Fresh Oil Leak, Please Help

JoeK · Post by **JoeK** » Sun May 29, 2005 1:49 pm

I'm hoping for not too bad news here, but give it to me straight. My engine appears to be leaking at the head gasket. On the right side, almost at the rear corner.

I thought maybe I had a blown head gasket, but I just checked and I'm running 155-160 at all cylinders. I look at the oil routing diagram in my manual and it looks like the there might be an oil journal at this corner. Is this the case? If so, it seems the most likely culprit. And that would mean that I will have to replace the head gasket right?

I don't think this would make any difference, but might as well mention it. When I was doing the compression check, I found a very corroded spark plug wire at #4 cylinder, where the oil leak is. The car has been running great, though at high RPM's I'm sure it would have been missing.

There is the remote possibility that the oil leak is a phantom from the leaky tach seal. But it would have to have blown the oil upwards and across. I know this all hope seems crazy, but what the heck. I know it is leaking from the tach seal, and there is no good reason that the head would start leaking. I have not been able to find any more oil from that leaking point, even after I drove it home after finding the leaks.

JoeK · Post by **JoeK** » Mon May 30, 2005 12:39 am

Can anyone tell me where the oil journal that feeds the camshaft is located, as it goes through the head?

Post by **spl310** » Mon May 30, 2005 12:57 am

Unfortunately, that sounds like the main oil feed gallery leaking. It is on the right rear of the head. You MAY be able to slow/stop it with a retorquing of the head, but more than likely, a head gasket job is in your future. Sorry.

spyder · Post by **spyder** » Mon May 30, 2005 1:26 am

Mine does it also,I use torque on the head studs to minimize cam bind. I just degrease the engine every so often. I guess the question is how much oil is coming out?

JoeK · Post by **JoeK** » Mon May 30, 2005 2:44 am

So essentially, as long as the oil pressure stays right, it's okay for the time being. I'll re-torque her tomorrow, but until I replace the tach seal, it's hard to tell how much is leaking from the head. At this point, it's not measureable on the dipstick, after 20 minutes of highway driving.