U20 timing cover questions

[esmeby]

Hey there
U20
The car is leaking oil from what appears to be the entire timing chain cover area. I have a bit of a spray on the hood from the fan, and the block has a nice sheen to it. So instead of thinking of it as a "automatic rustproofing dispenser" I want to fix it.

I can't tell exactly where it is leaking from because the fan is spraying stuff everywhere.

In order to do this correctly, do I need to remove, or loosen the head? And if so, will I need a head gasket. The PO had replaced the upper studs in the cover with bolts, so I think I have my answer.

And if I take the head off, I may as well get it looked at and freshened up a bit.

and since the timing stuff will be right there and easy to take care of, I may as well....

This damn oil leak is getting expensive.

[ambradley]

I don't know about removing the head to fix your leak, but as far as replacing the timing components, have you priced the parts? You're looking at upwards of $1,000, and that's with the newly fabricated pieces, not Nissan originals.

I'm in the process of replacing my front cover on my '66 411 because the front crankshaft seal leaks. This might be your problem as well. The spinning crankshaft spews oil out in all directions - though honestly more to the passenger side than the driver's side. If you get the cover off you'll need to replace both the crankshaft seal as well as the timing cover seal so I guess it's a moot point...

[Minh]

I discovered a trick in removing the front cover off the engine without removing the head. You will however have to remove the front pulley setup, water pump, and oil pan.

It sounds like the front seal is bad and/or the oil-throw-washer was not installed under the front cover.

1st remove the prior said items - altenator, oil pan, front crankshaft assemblies, water pump. You might need to remove the radiator and all for clearance.

Now with clear and hindered view of the front cover, remove the two smaller nuts that connect the head to the front cover. Take those two nuts and put them both on one of the studs that it was attached to it. Now using two wrenches tighten the two nuts upon each other. You will use these two cinched nuts to extract the stud from the front cover.

Repeat the same process for the other stud.

Now you can remove the other studs bolts from the front cover. Do this by sliding the cover forwards and off. Remember it may be sticky at first the PO might have used silicone. If not, the two front gaskets and the head gasket might pretty settled.

After that you can now remove the front seal on the cover.

You will need too see if there is anything missing two like the oil-throw-washer and what-not.

Rather than try to put the stud back in you cna go to the local hardware store and replace then with stud bolts.

Remember that cover is made of alluminum, so when you are putting the studs or new stud bolts in the threads need to go smoothly when screwing in. You don't wnat screw up the threads on alluminum fonr cover.

[SLOroadster]

WHAT EVER YOU DO, BE CAREFUL PUTTING THE TIMING COVER BACK ON. YOU CAN CATCH THE HEADGASKET. Trust me on this; you think you have an oil leak now? With the headgasket pushed back toward the timing chains you end up with a HUGE leak. I made this mistake and have had a oil leak for the past year.

Will

[Minh]

Right on Will!

You don't want to damage the gasket.

Also when you put the cover back on,... be sure to apply a little silicon sealant in the two top corners where the head, block, and cover meets and at the two bottom corners where the pan, block, and cover meets. Those 4 corners are not completely sealed and leakage could occur.