Another oil leak

[DeRRis]

I had two mayor oil leaks on my 86 Carrera. The first was the oil return tubes. So i changed them



The second was the oil line to the right chaintensioner. So I changed it



I let the engine run for 30 minutes and its was dry as a bone. After that I didn't run it for about three weeks and all was well. No drops of oil under the engine. But about a week ago it started to leak again. And in a bad way.



It looks like the gasket between the casecover of the right chain. But how can it be that it's dry for three weeks and than without the car having been moved or started it starts to leak?

Got the gasket for the cover but man these oil leaks are wearing me down

[CCM911]

Right there with you. Mine is leaking as well. I was told by some of our PCA guys that have rebuilt a ton of 3.2 engines that the cam chain cover gaskets dry out and then start to leak. Our cars are now at the age where we all will need to be looking at these.

I had mine completely sealed and dry. And it was good for a year or two. Then when I blasted it down I95 to Amelia Island, it let loose like the Exxon Valdez!

Welcome to the club.

But hey, at least we did not blow them up or anything, LOL.

[DeRRis]

Thanks, I know I'm not alone and sharing does help :-) I know these engines can leak at so many different places. I'll fix it, again. Just so baffeld that from out of nowhere it started to leak!

[Discseven]

Metal shifting and warping during heating and cooling cycles---material gaskets don't like that. Flexible engine sealer accommodates metal shifts much better. Don't know brand name of stuff I used but can find out. Think it's Wurth... not sure. Grey stuff. Spend a great deal of time cleaning matting surfaces before covering house...




Sealer applies in very thin coat... cover only. After progressive torque down, small, even extrusion of sealer around entire seam of case is inspected to confirm accuracy of application. (If I don't see extrusion in any area of seam... I'll pull cover and do over. Point being to know without a doubt that it's right.)

[DeRRis]

Thanks for your advise Karl. I've got some Wurth sealant that I used on VW flat four engines so I could go that way. But if it was designed to have a gasket, and the old one lasted 40 years, why go with sealant?

Seeing your more than clean engine makes me feel ashamed of my dirty motor

[jlex]

Because after 40 years, the metal has oxidized and is not as flat and even as when first manufactured. The sealer will help seal the irregularities caused by wear and oxidation over the years. The alternative would be to machine mating surfaces flat again...

[DeRRis]

So if I just fit a new gasket there is a great chance that it will leak or will leak in the near future?

I'm not a fan of gasket + sealer so I'm inclined to go with just sealer.

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by DeRRis

Thanks for your advise Karl. I've got some Wurth sealant that I used on VW flat four engines so I could go that way. But if it was designed to have a gasket, and the old one lasted 40 years, why go with sealant?

Seeing your more than clean engine makes me feel ashamed of my dirty motor

A 40 year young gasket! Classic material. I wouldn't hesitate to say almost anything made 40 years ago was made better than stuff made today---seems it should be other way around. Why use a gasket? Convenience. In critical areas though, 'common gaskets of today' suck IMHO. Let's think about engine environment---start it up and immediately heat begins at cylinders and radiates outward. As this occurs, engine's metal molecules are expanding in a progressive wave moving outwards through engine. Chain housings heat up sooner than covers... and probably slightly more due to their proximity to heat source. Shut engine off... contraction begins with cooling wave moving back into engine. Over and over this very slight motion of metal expanding and contracting occurs. For today's crap pulp gaskets... this environment is hell. As J mentioned, these metal parts are prone to warping over time. And hot oil: give it a micron to escape... it will.

I'm not saying every gasket is guaranteed to fail at the chain covers. My input here is based on sealant having proven itself (in my experience) to perform better in this area over commonly available gaskets. Surly there's gasket media that will work, but cutting it... that would take more time than applying a good sealant.

Just took pic of bottom of same chain cover posted above. Now has just over 1,500 miles on it. Squat mileage... but thought sharing a look would be interesting. (What is bound to leak in this area is oil pressure sending unit mounted above. Have not thought about it prior this moment but should consider sealing that part when it's new. As I recall, its top cap is crush wrapped around bottom and it is that seam that eventually leaks.)




No worries on my clean engine---process of getting it dirty is in the works.

.

[DeRRis]

Again great feedback, thanks!

My oil pressure sending unit doesn't leak at this moment but I might as well replace it now I'm in there.