[speedysprocket]

So I rebuilt my engine a year ago now, has 10,500 miles on it. And the front end has been leaking oil the whole time. I replaced the cam seal over the summer because I tweaked it while installing it initially and I thought that was the problem, but it continues to drip on my driveway and cover the bottom of the car.

So today I pull all the belts off. Driver's side of the engine is dry. All the pulleys and belts are dry. Passenger's side of the engine is wet and it looks like it's coming from the cam gear housing area. The housing is all wet, but the cam seal is bone dry, as are the other seals. Is it possible the two oil galley plugs on the head could be leaking? One on the front and the other facing the passenger's side? Looks dry under the valve cover too, so I'm stumped.

Thanks for any tips,

Alex

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[MLB]

Hi Alex I'm trying to picture the oil leak you're describing

Can you upload a pic?

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[speedysprocket]

There's an oil galley plug below the cam in this picture and one to the left of it, around the corner of the head. Those are what I'm curious about. I was hoping it might be as simple as one of the bolts that holds the cam gear housing on runs into the oil galley and just needs some sealant, but that doesn't appear to be the case (or make much sense on Porsche's part). So still at a loss. That cam seal pictured was completely dry, both where it seals the cam and meets the head... But there's oil around it..

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[MLB]

Just out of curiosity did you reseal the front of the cam cover with Loctite 574, or similar sealant?

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[MLB]

Also, is your oil pan gasket dry?

Are there any oil leaks lower down?

Lower balance shaft seals dry?

P/S all dry?

Apologies if I'm way off the mark here, regarding where you detected leaks

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[Waylander]

I had oil all over the place like that and tracked it down to the oil filter housing leaking, not a fun job with the engine in the car

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[speedysprocket]

Did I put 574 where? I put it on the mating surfaces for the front bearing/seal cap.

Oil level goes down while power steering fluid remains constant, so I ruled that out.

Balance shafts are dry. Can't tell about oil pan because it's all wet down there.

I want to run the engine with all the covers removed and no cam gear housing to see where the leak is, but obviously can't do that with no way to hold the distributor cap...

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[MLB]

Yep, that's the spot I meant for the loctite, as mentioned in the WSM. I sure can sympathize the difficulty finding oil leaks on an already oily engine block.when I bought my car the guy who did the PPI told me I had a power steering leak which turned out not to be true it was the oil pan gasket.

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[speedysprocket]

Where is oil going to leak from there?

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[speedysprocket]

All back together and still leaking...  Guess I need to check the oil filter housing...

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[Bulti]

I assume you ruled out the power steering reservoir and -lines?

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[SamSparks]

Don't now if this helps (I too am having trouble visualising your situation).

 

I had all front seals replaced by Porsche, but there was still an oil leak. Turned out it was the Oil Cooler/Housing Gasket part 944-107-147-03. Wasn't a big job to replace it (tho' Porsche did the work).

 

 

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[Waylander]

if the engine is in the hole and the front of the motor is complete, this is a real pig of a job. took me all day and you need the oil pressure valve alignment tool

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[SamSparks]

if the engine is in the hole and the front of the motor is complete, this is a real pig of a job. took me all day and you need the oil pressure valve alignment tool

I've read the same - a fiddly job. I meant Porsche didn't charge me too much to do it - I could probably check the invoice for the actual hours I was charged. And Porsche had to do it twice - they didn't replace a small (but mission critical O-ring the first time) and I insisted they redo the work. After much growling and resistance from them - and persistent insistence from me - they did. But it did cure the leak. (I had a photo of the leak but I'm pretty sure I ditched it recently as I saw no need to keep it).

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[SamSparks]

I've read the same - a fiddly job. I meant Porsche didn't charge me too much to do it - I could probably check the invoice for the actual hours I was charged. And Porsche had to do it twice - they didn't replace a small (but mission critical O-ring the first time) and I insisted they redo the work. After much growling and resistance from them - and persistent insistence from me - they did. But it did cure the leak. (I had a photo of the leak but I'm pretty sure I ditched it recently as I saw no need to keep it).

 

The 'O' ring is part 944-107-147-03. As I understand it, it keeps oil and water from mixing and is therefore critical, and it is strongly recommended to replace the 'O' ring at same time as the gasket.

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[Waylander]

And the little neck from the block to the housing, that has O rings both ends and can be a total PITA to get out,


It's not a job I want to again thank you

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