rebuilt engine oil leak

[honerboys]

i've been working on the engine in the 83 NA about 3 months now - a knee surgery got in the way and it had to sit for a while - it had spun a rod bearing - anyway i finally got it all sealed up and back in the car - cranked the engine with no coil wire until i saw there was oil pressure - hooked everything up and after a few more turns the engine coughed back to life - after idling a bit it ran sort of smooth though the oil pressure was lower than i thought it should be (about 1.5-2.0 at idle) - i figured i'd give it a good tune and oil change and all would be good - well then i looked under the car and saw an oil puddle about the size of a 5 gallon bucket lid - the drips are coming from the front off the oil pump - my first thought is the front seal even though it's new and seemed to install ok - the oil pump sleeve was not new but there was no groove i could catch a fingernail on so i reused it - this leak is pretty bad - i'd say about a drip a second - would a new seal ever leak that bad - i used the same sealant on the oil pump that i used on the crank girdle - the anaerobic stuff - figured it was doing the same job on both - i think these are the only places up front to leak - could the low oil pressure and the leak be related? - the thought of pulling this engine again ....well you know what those thoughts are - anyway if any body has any thoughts on this any help would be appreciated - thanks

[John_AZ]

Did you remember to put in the GREEN "O" ring in front of the oil pump sleeve ----then the washer?



John

[honerboys]

yea john i put a new one in - but looking at your picture i'm wondering about the washer - i can't specifically remember installing that - but i didn't have any "spare" parts left over so it was installed somewhere - so i guess i'll be spending another day under the car - getting a little tired of the view though - i'll let you know what i find - thanks

[zedsn]

That isn't a washer. That is a sleeve that slides through the seal.

[John_AZ]

Originally Posted by zedsn

That isn't a washer. That is a sleeve that slides through the seal.

Right, sorry.

The green "O" ring goes in front of the oil pump sleeve----then the washer.

The picture is correct.

John

[John_AZ]

Originally Posted by honerboys

yea john i put a new one in - but looking at your picture i'm wondering about the washer - i can't specifically remember installing that - but i didn't have any "spare" parts left over so it was installed somewhere - so i guess i'll be spending another day under the car - getting a little tired of the view though - i'll let you know what i find - thanks

Update

The picture is correct.

Oil Pump Sleeve---Green "O" ring---Then washer

John

[honerboys]

ok i took the weekend off from this car but got back into it this morning - everything was installed in the proper order - from the pictures it seems there's a gap between the oil pump gear and the seal - i know the gear is not in all the way - i had already pulled it out and didn't want to shove it all the way back in - so i guess i just messed up the seal install - but it sure did slide right in there easy enough and i didn't notice the gap then, oh well- i'm re-using the oil pump gear - the picture shows the wear pattern - it's more of a shiny ring but it does have the slightest indent - but i can't catch a fingernail on it - ok to use again? - thanks

[John_AZ]

Your middle picture best shows the worn seal groove.

It may not be deep enough to catch your fingernail but it will wear the lips of a new seal eventually.

Here is a picture of two I recently replaced --bottom and a new oil pump sleeve on the top in brown paper.

.

That said, I do not think it was the oil pump sleeve that caused the oil leak, it was the installation of the seal.

The seal in your picture, is it a Corteco-CFW (Pelican) or Victor Reinz or?

In the WSM, the mechanics use a hammer and seal setter to insert the seal.



Install the oil pump sleeve and the seal simultaneously.
Make sure the sleeve teeth are matched to the oil pump teeth as you install.

Use heavy conventional straight weight oil the outside of the seal, oil the lips, oil the crankshaft and oil the seal area of the engine.

You can get fancy with a piece of PVC and steel cap. Picture credit member onZedge;

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/4118601-post10.html



Install just to the bevel of the block where the seal enters. Do not just keep on hammering until the seal deforms when hitting the bottom ledge.

If it does not go in straight, you will get the gap shown in your picture.

GL
John

[zedsn]

The front main seal may be a VW part as I was able to get one for under $10 at my local auto parts store after I messed the first one up. Don't ask me how.

[honerboys]

John the seal was a reinz from pelican - just a crappy install on my part - i've put in many seals over the years - only had one other one fail instantly - must be getting sloppy in my old age - getting a new one locally - try it again tomorrow - i'm happy it was something simple though instead of a major screwup - thanks

[Rasta Monsta]

That is weird, I pressed that seal in with my thumbs.

[John_AZ]

Originally Posted by honerboys

John the seal was a reinz from pelican - just a crappy install on my part - i've put in many seals over the years - only had one other one fail instantly - must be getting sloppy in my old age - getting a new one locally - try it again tomorrow - i'm happy it was something simple though instead of a major screwup - thanks

This might be too late.

Another member Slam found an SKF seal that rides on a different spot on the oil pump sleeve.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/5717797-post7.html

I found a couple other seals that may work if buying local.

John

[honerboys]

rasta you were right - i got another seal and it slid right in under finger pressure - that's probably how i messed it up to start with - i was using a large deep socket and what i thought was a slight tap with a hammer - probably didn't need either - anyway the seal is fixed - unfortunately it is still dripping oil badly - same spot - i moved the air cleaner box back so i could look down behind the rear belt cover - it seems to be coming from the oil pump - i can't see if it's the seam with the block or if there is a crack in the pump itself - i'll have to pull everything AGAIN and put it back together without the belt covers and watch it while the engine is running - i'm probably looking at removing the oil pump - has anyone ever tried removing the pump without completely dropping the pan - i was wondering if i could loosen the pan bolts enough to drop the front enough to pull the pump out to either re-seal or replace - thanks