puzzling oil leak (around crankshaft)

shughes · Sep 29th, 2003, 08:47 AM

I have been trying to fix an oil leak on the passenger side. A couple months ago I resealed the oil pan which did not fix the leak. It looked like it might have been coming from the crankshaft oil seal area. I replaced the cranshaft seal this weekend and it indeed looked like that area had a possible leak. The area above the crankshaft right below the water pump also had some oil around it but I assumed oil was being kicked up from the crankshaft pulley. This morning my wife said there was a small pool of oil under the car in the same area so I am thinking I have not fixed my oil problem.

Are there any other areas I should be taking a look at? My Haynes manual said for my 1994 model that there is no camshaft seal to replace or the jackshaft seal.

azkicker0027 · Sep 29th, 2003, 10:28 PM

jackshaft seal?? what the??

JWolfe · Sep 29th, 2003, 10:41 PM

Check the oil pressure switch. They can and do fail.

Dwntyme · Sep 29th, 2003, 10:55 PM

It's the Harmonic ballancer seal(front seal) suprized your rear seal
is not leaking yet,
I traded My leaker off. I repaired the front seal but wasn't about to pull the engine and tranny to repair the rear with 251,053 miles
on the little GXE.. hahahaha It changed it's own oil, I just changed the filter...

shughes · Sep 30th, 2003, 01:12 PM

I replaced the front seal this weekend. It appears the oil leak is much better then it used to be but still some oil is leaking. I will check up on the oil pressure switch as mentioned in the earlier post. The leak is still on the passenger side. I guess I could have always not installed the front seal correctly but it looked good when I put it in.

shughes · Sep 30th, 2003, 08:32 PM

JWolfe-

Thanks for the tip. I think I found it to the right of the oil filter and it was indeed wet with oil under the rubber boot.

tedrik13 · Feb 8th, 2004, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shughes

I have been trying to fix an oil leak on the passenger side. A couple months ago I resealed the oil pan which did not fix the leak. It looked like it might have been coming from the crankshaft oil seal area. I replaced the cranshaft seal this weekend and it indeed looked like that area had a possible leak. The area above the crankshaft right below the water pump also had some oil around it but I assumed oil was being kicked up from the crankshaft pulley. This morning my wife said there was a small pool of oil under the car in the same area so I am thinking I have not fixed my oil problem.

Are there any other areas I should be taking a look at? My Haynes manual said for my 1994 model that there is no camshaft seal to replace or the jackshaft seal.

I ran a dye test through the engine and discovered it was the timing chain cover(the bolts come loose). It is very expensive to fix(a lot of labor to get at it!). My dealer and PEP BOYS wanted $900.00 to 1100.00(dealer of course) to fix it. I add about 1/2 qt. oil approximately every 1,800 miles(slow leak which hasn't worsened in 10 months. It's cheaper than the permanent fix until I find a backyard mechanic that I can trust. I just live with the oil stains in the driveway. Also check(as I will) to see if you can reach the bottom bolts to the cover from underneath. My neighbor says that sometimes by just tightening the bottom bolts-it solves the problem. Take care.