mysterious oil leak

i have changed oil pan and valve cover gasket but it still leaks oil, about a quart per fill up, but only when i drive, when it sits it just drips a drop or two and thats it. i looked under the car and it is all underneath the car, it looks like it is coming from around where the timing belt cover is. what would be causing that and how do i fix it.

front crank seal, much more likely to leak than pan gasket

so is this a big pain in the arse to do.:banghead:

after i took the a/c out it really started to leak oil.

i have changed oil pan and valve cover gasket but it still leaks oil, about a quart per fill up, but only when i drive, when it sits it just drips a drop or two and thats it. i looked under the car and it is all underneath the car, it looks like it is coming from around where the timing belt cover is. what would be causing that and how do i fix it.

You could try one of the many stop leak products (some people are dead set against using them). I had a leak coming from the same area and gave this stuff "Gold Eagle No-Leak" a try. My car kept leaking for weeks after adding the stuff, I was convinced this stuff does not work. Then about a month and half there were no more leaks! It has been over 9 months now and continue to have no leaks and I still check almost everyday just to make sure.

http://www.goldeagle.com/NO-LEAK/faqs_no-leak.asp?sub_cat=Brown%20Leaks

Mine was leaking oil from the bottom of the timing belt cover. The leak was caused from the camshaft oil seal being popped out of place. I pushed it back into place and it has been fine for over a year now.

thanks for the reply guys, i think it might be just knocked loose because sometimes it leaks badly and other times it doesnt leak at all. i have been trying to find a diagram or instructions on how to get to it, i just dont like to start taking things apart without knowing what i am getting into. i can not afford to ruin this car because money is tight i think that is true for everyone. thanks again

well i tried to take the cover off and there is one bolt, behind the water pump pulley, that i cannot fit a box ended wrench on tried many different wrenches, do you think it is a good idea just to tear the cover off and just not replace the cover. i have heard some people dont use the covers. just want to get some ideas.

have to remove the water pump pulley off to get cover out anyway, its only 4 bolts, crank pulley at bottom needs to come off too

Yes, and once you remove those two pulleys that corvette mentioned, you can get the cover off. I would keep it and put it back on, even though you can technically get away without it.

At this point, to get at the crank seal (the lower one) you will need to remove the crank gear. Put a jack under the oil pan with a block of wood to avoid denting it. remove the two engine mounting bolts, lower or raise the engine with the jack to get good access to the crank bolt. Most people can't get the bolt off with arm power. I think it's a 17mm bolt. Use the right socket and a breaker bar resting against the frame. Turn over the engine to "break" the bolt.

The cam seal is easier to get at. You will still need to remove the cam gear to access it.

Good Luck!

Jai

another symptom my car is having is a misfire in the 3rd cylinder could this be related the oil leak or do i just need new wires. later today i am gonna to check cam and crank seals for the leak, never done it before kind of frightened, but money for a mechanic is not an option.:grinno:

well s***!!!!! I rounded off a bolt for the pulley the alt belt goes on. it is one of five 8mm, the other four came off pretty easy except this f##### bolt. so any ideas on how to get a rounded off bolt off.:banghead:

use a 6 point socket and tap it on with a hammer. is it still spins will need to find a non metric socket you can tap on

well i finally got the cover off. i got the rounded bolt off by drilling a hole in the middle of the head, then tried a socket and boom it came off. i took the cover off and no leaks anywhere, so i decided to check the oil pan again and noticed some of the bolts were loose, so i tightened them up and we will see.

if its the front seal leaking it will just be a little wet underneath the bottom crank gear

yeah it was bone dry, today i let it run for awhile then looked under it and saw where it was leaking there is a split it my oilpan gasket so i have to replace it again. it was a pretty bad leak.