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[Big_Al]

hi guys,
              this saga continues but now  on a  new thread because it is not the oil cooler or pipes.

So after weeks of trying to sort out what was first thought to be a passenger side cam cover leak , then oil cooler pipes after assembling the top of the engine for a fourth time I still have the leak .

I won't go into the full story as that is available on my previous "oil cooler leak" thread.

But have stripped the plenum, injector bridge & inlet bridge off & a lot oil is showing around the oil cooler plate on the drivers side .

The oil pipes & unions not leaking as  the circular casting hollows in the cooler  plate are oil free.

I was certain that the leak was on the passenger side of the engine but now it seems it may be on the other bank .

I changed the passenger side cam cover as the grooves that hold the gasket were very "wavy " and not holding the gasket at all well.

I was certain that the cam cover on the drivers was oil tight so did not change that one    oops ! but did change the gaskets when this problem was first addressed. for some reason I did not check the V side of the cam cover in as much detail as the ends & the exhaust side .  oops again 

Now the engine top is off again I have had a good look around that one & it looks like the long edge next to the V it is warped not sitting flat on about an inch of it's length.

I have some photos but still can't load them on this forum (PC Muppet  )  but have e mailed a few to Amba & am waiting for his opinion.

But one photo clearly shows an area about an inch long were oil is running down the cam carrier to the v of the engine .

This has to be the leak . . . previously I had convinced myself that the drivers side cam cover was ok but obviously it's not .

So I have  another cam cover & will fit that as I brought a pair but only changed the passenger side as that was where I thought the leak was .

I had lots of advice that suggested that it must be a cam cover leak & I did do the gaskets first off.

Bottom line is if it cures my problem I will be very happy , all be it I have been around the houses several times chasing this leak .

Cannot get on the car for a few days  though , so will post up soon what happens


regards, Al

[amba]

Al.

From the 1 picture you sent over it does appear to be running down the inside of the O/S Head and collecting in the V by the oil cooler plate.

As I have only 1 picture it is difficult to make an informative conclusion however I think you may have answered your own question ,as if the O/S cam cover is not making a seal with the head in a area of 1 inch or more that would seem to be pretty conclusive that that area is atleast leaking,albeit it cannot be confirmed if that is the only place however it does seemed to be looking favourite.

I can only see oil coming from 1 place and leaving evidence in that area so that would be my next point of attack.Remove the cam cover complete from the O/S and check the plastic cover with a straight edge across several faces.Good clean up ..new gasket / "0" rings and seal up the half moons and fingers crossed thats the end of the oil leak.

PM also sent .

[dbug]

Hope you've eventually found it Al - what perseverence 

[allen25]

I suspect many of you may have seen this before and may well not be relevant to the wretched oil leak described in this and the previous threads but just something I experienced today. I have an oil leak, not too concerning, but enough to want it fixed because of the dripping on the drive (drive mess doesn't go down too well at home). I've replaced the cam cover seals today which I believe to be the culprit. Quite a surprise to me but 2 of the spark plug ports were full of oil (one on each bank). I replaced the plugs circa 300 miles ago and everything was dry, no oil anywhere. I'll leave it until tomorrow before starting to allow the sealant a bit of curing time. Not sure how much curing time may be required? Hope you fix your leak.

[Rods2]

I suspect many of you may have seen this before and may well not be relevant to the wretched oil leak described in this and the previous threads but just something I experienced today. I have an oil leak, not too concerning, but enough to want it fixed because of the dripping on the drive (drive mess doesn't go down too well at home). I've replaced the cam cover seals today which I believe to be the culprit. Quite a surprise to me but 2 of the spark plug ports were full of oil (one on each bank). I replaced the plugs circa 300 miles ago and everything was dry, no oil anywhere. I'll leave it until tomorrow before starting to allow the sealant a bit of curing time. Not sure how much curing time may be required? Hope you fix your leak.

Have you also cleaned engine breather pipes so it doesn't happen again?

[allen25]

Not wishing to mess up the thread, not intended I promise, but if it was a response to my oil leak, no, I haven't but did a lot of work after changing the oil cooler. If I've missed something or you could point me in the right direction, great, I don't want it to happen again!

[dbug]

Not wishing to mess up the thread, not intended I promise, but if it was a response to my oil leak, no, I haven't but did a lot of work after changing the oil cooler. If I've missed something or you could point me in the right direction, great, I don't want it to happen again!

Clean your breathers mate or it will happen again including oil in plug wells - hijacked ok 

[MaxV6]

i've had this before,   still leaking after cam cover change ,   turned out the damn garage had cracked the cam cover..... tunnie came to the rescue fetching me a set from the scrappers ....   

[Big_Al]

i've had this before,   still leaking after cam cover change ,   turned out the damn garage had cracked the cam cover..... tunnie came to the rescue fetching me a set from the scrappers ....

Think it is a warped one in this case

[albitz]

Presumably someone has seriously overtightened the covers at some point Al ?
Its so easy to do as 8nm just doesnt seem tight enough to the uninitiated.

[Big_Al]

Presumably someone has seriously overtightened the covers at some point Al ?
Its so easy to do as 8nm just doesnt seem tight enough to the uninitiated.

Guess so  Albs  . . . should have just changed them both  instead of 1 . . 2 strip downs ago

[albitz]

Look on the bright side. You can now strip and rebuild the top of a V6 with your eyes closed.

[Big_Al]

Look on the bright side. You can now strip and rebuild the top of a V6 with your eyes closed.

Oh yes . . . easy peasy now !

[allen25]

I can't find anything on the site to help me re clear the breather pipes, but I don't want it to happen again. Sorry, not my thread I know but help is appreciated.

[Andy H]

I can't find anything on the site to help me re clear the breather pipes, but I don't want it to happen again. Sorry, not my thread I know but help is appreciated.

Here you go V6 Cleaning Crankcase Breathers