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Thread: Where would you most expect to find an oil leak after head was removed and put back?

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Posts: 1-10 of 16
2012-05-02 03:51:02
#1
Where would you most expect to find an oil leak after head was removed and put back?
Hey again guys. I'm having an issue with an oil leak coming from the passenger side of the motor, towards the rear, around the timing chain tensioner/oil filter area. It started back a few weeks ago when the head had to be removed and re-installed to replace some bent valves, so it most defintley has something to do with that. It's enough oil to coat the belts and parts below and I also tend to find it on the passenger side areas. It is a JDM SR20DE with about 52k on it.

What I found so far:

1) First I thought it was the timing chain tensioner (and/or lack of the gasket) but the gasket is still there, and the thing is on quite tight

2) It is not the oil filter. I thought perhaps mine was defective so I got a new one and nothing changed

3) I am 98 percent sure it's not coming from the valve cover, although this is difficult to tell in the area where the rest of the oil is coating other things, but it is not seeping from the front, drivers side, or front passenger side.

4) It's heaviest on and around where the ABS unit is located and even moreso on the passenger axle and steering rack, power steering fluid hose etc. There is lots of fresh oil ontop of the oil pan as well.

5) There's no leaking oil anywhere on the driver's side of the car, anywhere.

6) I believe it's leaking and getting onto the belts and they are carrying it up towards the alternator and front of the car (see photo)

7) I have just been adding oil everytime I drive and the engine runs fine otherwise.

I quick just made this photo in paint to where the oil is concentrated. This is not my engine, found this on google:




.
.
So my question, where do you think the oil is coming from? I have been staring at the engine and watching it idle all week, revving it, and can't find the source. I'm a bit stumped. Thanks
Last edited by Storm88000 on 2012-05-02 at 04-14-57.
2012-05-02 04:23:23
#2
how much oil are you losing? was the oil filter housing removed for the head work?
2012-05-02 04:27:24
#3
That's alot of blue lol. If you say its not coming from the tensioner. I say its coming from the head gasket where the oil pump meets the head.
2012-05-02 04:56:11
#4
Sorry for all the blue, it probably makes it look worse than it is, haha. I'd say lose a half quart for like a 30 minute drive. As for if the oil filter housing was removed, I'd have to check but right now I'd say prob not.
2012-05-02 05:13:47
#5
I JUST had this issue. Your front main seal is leaking. Either that or your headgasket is pushed in from reinstalling the oil pump and its leaking out the top.

Not enough to stop driving it. But enough to be concerned
2012-05-02 05:24:34
#6
Originally Posted by Johnny
I JUST had this issue. Your front main seal is leaking. Either that or your headgasket is pushed in from reinstalling the oil pump and its leaking out the top.

Not enough to stop driving it. But enough to be concerned



Thanks!! When you say the "front" seal, does that mean on the side towards the firewall? (since that's the side where all the oil is on mine)
Last edited by Storm88000 on 2012-05-02 at 05-31-08.
2012-05-02 05:31:53
#7
thats far to much ground to cover.

my advice and ive done it like this before, pop the hood, get out the simple green, spray and scrub everything down, rinse it off really well.

let everything dry, this is important let everything dry.

start the motor up and watch it idle for a while, if after 10 mins or so and you see nothing, drive it for 5 mins around your neighborhood. pull back into your drive way pop the hood and look for the leak. if not leak is found, drive it agian and repeat till you can locate the starting point of the oil.

stratton.
2012-05-02 08:48:20
#8
Did you gasket seal those 2 half moon shaped slots of the intake manifold gasket (on the pully side of the motor) if you didn't then you might as well pop the valve cover and do it because that it would most defiantly start leaking from there and you don't notice it until it reaches the pulleys and starts kicking the oil back up all over the place.
Last edited by Topdog781 on 2012-05-02 at 08-53-13.
2012-05-02 11:31:06
#9
Originally Posted by Johnny
I JUST had this issue. Your front main seal is leaking. Either that or your headgasket is pushed in from reinstalling the oil pump and its leaking out the top.

Not enough to stop driving it. But enough to be concerned


Yep front main seal. Just went through this recently too. Make sure the crank pulley bolt is not loose, oil can leak from there too.
2012-05-02 12:14:11
#10
Originally Posted by Storm88000
Thanks!! When you say the "front" seal, does that mean on the side towards the firewall? (since that's the side where all the oil is on mine)


The "front" is the side away from the transmission.
I.E. Where the belts are

To replace the Front main oil seal you'll have to pull off the crank pulley.
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