SF1 Camshaft Cover oil leak

D

Derek

New member
Location
Northumberland, England
Hi Everyone, I've got an oil leak from or near the LH camshaft cover (tacho drive). I've replaced the gasket and applied Wellseal, but the leak is still there. I now suspect the large Cam Cover gasket that sits above the camshaft. Before I remove the cover, I thought I'd ask if anyone has experienced oil leaks in this area and what the outcome was.
Thanks!
 
Derek said:
Hi Everyone, I've got an oil leak from or near the LH camshaft cover (tacho drive). I've replaced the gasket and applied Wellseal, but the leak is still there. I now suspect the large Cam Cover gasket that sits above the camshaft. Before I remove the cover, I thought I'd ask if anyone has experienced oil leaks in this area and what the outcome was.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
I've got a chronic leak from the cam end covers. Weep rather than leak.
Make sure that the cam ends are flush.
Paul
 
Derek said:
Thanks for your help Paul. Just a clarification - do you mean the end of the camshaft should be flush with the bearing or the camshaft cover should be flat?
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On the inside of the cover, there's a cast ring which locates in the cam end bearing housing and I presume seats against the bearing. Make sure that the face of the cover fits against the surface on the head and that an ill fitted bearing for instance doesn't stop the cover seating properly. Make sure that the cover itself is flat and hasn't been distorted by a previous attempt to tighten it down against a badly fitted bearing.
Paul
 
The camshaft and its bearings are a firm(ish) sliding fit in the head casting, many are by now a pretty loose sliding fit. Upon assembly, the cam should be roughly centred in the head. The cam actually has generous clearance to the covers. But, a little misalignment will be corrected by fastening a cam cover, the pressure of 4-off M6 bolts will easily push the cam through the head. The tension of the timing chain will pull the cam into its sweet spot as soon as the head reaches operating temperature and the fit of the cam bearings loosens. For this reason, no adhesive should be used on these bearings.

So, no, the cam will hardly cause any oil leaks at the covers. Incorrectly seated, protruding rocker axles can and are often the cause of pulled threads or snapped bolts in the head. Tightening, tightening and tightening yet again, without actually investigating the cause of leaks.

piet
 
Derek said:
Thanks for the help, Guys. As Sherlock Holmes said: "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data."
Click to expand...

Same as the investigators of the crashed 787 in India say.

Reportedly their looking for a black box, there’s roughly 130 splattered about the place….. too early?
 
Just closing the loop.
I've found and repaired the oil leak - it was actually coming from the LH inlet valve cover and the oil was finding its way down the fins to the camshaft cover. New o-ring fitted and the leak is cured.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my query.
 
I had a similar, loose tappet cover and oil weaping along fins fooled me to be loking elsewhere. Nice feeling when you spot it’s something simple.
 
Derek said:
Just closing the loop.
I've found and repaired the oil leak - it was actually coming from the LH inlet valve cover and the oil was finding its way down the fins to the camshaft cover. New o-ring fitted and the leak is cured.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my query.
Click to expand...
Ensure that the o-ring is the correct thinner than kit type. There was a recent discussion regarding these, the thicker one will result in a bent cover.
 
Just to close the loop - o-ring is OR3200 (50.47mm internal diameter by 2.62mm thick)
or those in USA, size 136 will be known by your supplier, in inches it's ID 2", OD 2-3/16" and CS 3/32"
(thanks to arancia)
 
I've checked the specifications, and ISO3601-1 o-ring spec dimensions are:
Size code 032 47.35mm ID x 1.78mm cross section
Size code 033 50.52mm ID x 1.78mm cross section

The groove in my camshaft cover is 48.70mm ID x 1.75mm deep, so I've decided to fit a 49mm ID x 2.5mm section o-ring.
Fingers crossed!
 
When you're tightening the dome nuts, just check that it flattens the o-ring with very little pressure. If you sense that it requires some force, you'll bend the cover.
 
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