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Riddle me this...B230FT oil leak

gsellstr

Vintage anti-ricer
300+ Club
Joined
Oct 21, 2004
Location
BFE Desert east of Cali
Been trying to figure this one out, nothing makes sense.


I've got engine oil showing up on the pass. side of the water pump, right by the coolant hose, and following the timing cover to the oil pan, and so on.

- The oil is also on the block, covers about 2-3" of the block, head gasket surface down.

- Cylinder head is dry, cam, intermediate shaft and crank seals are dry.

- Timing cover is dry inside the lower cover, wet outside the lower cover.
- Rear timing cover is dry against the cylinder head.
- Bearing cap has been resealed against the head.
- Turbo oil feed is via front oil galley plug, verified no leaks.
- This leak showed up rather suddenly.

- Oil pressure is 4.5b cold at anything over 1000rpm, 3b hot at 2500, never seen 5b at any point.
- Head stud torque confirmed (ARP studs, torqued to 120ft.lbs years back, loosened 1/4t and retorqued to 120, no change in the leak).


So, at this point, I'm looking at either a head gasket failure (gasket is a Cometic, surprised it would suddenly start leaking) or a timing cover gasket failure. There's no oil passages in the area this leak is coming from on the head surface, but the oil on top of the pass side only on the water pump seems strange. If it's whipped from the e-fan, that might make a little sense if it's the timing cover. Timing cover gasket is a load easier to change than the head gasket though.


Thoughts?
 
Cam seal ID and OD, along with the nose of the cam are 100% dry.
Head gasket is what I'm leaning towards, or inner timing cover. Strange though, since the closest oil passage in the head is back a ways from the front of the head where the oil is showing up. Also there's NO oil behind the timing cover against the head or along the head/block surface behind the cover which makes me wonder about fan whipped oil from the timing cover itself.
 
How's the oil filler cap gasket? and flametrap (or just the hoses)?

The main oil galley runs to the head between #1 and #2. There's an oil galley plug in the block just above and behind the #1 coolant freeze plug, but I expect you've inspected this one already.

Edit: I was looking through pictures for something else but noticed that there's a threaded galley plug under the lower left edge of the cam gear. It's probably hidden by the timing belt backside cover. I don't know if it's for oil or coolant, but I'd guess oil to all the cam bearings. (Picture shows a 530 head on a B21FT block.)
530-head-galley-plug.jpg
 
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Cylinder head is 100% dry, so that plug isn't suspect. Forgot there was one there.

Looking at the pic you posted, I've got oil on the block from the half moon under the #1 runner forward along that seam, down the water pump gasket seam, and on the top rib of the pump that goes from the water inlet towards the pulley flange. No oil further up on the water pump or on any part of the head. The heater return pipe is dry, radiator hose is dry, driver side of the water pump is dry, aluminum lower timing cover is wet outside the plastic cover, dry inside.

Just degreased the thing with some serious cleaner, letting that dry then I'll take a short drive and see where it's starting from.
 
I'm hoping it's not something like that. It seems to originate at the gasket area, doesn't mean the head isn't cracked under the gasket though. Hopefully take it for a run tonight, see where it starts seeping from.
 
Mine looking like that was from Cam Seal and one time from Valve Cover crappy corner(that we all have to deal with on those heads), but you are claiming those are dry.
Also, how is oil pressure sensor looking like? greased or not? I know it's a bit far stretched, but easy to check at least.
 
Since you already cleaned it. Now it's time to add the dye to the oil and see where it's coming from. Seems like a sneaky head gasket leak though.
 
So...degreased last night, let it dry overnight since it's damn cold out. Just test drove, beat on it, oil to normal temp, high boost, high revs, 20 minutes of flogging, back in the driveway, bone dry. Everywhere. I'm going to let it sit overnight, check in the morning, see if anything else shows up.

This is annoying! Sure, I want it dry, but the fix sure as hell ain't degreasing...
 
Many times I have fixed an oil leak and cleaned one up what looked to be real good.... Next half a dozen oil changes it still has oil mess after a period of time.

Wash it up with a can of brakeclean every time.

Took time... It was fine. Annoying with a client who likes to get under it with the flashlight and call.... "Still leaking"
 
This was actually pooling oil on the water pump. I'd clean the area with brake clean after a wipe down, dry, then it would continue to pool. Pull out a can of gunk degreaser last night, did the same area plus a little more, still dry. I dunno, something is strange here...
 
Rubber boost hose or vaccum hose from PCV system has hole in it somewhere near front of motor blowing oil on motor that way, seen it, fixed it. Only leaks when you really get on the boost.

Check the turbo oil feed line also.
 
That would have lead to oil splattered somewhere else though.

So, 50 miles today, various load/rpm ranges, everything is still 100% dry.

How can an oil leak magically seal up? Before the degreasing I would have oil buildup after a 10 minute drive. Today, running all over town, nothing.
WTF!
 
That would have lead to oil splattered somewhere else though.

So, 50 miles today, various load/rpm ranges, everything is still 100% dry.

How can an oil leak magically seal up? Before the degreasing I would have oil buildup after a 10 minute drive. Today, running all over town, nothing.
WTF!

A number of times I have seen oil leaks dry up and go away (or at least get enough better to not be an issue) via fresh synthetic engine oil and changing it every 5000. A couple times in my cars. Stranger things have happened... And to nicer people!
 
120 ft pounds? I went 50 pounds and then the book says go 90 degrees and I went 180 thinking it was 90 with fiber gasket. I thought I had a cracked head, maybe I still do, but it was my water pump gasket leaking. You sure it's not that water pump round gasket between the pump and the head that isn't leaking? Sometimes they only leak when they get real hot or lots of boost or high rev's that make the water pressure way high, then it looks like oil but its mainly water mixed with some oil.

IT's the typical usual leak and yeah that is right where it pools just like you said top 'O' dee water pump.
 
I think you guys missed the ARP studs bit. lol

It's possible the retorque fixed it I guess, just seems strange since none of them were really loose.

Got the truck in town for the next couple weeks so I'll get back to the wagon after that.
 
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