Oil leak
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
dude, the timing chain cover touches the oil pan, if oil is leaking from that area, you can't really say it's from either one, it's from between them. It's like if the gasket between your thermostat housing and the intake manifold were to start leaking, is it leaking from the intake manifold, or from the thermostat housing? Neither, it's leaking from where the two meet.
Anyway, yeah, it's not uncommon to see leaks from this area. It could also be from the seal in the timing cover that goes around the crank snout.
Scott
Anyway, yeah, it's not uncommon to see leaks from this area. It could also be from the seal in the timing cover that goes around the crank snout.
Scott
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
The timing chain cover has a double lip on the bottom. The oil pan fits into the groove caused by the double lip. You can see it on this picture (click on enlarge):
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sp...make/chevrolet
Any oil in the bottom of the timing chain cover will drip into the oil pan because of the lip. You either have a leak at the oil pan gasket or at the crankshaft seal on the timing chain cover.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sp...make/chevrolet
Any oil in the bottom of the timing chain cover will drip into the oil pan because of the lip. You either have a leak at the oil pan gasket or at the crankshaft seal on the timing chain cover.
Last edited by my 76 ray; Aug 28, 2013 at 12:44 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,113
From: Crossville TN
To determine which to work on, you will have to clean/wash off all of the 'local' surfaces around that leak area, wipe them down with clean cloth and lacquer thinner/paint thinner, and maybe put a dusting of talcum powder, flour, etc. on the surface.
While you are under the front end with a good, bright light, have someone start the car and allow to idle. You should be able to spot where the first inkling of leakage starts. [Note: An oil that is in contact with a white powder will cause it to darken, making it easy to spot.] That will tell you where you need to do some work.
You can get one of these 'leak detection' kits with the dye for the engine oil and the little UV penlight. They work, but you need to be in a pretty dark environment, or the flourescent dye won't show up that well.
While you are under the front end with a good, bright light, have someone start the car and allow to idle. You should be able to spot where the first inkling of leakage starts. [Note: An oil that is in contact with a white powder will cause it to darken, making it easy to spot.] That will tell you where you need to do some work.
You can get one of these 'leak detection' kits with the dye for the engine oil and the little UV penlight. They work, but you need to be in a pretty dark environment, or the flourescent dye won't show up that well.
