Oil leak

[harborman]

I have a slight oil leak on the passenger side, appears to be from the valve (cam) cover from what I can tell. I only see it from under the car on the side of the block. It's not enough to drip on the floor or at worst leaves a small spot.

If it is the cover seal, how difficult is it to remove and replace?

[Mrmerlin]

I dont know you that well,

buy me a cheeseburger

any chance you can put your car info in your signature??

[harborman]

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

I dont know you that well,

buy me a cheeseburger

any chance you can put your car info in your signature??

I put additional info in the "garage" section.
Car is 1986 32 valve, auto trans all stock.

[Mrmerlin]

click on user CP at the top,
then click on edit signature .
then add your info that way it will come up every post

[Mrmerlin]

from your description you may consider replacing the or leaving things alone. there are lots of seals that have to to be replaced to fix this cam cover seal and the bolts are sometimes hard to remove

[MPDano]

Yeah, Merlins right. Just put in your signature and be done with it. No one goes through the hassle of looking at the Garage link just help you out.

[harborman]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Yeah, Merlins right. Just put in your signature and be done with it. No one goes through the hassle of looking at the Garage link just help you out.

Ok, I updated it.

[Mrmerlin]

now its easier to assist you with your questions

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

now its easier to assist you with your questions

Nah, there's no way we can help him still. We need to have an Exterior/Interior Color too

[jim ross]

Originally Posted by harborman

I have a slight oil leak on the passenger side, appears to be from the valve (cam) cover from what I can tell. I only see it from under the car on the side of the block. It's not enough to drip on the floor or at worst leaves a small spot.

If it is the cover seal, how difficult is it to remove and replace?

If your lucky its just the seals on the very rear of cam cover..if its the cam cover gasket...just let it be..or your opening up a can of worms! you must remove cams and timing belt and all that **** to replace gasket....go white trash and use some JB weld on the outer leak!--good luck

[Mrmerlin]

Jim he has a 86 so the cams stay in place.
but there are 13 bolts that hold the cam cover on as well as 4 seals for the plugs and then the cam end caps come off the replace the 3 per side end seals

[harborman]

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

Jim he has a 86 so the cams stay in place.
but there are 13 bolts that hold the cam cover on as well as 4 seals for the plugs and then the cam end caps come off the replace the 3 per side end seals

Maybe I need to remove that air intake and have a better look.

If you can tell me what the official color is for my car I will post it per MPDano's request. Kind of a silver color. Actually I would like to know so I can touch up a few small knicks in back bumper. I was trying to find the color code for it anyway.

[harborman]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Nah, there's no way we can help him still. We need to have an Exterior/Interior Color too

Man- o- man, particular, so particular......OK will do!!!!!! Any thing to make you HAPPY

[Fredfox]

It is very easy to change the valve/cam cover gaskets and all the seals,
Providing your engine is in a stand and not in the car. It would not be too bad with someone that has a lot of patience.

[chesireIsugaree]

I just had a headgasket weeping oil, freaked me out a bit

[harborman]

Originally Posted by Fredfox

It is very easy to change the valve/cam cover gaskets and all the seals,
Providing your engine is in a stand and not in the car. It would not be too bad with someone that has a lot of patience.

Yep, on an engine stand the best way, but not in the car and not going to pull it for this minor leak. Hope I can fix it as I don't like leaks, kind of a Harley thing with me.

[Mrmerlin]

well you can fix the leak but remember you might open a can of worms, I would pull out a one of the cam cover bolts,
and preferably along the top edge and post a picture of what it looks like.
if you have standoffs in the head then its possible to break one and thats a can of worms . otherwise it a straight forward R n R you also need Loctite 574 and Hondabond. The 574 goes between the cam caps and the Bond goes at the junction of the head and the cap in 4 places this assists the cam cover gasket to seal and keep oil from migrating past the cam caps

[harborman]

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

well you can fix the leak but remember you might open a can of worms, I would pull out a one of the cam cover bolts,
and preferably along the top edge and post a picture of what it looks like.
if you have standoffs in the head then its possible to break one and thats a can of worms . otherwise it a straight forward R n R you also need Loctite 574 and Hondabond. The 574 goes between the cam caps and the Bond goes at the junction of the head and the cap in 4 places this assists the cam cover gasket to seal and keep oil from migrating past the cam caps

Thanks Stan, I will heed your advise on this.

[Hkp7]

I recently replaced my right side cam cover gasket, cam seals, and rear cam seal gasket. I would say the hardest part was removing the lower set of mounting bolts. I did mine in car. The job wasnt too bad but I would have had a better time at it with more lighting and more heat for the garage. Maybe a long allen socket rather than using a key.

[harborman]

Originally Posted by Hkp7

I recently replaced my right side cam cover gasket, cam seals, and rear cam seal gasket. I would say the hardest part was removing the lower set of mounting bolts. I did mine in car. The job wasnt too bad but I would have had a better time at it with more lighting and more heat for the garage. Maybe a long allen socket rather than using a key.

Ok, Thanks, I have not completely investigated the leak, but I can sometimes smell oil. I had it out today and the thing runs like a raped ape! Took it out on the interstate and kicked it a bit, handles extremely well, wants to go FAST, but I tried to keep it reasonable. Kick down into lower gear did well. I like the automatic, less abuse on engine, constant load, no miss shifts. It's back in the heated garage until tomorrow. May get a few nice driving days in before bad weather hits again.