new cam oil seal leaking?

[Huw Powell]

> During my upper end r&r and timing belt job, I did change the
> camshaft oil seal. I was wondering if it's normal for some leakage
> when new?

No, it isn't.

> The amount is lessening, but am not happy, though. I went
> so far as to pull the valve cover and bearing cap #1, I removed the
> seal and then siliconed the outer diameter.

Not a good idea, since the seal has little "fins" that act as miniature
pumps to keep the oil inside.  I would have pulled the leaker and just
put a new one in, not too hard of a job on its own, really.

> Siliconed the valve cover
> gasket back and saw a tremendous decrease in the amount leaking.

I'm not thrilled by your copious use of silicone in oil-exposed areas.
I'd hate to think of what happens when some "flash," or excess, silicone
breaks loose and gets gummed up in the oilways... I used to do things
like that to coolant necks and hoses, until I thought about this issue.

> Now,
> it's not so bad. I am going to degrease the engine when it warms to
> find exactly where the leak might be. Hopefully, it's not the crank
> front seal. The leak is higher than the oil pan, so I have the crank
> front seal, the oil temp sender, & cam front seal as possibilities.

Good idea.  See if you can ascertain the exact source so you can fix it
properly.

> How hard is it to do the front crank seal?

You just did the timing belt - so you know.  You have to go all the way
in there.  Then it is easy, which is why we usually do it when doing the
WP/TB job, even if it doesn't leak.

> How much do oil temp senders cost? Mine may need replacing anyway
> because the plastic portion can be turing inside the metal housing,
> although it didn't leak before the job and functions normally.

Don't know cost, but they are a prime oil leak culprit.  And if the oil
then gets on something that spins, it could be thrown and distributed
higher, making tracking the source more difficult.

Good luck with it!

--
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/