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I cleaned up the lower Balance Shaft cover (runs along the passenger side of the engine) and the back end and center of the BS enclosure (shown in the foto) has a round plug that's so loose it practically rattles. Moving it a bit, I notice there's a pink O-ring on it. Surely this must be part of the source of my oil leak from this area? I didn't force it out to look but it appears that I should be able to work it out and replace the O-ring...and hopefully stop the oil leak. Am I on the right track? Has anyone done this? I didn't force it because I didnt' want to break anything. Thanks,



Harvey

I think you are on the right track. I noticed that mine has a schmear of RTV all around the plug that a previous owner apparently used as a fix. It works.

first - REALLY nice job of clean up



second - what plug? i have a new occasional single drip and i want to find it - could be this i suppose - certainly worth looking at, but i want to be looking at the right thing

When you look at the foto, in the center, kinda to the top of the foto, there is a round aluminum part with a round hole it it. This really is just a plug and the hole extends into the BS cover less than a half inch. Around the outside of the aluminum "plug" is an 0-ring. It is very loose and definitely no longer seals. I think I will have to pry in out both from the top and bottom simultaneously to get it out....then put on a new O-ring. I'll try it and report back. Before experimenting, I was hoping that someone had done this. If this is the source of the leak, then it's must be a pretty common thing...and a pretty easy fix (I'm hoping). I'd better try it first. I'm sure there are other seals etc. inside and that's what I'm trying to avoid replacing. The function of this piece...I don't know. I hope it's not hooked to something really important and a shaft or something drops when I take it out. I'll see if I can find it on the PET first.



Harvey



[quote name='flash' date='Jul 2 2005, 11:45 AM']first - REALLY nice job of clean up



second - what plug?  i have a new occasional single drip and i want to find it - could be this i suppose - certainly worth looking at, but i want to be looking at the right thing

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Well...after putting "reasonable" pressure on the aluminum plug from two sides...it still wouldn't come out...without risk of breaking something (I don't have a clue what's holding it in because it seems so loose...but it's more than just the seal), so I just pried it out 1/32" and put RTV silicone around it and sealed it up. I'll let it cure a week while I'm out of town and then crank it up and see if that helped. Also, I pulled the Redline synthetic 10-30 oil and put in regular 30 weight (as manual suggests). Maybe between the two it will help. I'll let you know. I also checked the very small leak at the rear differential and I think it's probably from the seal of the rear drive shaft. I wonder how hard that is to replace? Guess I'll hit the search mode and look at the manuals and see. I might just wait until it really needs it. Sometimes I'm too anal about little stuff. I should be out driving the car instead. I like touring and I hate flat-bedding cars back home so I'd like to get it so I can rely on it for a pretty long while. I'll be replacing the fuel pump too at some point, also as a pre-emptive move and keep the old one for a traveling spare. I'm racking up so many spare parts now that I think I'll need a trailer!



Harvey

I don't think you can get the oring out without getting the end cap off. The end cap can't be removed w/o taking the cover off....and so on.



Here are some pics of the end cap. These pictures are from a 944 turbo but it should be the same on the 968.



I think the best bet is to try some RTV on the outside.



Eric



[attachment=627][attachment=626]

Eric,



Thanks a million. Man am I glad that I didn't tork down on the cap too hard...or I would have had a horrible problem to fix! I can see from your great fotos that it won't just pop out. So I RTV'ed it and will see if that makes a difference. It could be leaking other places too but I'll attacke them one at at time. Again, thanks, buddy. I really appreciate it.



However, it looks like you did the repair the right way and jumped into a job that I don't think is a cake walk. I'm holding off for a while if I can before I take it apart.



Harvey

Harvey, OMG! that thing is cleaner than the dinner plates I eat off of! The dog is getting old and just doesn't clean the dishes as well as he used to.

What did you use and how did you get it that clean? Ab Fab!



Silver BLT

I sprayed the greasy parts with GUNK Degreaser, then scubbed it with a small brass brush, then wiped it with a rag, then sprayed the area with brake cleaner. Not sure it the latter is a good idea but it seems to work.



Harvey



[quote name='Silver BLT' date='Jul 2 2005, 07:28 PM']Harvey, OMG! that thing is cleaner than the dinner plates I eat off of! The dog is getting old and just doesn't clean the dishes as well as he used to.

What did you use and how did you get it that clean? Ab Fab!



Silver BLT

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[quote name='Silver BLT' date='Jul 2 2005, 07:28 PM']Harvey, OMG! that thing is cleaner than the dinner plates I eat off of!



Silver BLT

[right][post="6780"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Sounds like you guys need this book:

"Manifold Destiny : The One! The Only! Guide to Cooking on Your Car Engine!"



Available from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...223309?v=glance



<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

Eric's great photos gave me an idea on how this part was built...so i took some RTV and sealed the round pieced (that holds the O ring) and there hasn't been one drop of oil leak from this area yet.



However, the question begs to be asked. Why did they put this part in there in the first place? And the Oring is supposed to keep oil in but does is it also supposed to let air pressure or something out? Will plugging this cause any buildup of pressure some place? I'm pleased that the leak is totally gone now, in any case.



Thanks, Eric.



Harvey







[quote name='Eric_K' date='Jul 2 2005, 05:50 PM']I don't think you can get the oring out without getting the end cap off. The end cap can't be removed w/o taking the cover off....and so on.



Here are some pics of the end cap. These pictures are from a 944 turbo but it should be the same on the 968.



I think the best bet is to try some RTV on the outside.



Eric





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