Forgot to machine front main engine cover while fixing BHG. Major oil leak.

[Insomnia]

Surprised?


Alright, so, here's the issue. I recently changed my headgasket (OEM don't judge me!) and oil is leaking out like crazy below the CPS. I thought it was the turbo oil lines (driftmotion oil soft line kit) so I replaced all the gaskets with new OEM ones and put teflon tape on the fittings for the high pressure side......and it still leaks, but the turbo has absolutely nothing to do with it.

I let the car run and sought out the problem and it seems like it is leaking out from where the head mates to the block in the area near the power steering resevoir and CPS. My head was machined, but the front main engine cover behind the cams was not. I'm having similar issues as the OP in this post (http://www.supramania.com/forums/sh...-between-head-and-block-after-HG-installation). This post is also 5 years old so i'm making a new one.

So my next step is? Remove head, machine front main engine cover, and then problem solved? Do I have any alternatives to removing the head? Can I just remove the cams/cam gears and take the plate off and remove about 1/4" from the bottom of the plate and call it a day? I'm not really looking forward to removing the head again.

 

[CyFi6]

I'm kind of confused, was the block machined? The cover behind the cam pullies does not need to be machined, but the aluminum rear timing cover that bolts to the block must be machined only if the block deck is being machined. Did you use RTV sealant in the two spots at the front of the block before you put the gasket down? How much oil is it leaking?

 

[Insomnia]

The block was not machined, just the head, but only about the thickness of a sheet or two of paper was taken off. The block was inspected with a level and found to be within tolerance. I can't really recall if I put the RTV at the front of the of the block or not, but it is not leaking from there. If you are standing in front of the car facing the motor it is leaking from the left side right below the CPS. I thought it was smaller oil line going to the turbo, but it's not. It is leaking quite a bit of oil from that spot, but no where else.

Right now i'm figuring the head is not completely flush with the block and am going to have to pull the turbo and manifold and inspect the area to make sure.

 

[CyFi6]

Only way the head wouldn't be flush is if something was stuck between the head and the block. What you are thinking of is the lower timing cover which doesn't need to be machined unless the block was machined. The one bolted to the head is just a thin sheet metal that does not need to be machined, if you loosen the bolts for it, you can move it up and down quite a bit. It is possible that it could leak where you mentioned if you forgot the RTV, but not all that likely. Are you sure its not leaking out from where the CPS actually slides in? Possibly the oil sender is leaking? There is also an oil pressure port right above the power steering on that side of the block, if you removed the plug and didn't put it back, it would definitely spew lots of oil on the front side of the block.

 

[GrimJack]

Sounds like it's the CPS. Have you changed the o-ring and the seal on that? If either one is dead, you can lose a significant amount of oil through it.

 

[Insomnia]

Let me go check and i'll get back to you guys. This is really making my day a lot better. Thank you!

 

[Insomnia]

Found it!

Oil is leaking from the rear of the blue -AN fitting. I had my neighbor come over and turn over the car while I illuminated the area with a flashlight. After about 5 seconds of cranking oil started shooting out of the hose. I thought it was the fitting before and took the whole assembly apart and made sure everything was tight, but I did not expect it to be faulty.

So, what are my options from here? The fitting is on plenty tight and is not leaking from the threaded area, but the part where the rubber hose connects to the fitting. Could it be something I did wrong in installation? I can always get another hose made here in town if need be.

 

[hvyman]

Sure its not the oil pressure sensor?

What kind of hose is that? Is the connection crimped? Where did you get the hose from?

 

[Insomnia]

Oil pressure sensor is fine. No oil leaking from it. The hose is part of the driftmotion oil soft line kit for the ct-26 (http://store.driftmotion.com/static/i-ct26oilsoftlinekit.php). I saw the oil leaking from the back of the AN fitting and i'm assuming its because it's not on tight enough? I'm going to take the teflon tape off and see if tightening it down more helps.

 

[hvyman]

You dont use teflon tape on an fittings. There flared at a certain degree and make a perfect seal.

They also need to be really tight.

 

[Insomnia]

Thanks I had to search on google to find that out. I'm assuming that's what my issue is as I was reading a thread on here on how to install the kit and someone said "finger tight" was passable. I'm now regretting taking that advice as it's been holding me up. I was trying to put that into words in the last post. The fitting was not tight enough for the seal to be complete and oil was slipping out the end. I have to go to work here in a bit so i'll update tomorrow with results.

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[IBoughtASupra]

The fitting to the block should be snug, it seals with a copper washer. Be careful, those threads are easily stripped.

The -AN fittings should be right as they seal with a flared end like Hvyman, that goes into a counter sink. Just make
Sure it is tight. Hold the fitting with a wrench after tighten it to the block, then pull the hose end tight.

 

[simon]

Hand tight, then a quarter of a turn. So they say. Same thing goes for new compression fittings.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/pdf/Torque_Spec_Aluminum_Fittings.pdf

 

[Insomnia]

Hand tight, then a quarter of a turn. So they say. Same thing goes for new compression fittings.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/pdf/Torque_Spec_Aluminum_Fittings.pdf

That's a pretty helpful chart! I'm gonna stick that in my bookmarks. And yeah it was the fitting. I got the turbo off and inspected the whole fitting assembly after reading all the replies and could totally see why it was leaking. I'll be tightening it on here in a few mins.

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it.