Lower timing cover has a hole

[Cuda72]

Hi all,

I'm in the middle of a timing belt/water pump change on a 94 Camry with a 5SFE and in removing the lower timing cover you can see where the power steering belt chewed in to the cover and caused a hole. So now it obvious where the bad oil leak was coming from! Is a used cover from eBay my only option? Or can I use a plastic epoxy to try and seal the hole?

Thanks,
Travis

[JustinC25]

Originally Posted by Cuda72

Hi all,

I'm in the middle of a timing belt/water pump change on a 94 Camry with a 5SFE and in removing the lower timing cover you can see where the power steering belt chewed in to the cover and caused a hole. So now it obvious where the bad oil leak was coming from! Is a used cover from eBay my only option? Or can I use a plastic epoxy to try and seal the hole?

Thanks,
Travis

How big is the hole ?

Do you have and pics ?

If it's not too big you can seal it with epoxy, qwiksteel, or even hot glue. You could even use duct tape if were really desperate (to be used as a temp fix only).
That cover is only there to keep crap out of the idlers, and protect the timing belt.
As long as nothing is sticking under the cover or out too far you should be good.

[Cuda72]

The actual hole is only about 1/8" in diameter. There is a basically a 2 inch tear in the outside cover.




It's hard to see in the pics due to all the oil, but there is a hole that goes all the way through.

Travis

[peirek]

You have bigger problems than the hole in the cover if there is oil inside the cover. The cover is just a dust cover.

[JustinC25]

epoxy will be fine, but make sure that you do ALL the seals while you are in there.
Cam seal, Crank Seal, Oil pump seal, and the Oil Pump "O"Ring, that is probably causing the majority of your leak.
that seal is much easier to replace if you coat the channel behind the oil pump with grease first to hold the o ring in place.

Let us know how it turns out.

Justin

[ghettosled]

Originally Posted by peirek

You have bigger problems than the hole in the cover if there is oil inside the cover. The cover is just a dust cover.

exactly what peirek said. you need to track down what is causing your oil leak.

[Cuda72]

Well it's actually my sisters car.... I'm just trying to help her out. I'm planning on changing all the seals plus the timing belt and tensioners plus the water pump.

Thanks all for the help!

Travis

[JustinC25]

Originally Posted by Cuda72

Well it's actually my sisters car.... I'm just trying to help her out. I'm planning on changing all the seals plus the timing belt and tensioners plus the water pump.

Thanks all for the help!

Travis

That will take care of the leaks, just make sure that you do that oil pump "o" Ring too.
It may not be available aftermarket, but it is usually the major cause of most leaks behind the timing cover.
You can get a new one for 5 Bucks at your local Dealer.
Sometimes you can but them on rockauto, but lately they haven't had them.
Make sure to check your tensioner, and idler. If they make any noise at all, change them.
Rockauto also has great deals on timing kits. I just bought one with the belt, tensioner, and idler for 60 bucks shipped for my '97 that I'm building.

We have some really great write up's here on TN for this peticular job.

Let us know how it pans out, and if you have any questions.

Justin