Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Oil leak

[hsmith]

I have a customer and also very good friend with a '97 3500. Has a oil leak coming from between the gear housing and the block, below and just inside of the vacuum pump. My question is, is there a pressure oil passage in this area, or is this a splash area. I did the kdp tab method a couple of years ago. Thinking I may need to go back in and check the inside bolts of the housing to block for tightness.



Thoughts????

 

[Andy Redmond]

Hopefully its not the gear housing gasket



What about the tappet cover weeping down to the area you describe, course the injection pump needs to come off to r&r this properly most times.



What about someone who timed it (lashed valves) who removed the timing pin and may/may not have changed the o-ring if it was bad? Or didn't reinstall the toothed washer that holds it in the timing pin housing



I've heard of a few degreasing then loosening the gear housing a bit and forcing some black RTV in their problem area, letting it cure then torquing the bolts back down. Of course how do you properly clean the gasket so the RTV is effective?



Injection pump to gear housing (o-ring) (unlikely).



What about the oil line to the vacuum pump, often the fitting in the v pump will loosen up causing it to weep. Loosen line, remove brass fitting clean it up and the vac. pump, use some teflon paste or a dab of RTV and snug it back up, not too tight or its heli-coil time. Support the fitting and snug the compression/flare nut back up. .



I wouldn't go to crazy inside the gear housing, what if you are crushing the gasket more and then it leaks worse?



Just my . 02



Andy

 

[JGheen]

Originally posted by Andy Redmond

what if you are crushing the gasket more and then it leaks worse?



Just my . 02



Andy

That's what I said about my oil pan gasket leak but no one seemed to agree with me on that.

 

[Andy Redmond]

Joe



It isn't a cork gasket like from days gone by, its a sturdy pressed material. However, I changed one once (gear housing gasket) that I think got torn at a bolt hole /cracked gasket (above kdp staking area, up in the injection pump area). That weeped pretty much from day one, when he bought the truck with 50k.



When the guy removed the front cover to R&R the front seal and stake the kdp, he tightened all the bolts he could get too. I know he used the torque wrench on the bolts he could get it too.



Then it started leaking at a fair drip on longer runs...



When it was was dis-assy. it was apparent the the gasket was cracked all the way across and it probably spread open even wider once some pressure from the housing "squished it " when the bolts were brought to torque.



Seems a pity to pull a cam to change a $25 gasket. Makes ya go grrr.





Andy

 

[hsmith]

Thanks for the input. Have ruled out the oil feed line for the vac pump, and also the timing pin. It is below that and above the pan. Ditto on the pita to change the housing gasket. If that is what it needs, I can assure all that is what it will get.

Will keep all posted.

hsmith