Timing Belt

The valve cover gasket job didn’t fix the oil leak (as suspected), so this was the next step. Timing belt, water pump, thermostat, pulleys, belts, tensioner… all to get to the cam seals.

Had to fashion some wind protection out of a washer fluid bottle to keep things semi-clean when draining the radiator. The timing belt cover bolts came out oily which was a good sign since it I was there to replace leaky seals. The crank bolt was way too easy to get out. It felt like it was torqued to well under 100 ft/lbs instead of the 217 required. Tons of oil below the crank and cam seals – hoping those seals were the source of the leak. Wiring harness had been attached on the wrong side of the water inlet; hard to believe I wasn’t leaking coolant.

Oil on the timing belt isn’t good. Noticed part of the right cam seal protruding from the underside of the shaft. Turns out the guy I hired mangled both seals when he installed them. Oil was certainly leaking from those sumbitches. New OEM seals went in without issue. I’m not exactly proud of all the FIPG I used on the valve cover gaskets but at least I’ll know better next time!

Water pump gasket had been plastered on with sealant. Took a while to get it clean enough for the new seal to do its job. Water pump went back on with ease, wiring bracket properly attached to water inlet this time (want something done right…). With cam gears back on, belt installed and timing marks finally lined up after 4 rotations it was time to tighten the belt tensioner and pull the pin.

I guess I didn’t get any photos of the radiator or belts going on but here’s the #3 timing belt cover going back on with new gaskets and burping the coolant system.

I was very relieved when I turned the key and she fired right up. Hopefully I’ll be done hunting down oil leaks. Time will tell.

Update: After the first 10 mile test drive there was a fair amount of oil in the usual places. I wiped everything clean again and took it for another 20 mile test drive the next day. That time I only saw a few drops in the usual places. Hopefully it’s just residual oil finding its way out.

Update 2: Another wipe down, another 30 mile drive. Even less oil this time but it seems clear it’s coming from elsewhere. But very little oil. Not even enough to properly dirty a shop towel. Skid plates are back on and clean enough to eat off so I figure I’ll give it a week and take another look. But it’s definitely better after replacing the crank and cam seals.