Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Front engine oil leak

[SRadke]

My buddy just bought a 98 12 valve that is leaking oil up front. It is a lot of oil (1 quart in 1000 miles) so I suspected KDP. I opened her up last night to find the KDP firmly in place and no sign of leakage anywhere I expected to find it. Front main looked good (replaced it for jollies because the cover was off) cover was tight, vac pump dry, injector pump dry, pan bolts tight..... What now? The best I can tell it's coming from behind the timing case on the drivers side, down low. Is this a common thing? I've never seen it before. I looked at a timing case from another 98 I had replaced and the gasket looks very narrow through there, could it have blown out? Thanks for the help.



-Scott

 

[Jeff]

Very anxious to see what others say about this as it seems that I have the same problem in the same area. Not using quite that much oil, but I have to top it off pretty often. I just dread tearing into it to be honest. I was a KDP victim before the quick fix was developed. . back in approx. 1999? I was thinking maybe the timing cover was leaking, but a guy in our mobile maint shop at work thought lower seal? I hope it's a quick fix...

 

[CPFF]

Get ahold of a KDP kit and use the draft tube fitting and the safty valve to put a couple of pounds of air in the motor. Then spray the suspect area with a mixture of soap & water. Wherever it blows bubbles is where your oil leak is. If you use too much pressure, it will blow the soap off the motor and make it harder to find the leak. More is not better!

CPFF

 

[SRadke]

A KDP kit? I've got this deal I bought from guy who goes by "CPFF" but it's more like a work of art than a KDP kit. I almost feel bad to take it out of the box and get it dirty. Hey, I said almost Thanks for the tip, don't know why I didn't think of it!



-Scott

 

[DODGEDADDIE]

Mine seems to be leaking around the Timing Cover Housing Plate!!

Not 100% sure yet ,,but under side is covered,,blowing back from some where??

Is this gasket hard to replace??

Mine is leaking on the drivers side.



98 12 valve



THANKS

Mike In Maine

 

[SRadke]

Short answer, yes. To replace the gasket behind the timing case you have to not only remove the injector pump and vac/ps pump but you also have to pull the cam out to get the case off. It's an 8 hr job.



-Scott

 

[KnightR]

Exactly ... and most garages won't put the pump back on without a rebuild and new injectors.