Cam Plate Leak Repair

[Calum]

Originally Posted by dj2020

What's the best way to remove oil and RTV from the engine mating surfacing before installing the aftermarket cam plate?

RTV is normally pretty easy to remove with a gasket scraper. The oil will come off with some degreaser or brake cleaner.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Calum

RTV is normally pretty easy to remove with a gasket scraper. The oil will come off with some degreaser or brake cleaner.

^^^This is key for the successful application of any gasket or gasket material. If the surfaces are not completely degreased and dry prior to assembly it will leak.

I keep a gallon of acetone on hand. Pour a little into a glass/ceramic bowl and use that. Don't contaminate the source.

[Speedie]

Hi,

I recently installed a torque solution cam plate in the hope of stopping the oil leak. Unfortunately the leak continues and is now slightly worse. Any ideas as to why it is failing?

Thanks in advance.

[dj2020]

Originally Posted by Speedie

Hi,

I recently installed a torque solution cam plate in the hope of stopping the oil leak. Unfortunately the leak continues and is now slightly worse. Any ideas as to why it is failing?

Thanks in advance.

Double check and see if the mating surfaces are completely clean? No residue left over. Also, did you lube the plate's o-ring with oil before install?

[Speedie]

Originally Posted by dj2020

Double check and see if the mating surfaces are completely clean? No residue left over. Also, did you lube the plate's o-ring with oil before install?

Yes, took it off yesterday cleaned everything again. Still the same problem. On further inspection it looks as though the seam in the aluminium at the bottom of the outlet is the culprit. It has a groove in it that I'm guessing isnt totally sealed by the o ring. Looks like I will have to place some RTV there. Thanks for your reply.

A little bit frustrating as I chose this solution to avoid having to go the RTV.

[dj2020]

Originally Posted by Speedie

Yes, took it off yesterday cleaned everything again. Still the same problem. On further inspection it looks as though the seam in the aluminium at the bottom of the outlet is the culprit. It has a groove in it that I'm guessing isnt totally sealed by the o ring. Looks like I will have to place some RTV there. Thanks for your reply.



A little bit frustrating as I chose this solution to avoid having to go the RTV.

That's why I chose the Torque Solutions plate instead of the other one. Perhaps they will warranty it since it's a defect.

[Jyukai]

used gasket maker instead of aftermarket cam plate. used something called maximum oil resistant. the result was great, so far already been 8 months and had one track day still no leak what so ever.

[RichardsFRS]

Happens to me I'm going with the after market product. But you did this repair without lifting the engine? I saw other post where you have to lift the engine. Saw a video where the guy does it without lifting but it was extremely tight and he was using a lift

[fx1mark]

My cam plate was leaking on my 2014 scion fr-s and finally got it to stop. I wanted to share my experience so it may help others.
I first tried to seal the stock plate. I used permatex red, it leaked. then I tried a cork gasket and permatex red, it leaked. then I bought the torque solutions plate. It still leaked. I am thinking it's the seams on the top and bottom that are leaking, So I tried adding prematex red to the seams. It still leaked. then I tried the same with permatex gray. still leaked. then I tried sealing the entire torque solutions plate with red, leaked then gray and it still leaked. by this time my O-ring on the torque solutions plate was ruined so I contacted torque solutions and the sent me a new o-ring free of change. while I was waiting for the o-ring to arrive I started thinking that the synthetic oil was degrading the sealant and that was the problem. I bought some permatex black and thought I will try the stock plate again. I used brake cleaner to thoroughly clean both surfaces. I used the tube to create a bead of silicone on the mounting surface on the car and then managed to get all three bolts started without touching the sealant. I then lightly tightened the bolts with my fingers. I let it sit for a while and then decided I wanted to check how much sealant was actually on the surfaces so removed the plate. the amount seemed about right so I smeared the silicone evenly on both the mounting surface and the plate and re-installed the plate lightly tightening the plate with my fingers. I let it sit like that for 24 hours and then torqued it lightly the next day. To my pleasant surprise that did it. It has been about a month now and zero leaks.
the bottom line for me was, clean surfaces, permatex black, and do not squish all of the sealant out when you tighten the plate.
I received my new o-ring from torque solutions but now I don't need it.

[exE36M3]

Hey - just wanted to say THANK YOU for your follow-up post on this thing. A LOT of guys post their "first 5-minutes" impressions and reviews of things online and tend to leave off the - "oh crap, the install didn't go as planned."

I followed instructions to a T for [ named cam plate maker ]. The suggested process ended up with a BIG leak as O-ring on the cam plate doesn't REALLY go into the cam opening like it looks it like would. And just a few dabs of silicon didn't do it either.

Like you, I ended up going with Ultra-RTV with Synthetic oil resistance... and instead of waiting just a few hours, I followed the Permatex instructions of rtv-ing surfaces (cam plate and cam opening - gooped a full circle around both surfaces), install part with setting torque (eg. enough to set the cam plate in place), wait an hour, tighten to torque specs and then WAIT another 24 hours for RTV to set.

Have a feeling this will work better. Will follow-up with story of success or failure.

- ExE36M3

Originally Posted by fx1mark

My cam plate was leaking on my 2014 scion fr-s and finally got it to stop. I wanted to share my experience so it may help others.
I first tried to seal the stock plate. I used permatex red, it leaked. then I tried a cork gasket and permatex red, it leaked. then I bought the torque solutions plate. It still leaked. I am thinking it's the seams on the top and bottom that are leaking, So I tried adding prematex red to the seams. It still leaked. then I tried the same with permatex gray. still leaked. then I tried sealing the entire torque solutions plate with red, leaked then gray and it still leaked. by this time my O-ring on the torque solutions plate was ruined so I contacted torque solutions and the sent me a new o-ring free of change. while I was waiting for the o-ring to arrive I started thinking that the synthetic oil was degrading the sealant and that was the problem. I bought some permatex black and thought I will try the stock plate again. I used brake cleaner to thoroughly clean both surfaces. I used the tube to create a bead of silicone on the mounting surface on the car and then managed to get all three bolts started without touching the sealant. I then lightly tightened the bolts with my fingers. I let it sit for a while and then decided I wanted to check how much sealant was actually on the surfaces so removed the plate. the amount seemed about right so I smeared the silicone evenly on both the mounting surface and the plate and re-installed the plate lightly tightening the plate with my fingers. I let it sit like that for 24 hours and then torqued it lightly the next day. To my pleasant surprise that did it. It has been about a month now and zero leaks.
the bottom line for me was, clean surfaces, permatex black, and do not squish all of the sealant out when you tighten the plate.
I received my new o-ring from torque solutions but now I don't need it.

[fx1mark]

Originally Posted by exE36M3

Hey - just wanted to say THANK YOU for your follow-up post on this thing. A LOT of guys post their "first 5-minutes" impressions and reviews of things online and tend to leave off the - "oh crap, the install didn't go as planned."

I followed instructions to a T for [ named cam plate maker ]. The suggested process ended up with a BIG leak as O-ring on the cam plate doesn't REALLY go into the cam opening like it looks it like would. And just a few dabs of silicon didn't do it either.

Like you, I ended up going with Ultra-RTV with Synthetic oil resistance... and instead of waiting just a few hours, I followed the Permatex instructions of rtv-ing surfaces (cam plate and cam opening - gooped a full circle around both surfaces), install part with setting torque (eg. enough to set the cam plate in place), wait an hour, tighten to torque specs and then WAIT another 24 hours for RTV to set.

Have a feeling this will work better. Will follow-up with story of success or failure.

- ExE36M3

every previous time I applied sealant I followed the directions "wait an hour, tighten to torque specs and then WAIT another 24 hours for RTV to set. " It was squeezing too much sealant out.


Mine is still not leaking. I am certain it never will.

[exE36M3]

FAILURE - argh

Well the "torque to specs" at the 1 hour mark is too much.
You're right, it just squeezes out too much RTV.
The good news is that it isn't spewing out like before. So something is working.

I may have to do this ONE MORE time,
but this time, set it at like 1mm of space and *after* 24 hours, then torque to specs.

Yes?

[GTHachiRoku]

I recently used the Velox Motorsports cam cover and it no longer leaks. This was after Subaru attempted the fix twice.

[fx1mark]

Originally Posted by exE36M3

FAILURE - argh

Well the "torque to specs" at the 1 hour mark is too much.
You're right, it just squeezes out too much RTV.
The good news is that it isn't spewing out like before. So something is working.

I may have to do this ONE MORE time,
but this time, set it at like 1mm of space and *after* 24 hours, then torque to specs.

Yes?

Sorry just saw this. I didn't use full torque. I did my best guess on what would be enough to hold the plate and not squish out the sealant.