Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Widespread Oil Leak

[ProMac1K]

Thanks Joe!

 

[JohnE]

Hey Trevor;

Good to hear it wasn't a cracked timing case.



Were you expecting to see the pin sticking out as on that old 90 at Ramsey Dyno Day in October?



I've had great luck reusing old gaskets by giving them a cleanup with acetone or alcohol and painting lightly with Permatex Aviation formula gasket maker.

I usually put a dab of RTV around the metal part of seals. Really important on axle seals as the hole isn't always perfect and that is a big cause of leaks.



-John

 

[ProMac1K]

Hey John,



Yes i'm glad it wasn't a cracked timing case. Talk about major work ahead of me if it was. Don't you have to take the cam, lifters, and stuff out then?



Never got to see the pin on that First Gen at Ramsey but I did get to see them working on it towards the end of the process. I was expecting it to stick out some considering what i've read, that the 97's are the worst for loose KDP's. Maybe it's been tapped in the hole before, seeing as the cover bolts were loose, but not according to the previous owner. I've got some before and after pics if anyone wants to see them, but I have not uploaded them to my online gallery.



I will plan on reusing the old gasket then. I might just have some of that Aviation formula around in the shop. What color is it? Should have plenty of RTV for the oil seal.



Thanks for the tips!



Trever

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Don't use the old gasket. Get a new one, they are pretty cheap. Also, don't use any silicone or any sort of sealer on it. A couple dabs to hold it when you are putting it together is fine, but overall, its not needed. I have assembled dozens of them this way and never had a problem. My rule of thumb is if it didn't have silicone on it when it came off, it doesn't need it going back on. Cleaning both surfaces and torquing is critical. On the bolts, I use a bit of teflon thread sealer, which is similar to pipe dope. I took one apart once where the guy used Loctite before, and it took some of the threads out of the gear case. Four Heli-Coils later, everything was ok...



Glad its not a busted case or a gasket behind the case. I have changed out a bunch of them, and its a big job. It's also pretty common.