Persistent oil leak

[Robert M]

Have you verified that you're not leaking at the cam seal?

>From: "Matt Suffern" <msuffern at gmail.com>
>To: quattro at audifans.com
>Subject: Persistent oil leak
>Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2006 21:09:31 -0400
>
>Hi all:
>
>Many of you know my '86 4kq has been plagued by a consistent oil leak from
>the front of the engine (~1 quart/week).  Today I replaced the front main
>seal for the second time and it didn't cure the problem.  The leak
>definitely seems to be coming from that region--there is quite a bit of oil
>in the timing belt area (a lot seems to be flung up onto the idler pulley).
>I can't find any "missing bolts" or anything else that has been suggested.
>
>What am I doing wrong that I can't fix this leak?  I coated the seal with
>oil and installed it with the flat section of the "U" (as it looks in cross
>section) toward the front of the engine.  I used the old seal to drive in
>the new and torqued down the main pulley bolt.
>
>One thing:  When I removed the seal the very first time (it didn't
>leak--replaced it as a matter of course while changing water pump), I
>drilled screws into the seal and pulled on them to remove it (it worked).
>However, the screws may have scratched the surface around the oil seal
>area.  Would a slight scratch of the metal be enough to cause this leak?
>
>Thanks for all the great advice, guys.
>
>Best,
>Matt
>Winston-Salem, NC
>'86 4kq
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