tpd143

Hello all, I need a little guidance and input. My '83 with 115k miles has developed an oil leak. I thought maybe my oil pan gasket had failed, but upon closer inspection, it appears the oil is leaking down from from the front of the timing cover. I suspect it may be the front oil seal, but don't know for sure as I have not torn it down at all. I can't see any oil leaking above, say the crankshaft, but I'm not experienced enough to know if this oil seal is a common issue or if it might be something else. My mechanical abilities are pretty limited, so I'm not sure if this is something I should tackle myself. Thanks!

Marc

tditoyota

If you can throw a good picture or two up here, I bet someone might be able to help you.

robertburchell4

I have this same problem. I have one or two drops of oil a night gather under my truck so I had a friend take a look at it and he said it's almost always the front oil seal that sits in the timing cover.
He looked it up and it appears that this kind of job is almost 12 hours and about $300 in parts. From what he told me, the front of the head and oil pan are bolted to this timing cover so taking it off is a real pain.
If you post pictures or have more information I would love to check this out cause I am faced with the same issue but willing to dig in if I have to.

83

Could be your oil pump, could be the timing cover gasket. Oil pump isn't a big deal. The timing cover...yeah, to be done right, the head and oil pan should come off. 115k is a little early for major work, but if you're going to replace the timing cover gasket, then it's a good time to do the timing chain and guides, and head gasket. No reason not to do the water pump and oil pump, too.

So if its not just your oil pump...then you need to decide how much this leak bothers you. A leaking 22R is par for the course once you start getting high mileage and/or 30 year-old seals. Unless it's dumping quite a bit of oil, it's no big deal. Just make sure you keep it topped off.

If you're of the anal sort who can't stand leaks, then you've got some work ahead of you.

cman1

iTrader: (1)

X2!!!

tpd143

I'll see if I can get some pics up over the weekend, and unfortunately I am the anal sort that can't stand oil leaks. I also suspect it would be one of those things where I should probably do a bunch of other stuff while it's torn down. It's only money right....

tpd143

83, just read your post again and all I saw was $$$$! That sounds like it will seriously cut into my gun money

Slow Mo

I just fixed all of my oil leaks, well almost all of them. Now that the motor dont leak the steering stabilizer blew up. Anyways, it sounds like the same leak i developed and it is a easy fix. There is a seal behind the oil pump: Napa part #: ATM PA893 and the main seal for the crank pulley. Replace those and you should be good to go.

83

Depends on how much you can do yourself. Yeah, if you're paying someone to do it, a headgasket and timing chain job is going to be pricey. The parts probably wouldn't run over $300, like the second post mentioned.

And yeah, that's assuming it's your timing cover gasket and not the oil pump seal.

UPS

If it looks like it's on the timing cover it probably is. It's not that hard a fix.

Pull the radiator, fan and the belts and the crank pulley and there is the seal. Pull the old one, grease up the new one and slide it in. Put it back together and good to go.
I have replaced the seal on the timing cover on my current truck once and the seal on my 89 2wd twice and never had to take the timing cover off.
After doing a few times, I can do it in a couple hours. NAPA sells the seal for less than @ $5.
Maybe I'm just cheap and lazy, but I sure don't want to pull the head to replace a seal on the front of the engine.

83

If you're talking about the oil pump seal, Yes.

If you're talking about the timing cover gasket, which of course would require removing the timing cover, No, I don't agree.

We haven't determined yet where his leak is coming from. Only the "front of the timing cover". Without photos or a better explanation, I don't know if the leak is coming from the oil pump and running down the front of the timing cover, or if it's leaking out from under the timing cover.

Hopefully it's just his oil pump seal! That's really no big deal, and cheap.

UPS

Well for any other work that's been suggested tare down that far is needed. If it is just the oil seal simple fix. If not he will be able to see the problem, and get pics.

83pingpong

I have a leak dropping down on the passenger side, somewhere below the fuel pump and it clearly is not the valve cover. I think it is coming from the timing cover, but I'll check the oil pump (thanks for the reminder 83). At 230k, I can hardly complain. It takes about a quart every few thou. No big deal.

This is going to cut into my tire budget. Must keep my priorities straight!

83

Make sure you rule out the fuel pump, too...

tpd143

Here's a pic of what I'm seeing. You can see where it's leaking down from behind the crankshaft pulley.

FIRTH4X4

Maybe oil pump oring seal? Front oil seal? Maybe pan gasket at timing cover?

tpd143

I don't think it's the pan gasket. The area immediately to the right of the forming drop is free of any oil. Believe me, I wish it was just that.

FIRTH4X4

well front seal or oil pump oring ring, ether way your pulling the harmonic balancer.

83

I'd say there's a good chance it's the oil pump. Not a bad idea to replace it when you replace the gasket/o-ring.

Would be cheaper than doing the timing cover, that's for sure! If it still leaks...then you've got more work, but the work replacing the o ring (and maybe pump) won't be wasted.

FIRTH4X4

Ya if your going to pull the pump off, might as well replace, they are cheap enough and thats one thing you kind of want in tip top shape =)