Where could this be leaking from? dipstick area
 

I've had my timing cover resealed twice due to leaking at the driver side camshaft. The second reseal two months ago has fixed that area from leaking. However, I started noticing gunk buildup on the passenger side near the dipstick hole. A search shows that maybe there's an o-ring at the bottom so I wiped it clean and started looking at it again a few weeks later and it doesn't look like it's coming out from there.

I used a snake cam to look underneath the engine above the header and the sealant looks clean. So I'm not sure where the gunk buildup is coming from. Gonna take a look underneath next week, but wanted some ideas on what to check out while I have the car lifted. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to see with the header and the heat shield still on.


https://youtu.be/Pd2hunH_SUc

Interesting video.

It looks like the oil is sweating out through the pores in the metal cover ......:eyebulge:

Ya know, after 2 attempts to seal that cover and it's still leaking, unless it was puddling up on the floor, I'd be tempted to just live with it.


humfrz

haha humfrz, it's you again! :P

i remember you advice last time was to deal with with the camshaft area leak, although it was seeping at the time but after leaving it alone and trying to deal with it, i just brought it in since I still have the warranty to see what they say and fortunately they resealed it. But I could've lived with it, this current issue of gunk buildup I'll just follow up on as well, but with another year left on my warranty i'll have them check it maybe during summer time. you mentioned that repeated prying of the timing cover could warp it and that's what i'm more worried about.

i'm also wondering if the g unk buildup is from some sort of chemical or adhesive used to clean the cover that's just getting burned off from the heat? but i'm not sure if that's common practice.

Well, you might try using some engine degreaser to clean up the area and see where it comes back, if it does.


humfrz

Looks like it's weeping from around the dipstick tube. You caught a good angle at around 1:45. It's wet in there. They may have nicked the o-ring when reassembling it.

I wonder if that dipstick tube could be sealed from the outside, with something like an epoxy ...... ??

Thoughts?


humfrz

Mine leaked after header install. It's $2 factory o-ring, or probably cheaper if you go look at Napa or something.

I'd start there before epoxying anything.

Have a new o-ring, acetone, and black RTV on hand. Next oil change while it's drained, pull the dipstick tube. Clean all around & degrease thoroughly with acetone. (q-tips in the hole)

Coat the o-ring and a little inside the hole with the thinnest hint of RTV, and assemble.

Leave it overnight to cure. Fill with oil. Drive.

I'll try to wipe and dry it out

if it's indeed coming from the o-ring area, i'll just bring it in and have them decide if epoxy is something to do while under warranty. if out of warranty i'd epoxy it myself.

is it an easy DIY swap to replace the oring?

Its the Dipstick O ring, not the first car I have seen this on.

Ahhh ....... haaaa ........ I did not realize that the tube could be removed from the outside ...... good plan!


humfrz

Unbolt one 10mm that holds the dipstick. Pull the dipstick. Replace the o-ring. Wipe a tiny bit of oil on it to lube it up. Reinstall dipstick. Takes 5min tops.

Would take me 45 minutes to find my 10mm wrench, 10 minutes of standing there looking at it, 4 or five individual minutes to take a couple of swigs of my beer, 15 minutes to go and get the rag I forgot (and pee out some of the beer) and another 10 minutes of self congratulation after done. This is easily now an hour and a half job!

There's no how-to for capturing youth again, unfortunately ;)