Soo....another oil leak

[xtremeskier97]

Tell me what you think. Im pretty sure it's the oil pump o-ring/gasket. Would there be any other o-ring/gasket under the timing belt cover that would leak in this particular area?

I've already replaced all these seals within the last year, but I guess one or more has failed.





Thanks for any help!

[Mister_Perkins]

looks to me like the oil pump gasket is leaking, or the housing is leaking. Hard to tell with the oil already there. Clean it off with some cleaner and turn the car on and watch where it comes out of. May help to remove the bottom cover for the timing as well.

[WaxonWaxStillOn]

It probably is what you described, but you won't find out conclusively until you pull atleast the lower cover off. There is the oil pump seal, oil pump o-ring, camshaft seal, and the crankshaft seal. When I replaced my oil pump seals, I found the drive rotor was scored, so that should be replaced if that's the case, otherwise you take a greater risk of a new oil pump seal leaking again.

[xtremeskier97]

It's funny you mention that Waxon. I keep hearing a sound coming from the oil pump area (even when IN the car) that sounds like a tapping sound. Should the drive rotor have any play at all inside the housing? When I say play, i mean in and out play, not rotational play. I dont remember any scoring on the rotor, but I do remember there being some play with the rotor.

[WaxonWaxStillOn]

Originally Posted by xtremeskier97

It's funny you mention that Waxon. I keep hearing a sound coming from the oil pump area (even when IN the car) that sounds like a tapping sound. Should the drive rotor have any play at all inside the housing? When I say play, i mean in and out play, not rotational play. I dont remember any scoring on the rotor, but I do remember there being some play with the rotor.

I think the play that you noticed was probably a sign the oil pump should be changed. I just replaced my drive rotor/driven rotor set for ~$36 because I was on a tight budget, but in addition to this scoring, I noticed scoring on the oil pump housing from the driven rotor too, as well as play with the drive rotor in the housing that you noticed. All of these parts and contact surfaces will wear down over time, so I would bet it is definitely possible these parts could be moving around too much from quite a bit of wear and making some noise.

Could they be making THAT much noise?...I'm thinking it's not likely but others definitely have more experience in this than myself. If they are very worn, the oil pump would probably be less effective and make more noise without as much sound-dampening oil going thru it, but you'd probably have to have pretty low oil pressure to hear it that loudly, or quite a bit of play. (this is just conjecture tho.)

[xtremeskier97]

Where did you get the drive and driven rotors from? Everywhere I look it's only the whole oil pump assembly sold.

380,000 miles on the original oil pump I guess is pretty good, huh?

[WaxonWaxStillOn]

Originally Posted by xtremeskier97

Where did you get the drive and driven rotors from? Everywhere I look it's only the whole oil pump assembly sold.

380,000 miles on the original oil pump I guess is pretty good, huh?

380k on the original pump is insane...heck, 380k on the original engine is outstanding.

The part number for the rotor set is 15102-74020. I got mine at the dealer.

[xtremeskier97]

What is the likeliness that I will need to replace the whole pump? I'd hate to spend the $30 on this and then up needing the whole pump anyway. I REALLY dont want to have to replace the whole pump, as it looks to be a PITA.

[WaxonWaxStillOn]

Originally Posted by xtremeskier97

What is the likeliness that I will need to replace the whole pump? I'd hate to spend the $30 on this and then up needing the whole pump anyway. I REALLY dont want to have to replace the whole pump, as it looks to be a PITA.

I don't have enough experience to say exactly what you're sacrificing only doing part of it, but if it has 380k on it, I would go ahead and do the whole pump, which is ~$100-110 iirc for an Asin.

It's probably fair to assume you'd get better oil pressure and have less of a chance for leaking because of better clearances/remove play all the way around. That's not to say it won't work if you don't, it's gone this far, but imo you're doing yourself and the engine a favor replacing it.

If other's disagree, I'm happy to be corrected.

[Leinad]

380,000 is some mileage but you will know until you take it apart.

The gasket is always at fault fails not the seal.

I did mine at 250,000 and it was fine.