to do better and make the tinware fit the rubber seal, I will aim to tackle it then.