Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Oil leak

[BIG C]

well I got the newly rebuilt engine fired up and running. Runs and drives great. Now I have an oil leak coming from the corner where the oil pan, block, and transmission adapter all meet on the drivers corner. I dont think it is coming from the rear crank seal but I cant tell for sure. The flywheel is dry so Im assuming its coming from the oil pan/engine gasket. Has anyone had success of fixing a leak like this WITHOUT dropping the pan?? Im thinking about taking a few pan bolts off around that corner and trying to get some gasket maker up in there between the pan and the block. Any other ideas??

 

[BIG C]

Still leaking. Im just thinking of what else it could be... . Rear main seal, probably not because the flywheel is dry. Rear main seal housing, possibly. Oil pan, possibly. What about the camshaft bore in the back of the block?? Isnt there a camshaft bore that the cam rides in that comes out the back of the block?? Is there a seal of some kind?? I dont remember putting one in when I rebuilt the motor Could someone remind me how that is supposed to be sealed up??



Thanks

 

[Joe G.]

Check the valve cover gaskets, especially #6. A leak from there can run down the back side of the block and the first place you see it is exactly where yours is showing oil.

 

[BIG C]

Thanks for the reply Joe. I did a search and your right that seems to be a popular place for a leak. Unfortunatly thats not the case on mine. Any idea on how the cam is sealed up at the back of the block. It seems that the camshaft runs all the through the block and can be seen sticking out the back of the block in one of the bores??? Theres got to be some kind of seal there, no??



Chad

 

[Berrigan]

I had a leak on my pan a few years back. I put a half turn on all the pan bolts and degreased every thing down there. Its still dry today.



Also a leaky oil drain plug can cause this. The wind will blow the oil back towards the transmission. I only get about 6 to 8 oil changes on the crappy drain plug and plastic gasket before they start not sealing well. Bill

 

[Joe G.]

Chad,



It's a soft plug in the back of the block to seal the cam shaft. Kind of like a freeze plug. You might clean up as best you can with brake cleaner. Then put it up on stands and lay under it while it's running.

 

[BIG C]

Damn!! I dont remember installing one of those. Thats got to be where the leak is coming from!!!



Is this like a freeze plug that a machine shop would put in?? Is the plug metal, plastic, rubber?? Unless the machine shop put it in I am sure that I forgot to install it when I assembled the motor.



So now what?? Pull the transmission, pull the starter, pull the bell housing adapter, then install the plug?? Any special tools to install the plug??



Of all the stupid things I could have done... ..... oh well live and learn I guess. Someone please tell me it aint so.

 

[Joe G.]

I don't know exactly what it looks like. Pablo Madrid talked about it when he was discussing fixing a KDP failure by pulling the cam gear instead of the whole cam shaft. There have been problems (the gear breaks) from doing a KDP repair that way so I don't think anyone is doing that now. The plug can be pushed out with the cam when the cam gear is installed if a helper does not hold the cam threw the lift pump hole with a bar. From his description it sounds something like a freeze plug. From what he said the only way to replace the plug was remove all the stuff as you mention. He didn't mention any special tools. The hell of it is that I don't think there is any way to tell if it's in there without takeing the whole mess apart and looking. If someone knows more about this please chime in.



Did you try cleaning up and laying under it to see where the oil is coming from? If it's comeing from there it should be leaking out of the bell housing.

 

[BIG C]

Well even if the leak isnt coming from the camshaft (which I am 99% sure it is) I know there isnt a seal back there. I totally forgot about it.



Anyways my question is can I install the seal with the cam shaft in place or does the camshaft have to be taken out too. :{

 

[Joe G.]

The way I understand it you just hammer it just like a freeze plug without any other messing around once you get to it.