HUGE oil leak ;_;

[944turb0]

I have an '87 all stock 944. It had sat in storage for 10 years before I bought it and drove it pretty hard on summer weekends. Just this fall, I took it on the freeway and I smelled oil burning after about 30min. I pull over and it's just dumping oil from the front of the engine but I couldn't tell from where.

The motor was running smooth, wasn't overheating. Ran just as usual when the leak happened. Babied it home, stopping to add a quart about every 5min. The next day the first snowfall buried it and i haven't had a chance to look it over due to the cold. I'll go in depth come spring. Is this related to a common failure? I really hope it's not a seal

[959Komfort]

sup

[Techno Duck]

What corner of the car is the oil leaking out from, passenger, center, drivers side?

My first guess is the oil filter gasket blew out.

[many944s]

If it sat for that long, it could be one of the front seals. It's not really that bad of a job. Besides, for a car that hibernated for 10 years, it could definitely use a new front end job!

-Nick

[944turb0]

I'm not sure where exactly it was coming from, the timing belt was flinging it all over the front. Also, it only leaks when it gets to operating temp.

[944 Ecology]

They have snow in San Mateo! Yippee!

[959Komfort]

Hes not from California, lol.

[944turb0]

oh yeah, borrowing a friends account

[Mericet]

Originally Posted by 944turb0

I'm not sure where exactly it was coming from, the timing belt was flinging it all over the front. Also, it only leaks when it gets to operating temp.

I would guess it would most likely be a front oil seal if the timing belt is "flinging" the oil around. Make sure to replace the timing and balance belts at the same time. Better yet, make sure everything at the front of the engine is fine, including the water pump.

[944turb0]

Originally Posted by Mericet

I would guess it would most likely be a front oil seal if the timing belt is "flinging" the oil around. Make sure to replace the timing and balance belts at the same time. Better yet, make sure everything at the front of the engine is fine, including the water pump.

is the front seal a pain to replace?

[pauloregon]

Depends on how you define "a pain". It's a lot of work to remove all the stuff to get access to the front of the engine, at which time you might as well do the balance shaft seals, crankshaft seal and pump sleeve, as well as the camshaft seals. But, once you get all the cruft out of the way, it's rather simple to replace an o-ring here, slide an onion-skin seal there, etc. Just make sure to watch out for the oil seal details, using the right one on the right shaft, etc.

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by pauloregon

Depends on how you define "a pain". It's a lot of work to remove all the stuff to get access to the front of the engine, at which time you might as well do the balance shaft seals, crankshaft seal and pump sleeve, as well as the camshaft seals. But, once you get all the cruft out of the way, it's rather simple to replace an o-ring here, slide an onion-skin seal there, etc. Just make sure to watch out for the oil seal details, using the right one on the right shaft, etc.

Agreed, this job is approachable to the average shady tree mechanic. Check out Clarks-garage.com for a good rundown of the job. While you're dissected down that far you'll probably want to replace the water pump as well unless you know the current pump was replaced recently. You'll also want to clean/degrease the area after the seals are done and replace your timing and balance shaft belts; if these have any oil on them they are no good and need to be replaced ASAP.

[944turb0]

"replace your timing and balance shaft belts; if these have any oil on them they are no good and need to be replaced ASAP."

Oh wow that's awful

[Tishabet]

It's not that bad, you're going to have to take the old ones off in order to replace the seals anyway... the new belts should run you a total of about $65 for both. Definitely something you can do yourself.

[944turb0]

Originally Posted by Tishabet

It's not that bad, you're going to have to take the old ones off in order to replace the seals anyway... the new belts should run you a total of about $65 for both. Definitely something you can do yourself.

Oh that's not so bad I guess. I just don't know how to tear it all down and what tensions and etc. Is there a guide on here that would help?

[Tishabet]

Check out http://www.clarks-garage.com for excellent write-ups of how to do all of this work. I've done the exact job you're looking at doing (seals, water pump (optional), timing belt, counterbalance belt) using the instructions from that site.

[TibetanT]

subscribing

[944turb0]

Originally Posted by 944turb0

Oh that's not so bad I guess. I just don't know how to tear it all down and what tensions and etc. Is there a guide on here that would help?

Great site thanks!

so are there any oil lines/hoses that could of failed instead of a seal..?(really hoping)

[ernie9944]

944 turbo buy yourself the haynes manual for your car best investment there is been using mine since 1983 and my car is still on the road defying many so call boys racers good luck fixing that leak I agree with mericet good tips he gave you ****** ERNIE 9944

[944turb0]

I just found out that it was front cam cover seals that went. A local 944 guy quoted me $722 parts and labor for doing the timing belt, the seals, and the water pump, which sounds really reasonable

Thanks for your input guys