Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) timing cover rear seal leak shortcut fix...

[96ram]

Kind of a dumb question but as I think my seal at the rear of the timining cover is leaking on the drivers side by the vacuum pump :{

I was wondering if crazy strong silicone or jb weld could work to plug the leak. I have to pull the vacuum pump anyway to put a new seal on but am dreading having to replace the seal at the rear of the timing cover. My truck has 434 k kilometres on the clock so it doesn't seem worth the time and money to do all that...

How about retorquing around that side even??

Should I just break the bank and have it done... ????

 

[JGK]

You may get away with slowing it down a bit with sealant and tightening bolts, but I think you're in for a gasket job sooner or later.



Its a big cost to have it done. Labor intensive. If you have a shop, can swap a clutch, replace a head, etc. you can do this. I hadn't done either but I replaced a leaky case gasket on mine 2 years ago and used the opportunity to put in a PDR cam. A friend who is a helicopter mechanic helped. Not too bad, really. A bit spooky pulling the cam. But no exotic tools are required.



Just pick a weekend and do it.



-Jay

 

[GAmes]

I tried black RTV and it did slow down the leak a little, but not much. I lose about a qt every 2000 miles. I'm going to replace the gasket soon, just trying to get up the resolve.

 

[Signal73]

I know its not the right way, or if its even possible, but to skip having to remove the cam, can you take out all the case bolts, pull the case away from the motor, get out the old gasket, cut the new one at 12:00 and slide it up behind the case from the bottom and RTV the cut you made at the top of the case and reassemble? I know it isnt ideal but quick fix for a shadetree?

 

[96ram]

I've since heard it is possible to loosen the timing housing bolts to inch the timing case forward enough to use RTV and then crank it back up. Probably not worth fiddling around to get a new gasket in there. Apparently Lacquer thinner works best for surface prep after a good clean. That seems to be key... .

I hear the leak can be caused by the aforementioned bolts working loose in the first place. All the recent power upgrades probably precipitated the oil leak I bet

When I redo the seals in my vacuum pump I'll be trying that also... Hope it works as I have a very long roadtrip to do this summer and I know already what the heat does for oil leaks :-laf