My 87 22RE's oil leak has gotten noticeably worse recently. Used to just clean the engine once a year and check the oil regularly and all was well. Well I was just looking at the engine, and it looks like a chocolate lava cake erupted over the engine (probably not as tasty).

It's been too cold to do any washing (10F or so), but it is looking like it may be coming from several locations. First is up at the front of the valve cover, near the 1/2 moon. Definitely an oil leak there running down the front engine cover. Second place looks like down around the oil pan gasket.

My questions are, short of washing and testing (which I'd rather not do until I am ready to work on this and the weather warms some) are there any items that I should be prepared to replace or just outright replace as generally a good idea (197K on the engine)?

I was planning on getting a valve cover gasket kit. Thought I'd check out the timing chain while the VC was off, and replace that if needed. And wasn't sure about the front main seal, probably can't know about that until after a cleanup and test.

Any thoughts about typical oil leaks spots on this engine? And comments on the timing chains, what warning signs do they make as they are getting bad? Other stuff I should be looking at?

TIA

 

Mine was pretty leaky until I had the valves set, and the replacement of the valve cover gasket (and bushings, and 1/2 moon) made a big difference. Only leak now appears to be around the distributor, so that is on the list. I see oil around the oil pan, but my suspicion is all that oil is coming from above. My advice? Replace the valve cover gaskets (maybe check/set valve while you'll in there), spray down the engine at your local car-wash (I used to do this w/o issue in Iowa winters), and then see how it looks.

 

Photos would help us help you....

I would also start with a valve cover gasket set. It's cheap, and there are lots of places where oil could leak from there.

 

Well it warmed up some and I did a quick wash with a brush, engine cleaner and a hose. Not perfect by a long shot, but enough to get down to metal in most places and give me a dry starting point to find the leak(s). Let it dry then I drove ~40 miles and took a look. Not what I expected.

The valve cover area remained dry. I still think it was leaking there, just must be slower than the others. I have a VC gasket kit and will put that on and set the valve clearances once the weather cooperates.

Where the leak was really obvious was around the crank pulley and the lower timing chain cover. Oil was wet back from there on the oil pan too a ways. That whole area was wet with oil after the trip and was dry before.

My first guess is the front crank seal, but I suppose it might also be the timing chain cover gasket. Thoughts? Other spots /methods to check?

Think I need to do a better cleaning down by the crank and try this again, checking for the leak much sooner.

 

My guess is the main seal. Replace the seal and install a ready sleeve. And also the oil o ring pump gasket.

 

What Teuf said. Cheap and easy fix

Hardest part will be breaking the crank pulley bolt loose..

 

Which isn't that hard with a breaker bar and the key to the truck


Relate in a way: Out here in California you can not pass smog if you vehicle is leaking any fluid. First thing they do is lay under the vehicle with a flashlight and look for drips.

 

OK, sounds like I know what needs to be done.

On some of the other engines I've worked on, there is a teflon oil seal that works to reseal shafts that have a groove worn into them by the old seal. They have worked well for me (if they are put on right, dry and need to be stretched a bit right before they go on). Anyone know if they make a teflon seal for the 22RE?

 

DRIPS, they never looked under mine. I am 4 years now in Ca. 2 smog tests.

 

Replace the crank seal and install a ready sleeve. The sleeve is pressed on over the worn area on the harmonic balancer shaft.