MadMax
26-05-2010, 11:03 AM
Observations and questions!
I changed the cam belt on the TS V6 a while ago and noticed oil everywhere, from the starter motor to the alternator and all over the subframes. I bought a drip tray to catch the overnight drips and see how much. The answer? TOO much!
The usual suspects were eliminated first, the cam end seals and the rocker covers. No leaks.
Intake manifold hides a lot, so that came off. The valley between the banks was FULL OF OIL! Not fresh oil either, old black stuff with lots of decayed twigs, leaves and dirt. Its been leaking for a long time to get like that. The valley was so full that the oil was oozing over the water pump at one end and down the gearbox on the other end. From there onto the alternator and starter and everywhere else really.
Suspecting a head gasket I pulled the heads. The heads have never been off this engine. Head bolts were filled with black oily mess and I had to dig that out before I could undo them. Head gaskets were fine, no leaks evident, but the heads do have some problems. Understandable after 240,000 km.
(a) Someone (not me, I use a torque wrench) snapped off both exhaust studs for the number 5 cylinder.
(b) Number 5 exhaust valve was starting to burn, leaking.
(c) Number 4 intake valve has the end hammered (mushroomed) and its hydraulic lifter is pitted. Might explain some of the lifter rattle. lol
On the other hand, bore wear is reasonable and with these problems fixed the engine should be good to go.
Now the main question I have, is this - if the head gaskets were good, and the rocker covers good, what else might explain the long term oil leak into the engine valley? It has me stumped, I hope that the new gasket set, sealant and proper use of a torque wrench will solve the leak. Can anyone who has had a similar problem shed a light on this?
My current thinking is a cracked head, or leaks past the oil seal or "O" ring at the rear head distributor extension.
I changed the cam belt on the TS V6 a while ago and noticed oil everywhere, from the starter motor to the alternator and all over the subframes. I bought a drip tray to catch the overnight drips and see how much. The answer? TOO much!
The usual suspects were eliminated first, the cam end seals and the rocker covers. No leaks.
Intake manifold hides a lot, so that came off. The valley between the banks was FULL OF OIL! Not fresh oil either, old black stuff with lots of decayed twigs, leaves and dirt. Its been leaking for a long time to get like that. The valley was so full that the oil was oozing over the water pump at one end and down the gearbox on the other end. From there onto the alternator and starter and everywhere else really.
Suspecting a head gasket I pulled the heads. The heads have never been off this engine. Head bolts were filled with black oily mess and I had to dig that out before I could undo them. Head gaskets were fine, no leaks evident, but the heads do have some problems. Understandable after 240,000 km.
(a) Someone (not me, I use a torque wrench) snapped off both exhaust studs for the number 5 cylinder.
(b) Number 5 exhaust valve was starting to burn, leaking.
(c) Number 4 intake valve has the end hammered (mushroomed) and its hydraulic lifter is pitted. Might explain some of the lifter rattle. lol
On the other hand, bore wear is reasonable and with these problems fixed the engine should be good to go.
Now the main question I have, is this - if the head gaskets were good, and the rocker covers good, what else might explain the long term oil leak into the engine valley? It has me stumped, I hope that the new gasket set, sealant and proper use of a torque wrench will solve the leak. Can anyone who has had a similar problem shed a light on this?
My current thinking is a cracked head, or leaks past the oil seal or "O" ring at the rear head distributor extension.