Oil leak...coming from behind the cam gears

[The Juggernaut]

I've been trying to figure out where this oil leak has been coming from all day, and finally found it. I popped off the timing cover and fired it up and watched it come pouring out from behind one of the cam gears. It was running down and coming out the little peep hole just above the oil pan at the bottom of the timing cover. Managed to splash oil all over the place, sending me on a wild goose chase.

So, I can't imagine it being a cam seal because the engine is a reman with a little over 12k on it. Possibly something is loose? I'm just not sure what to check or what I can torque down. I can't seem to find anything on the TSRM, so if someone knows where to look in there that'd be great.

 

[CRE]

The seal could have been defective or pinched or torn during installation. The builder may not have put RTV where specified as well. If it were coming from lower down I'd be worried about the rear timing plate nit having been cut to match the head.

 

[Poodles]

Cam seals could have ben installed backwards too (seen it before...)

 

[The Juggernaut]

Wonderful. How big of a pain is it to change those bad boys?

 

[hvyman]

Not that bad. Loosen the cam gear bolts with the belt on. Set the engine to tdc with the lines pointing up on the cam gears. Take the belt off take the cam gears off. Take the backing plate off. Change the seal.

 

[The Juggernaut]

Groovy. Doesn't sound like anything I could screw up. How do I tell if they're on backwards?

 

[CyFi6]

The side with the spring should be toward the inside of the engine.

 

[The Juggernaut]

Thanks CyFi.

I don't have a driveshaft holding tool (TSRM says it should be used when removing cam gears). Am I good to go without it? Any recommendation on something that I can sub for it?

Sorry for the 20 questions...I'm sort of a cherry when it comes to anything other than basic maintenance.

 

[hvyman]

Just loosen the bolts with the belt on. Might have to hold the crank but a wrench. The cam bolts are like 25ft lbs and the crank i 198 so your not going to loosen the crank bolt unless it was already loose.

 

[The Juggernaut]

Holy hell...tell me the driver side cam gear isn't reverse threaded. The thing is on there TIGHT! If I pull any harder, I feel I might yank the camshaft out.

Any tips? I'm afraid if I try any harder, I'll break something. And I'm not pussy footing around it either.

 

[hvyman]

Use a breaker bar. Possibly some pb blaster.

There torqued to 36ft lbs.

http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/TSRM/MK3/manual.aspx?S=EM&P=29

 

[IBoughtASupra]

It is loosen off counter-clockwise. If you can't get it off, soak it with some WD-40 or penetrating oil. Last resort would be a 3/8 impact gun set to the lowest setting and increase if needed.

 

[CyFi6]

If you pull the cam covers, there is a hex shape in the cams, you can put an adjustable wrench on there to hold it from turning. Be extremely careful if you are going to use penetrating oil, you don't want to get any on the timing belt.

 

[The Juggernaut]

Ended up having to put a pry bar in the "spokes" of the cam gear to keep it from moving and popped it loose that way. I just got around to getting it all back together today and she's running great. I replaced both cam seals and that fixed the problem.

Thanks for the help guys!