Repair oil leak into the distributor

[jdmccright]

Just cleaned/regapped my spark plugs and cleaned up the cap & rotor contacts. Because of oil collecting on the inside bottom of the cap, I decided to go ahead and replace the o-ring oil seal as well. But last night when looking at the dist out of the engine, I'm wasn't sure that replacing that large o-ring will solve the problem. There looks to be a way for oil to get to the distributor shaft bearing (shoulda gotten pics) on purpose, but is there another smaller o-ring or seal that I've overlooked? The exploded diagrams I can find don't actually explode the distributor, so I can't see one and attempting to disassemble it was futile for the time I had. Any help would be great. Thanks!

[Daniel M. Dreifus]

Originally Posted by jdmccright

Just cleaned/regapped my spark plugs and cleaned up the cap & rotor contacts. Because of oil collecting on the inside bottom of the cap, I decided to go ahead and replace the o-ring oil seal as well. But last night when looking at the dist out of the engine, I'm wasn't sure that replacing that large o-ring will solve the problem.Thanks!

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Is it possible you changed what the factory calls distributor packing? -- the gasket under the cap, but not the O ring about mid way down the distributor shaft?
The second prevent oil seepage, though you should change both.
If you've already done both, may need new distributor.

[jdmccright]

I changed the o-ring on the distributor shaft. The dist cap gasket does need replacing, but not critical at this point...I want the oil to stop getting inside the distributor. There's a difference between an o-ring and a gasket.

The o-ring looks to prevent oil from coming out of the distributor hole and leaking down the side of the engine. It doesn't look to be able to prevent oil from traveling along the distributor shaft, past the bearing, and into the dist body...I guess time will tell.

[gator2764]

The O-ring around the shaft and the top gasket will not stop the oil from getting into the Dist. Somehow oil leaks internally into the Dist. after a few years and a few hundred K on these motors. I have had to replace two on 2 different cars (both were a camry) It does take a bit of work to get a reman Dist. back in the hole. Just use plenty of vasoline and take your time.

[RIP]

Originally Posted by gator2764

The O-ring around the shaft and the top gasket will not stop the oil from getting into the Dist. Somehow oil leaks internally into the Dist. after a few years and a few hundred K on these motors. I have had to replace two on 2 different cars (both were a camry) It does take a bit of work to get a reman Dist. back in the hole. Just use plenty of vasoline and take your time.

Ya, I've read a couple threads over the years stating you have to change the distributor to fix the oil problem but, I recall someone fixing it without a change. Just don't remeber how and I can't find the dam thread.

[gator2764]

Originally Posted by RIP

Ya, I've read a couple threads over the years stating you have to change the distributor to fix the oil problem but, I recall someone fixing it without a change. Just don't remeber how and I can't find the dam thread.

I remeber reading the same thing a while back about how to fix the leak without replacing the Dist. I don't know how they fixed it but I was told by 2 mechanics that I trust completly to just replace the Dist. It is a PITA because the reman ones have a rough finish on the shaft that goes into the head versus a machined finish on the new ones.

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by RIP

Ya, I've read a couple threads over the years stating you have to change the distributor to fix the oil problem but, I recall someone fixing it without a change. Just don't remeber how and I can't find the dam thread.

Here it is....... click on link below.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...39&postcount=2


Regards,
JOET/CAMRY

[jdmccright]

Thanks for the link to the seal kit. If/when I attempt this I'll take pics for a write-up. As I mentioned before, I had some of the guts out of it and the rest of the magnetic pick-ups loosened, but there wasn't enough clearance to remove them from around the dist shaft and the sender. So I had to screw everything back down, making sure the senders and pick-ups had the proper clearance (they like to stick together since they're magnetic...used brass feeler gauge).

There's a pin that attaches the camshaft key to the dist shaft. Then it appears the dist shaft is press-fit through the bearing and the bearing is press-fit into the dist housing. But where that shaft seal sits I haven't a clue yet...wish me luck. Doesn't look hard, just meticulous. Will update when it gets warmer and I build up more courage to tackle it.

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by jdmccright

Thanks for the link to the seal kit. If/when I attempt this I'll take pics for a write-up. As I mentioned before, I had some of the guts out of it and the rest of the magnetic pick-ups loosened, but there wasn't enough clearance to remove them from around the dist shaft and the sender. So I had to screw everything back down, making sure the senders and pick-ups had the proper clearance (they like to stick together since they're magnetic...used brass feeler gauge).

There's a pin that attaches the camshaft key to the dist shaft. Then it appears the dist shaft is press-fit through the bearing and the bearing is press-fit into the dist housing. But where that shaft seal sits I haven't a clue yet...wish me luck. Doesn't look hard, just meticulous. Will update when it gets warmer and I build up more courage to tackle it.

Jdmccright,

I wanted to know if you ever attempted to replace the internal oil seal of the distributer on your Camry. After 251,000 miles on my 89 Camry the distributer is leaking oil internally and would like to replace the seal myself. Not sure of how to go about it.

JOET/CAMRY

[jdmccright]

Cripes, I had completely forgotten about it, so no I haven't. Been too wrapped up in restoring my truck among craploads of "honey-dos" to think about it...A/C died on it too so it's not high on the priority list. Probably a friggin' lake in there by now. Sorry Joet.

[cjstew4]

Per my mechanic which I trust said that you are better off replacing the distributor. He also said that oil leaking there can take out the distributor operating which stops you. I went ahead and replaced on my 94 camry with 225k mi. Also was leaking and the first time from my valve cover. Had him replace my valve cover gasket as well.

[Brian R.]

There is a thread on 5S-FE distributor rebuilding here:
http://celicatech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12755

[2000izusu]

i had the same problem on my old camrys and replacing the distributor fixed the problem for good. mike

[jdmccright]

Not to be sarcastic but replacing the whole distributor is an obvious solution, but it is also overkill and expensive. The whole thread is to determine if just the internal seal is replaceable and if anyone has done it successfully.

Thankfully having a spare car, hopefully I can order the seal kit and phutz with it in the next week or two in between valve seal changes on the truck. The link for doing should help. Will keep posted.

[2000izusu]

Originally Posted by jdmccright

Not to be sarcastic but replacing the whole distributor is an obvious solution, but it is also overkill and expensive. The whole thread is to determine if just the internal seal is replaceable and if anyone has done it successfully.

in my case i had the rebuild instructions but i refused to take a chance!
why? because the oil leak had already destroyed two coils and one igniter. and what are my changes of a rebuilding it right? (not good especially if the shaft has a grove from where the old seal rode.)

overkill? i don't think so! i got a new distributor manufactered in a clean setting that i don't have to worry about ever again! mike