[V6-12v] Razzin-frazzin' oil leak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[apowell at colocougs.org]

Well, the other poster (mancubus99) who is trying to combat a V6 oil leak is
not alone.

My wife's 1993 90Q is *still* leaking oil badly - enough to leave a
fist-sized spot in 10 minutes after it runs for a while. It seems to leak
oil faster when it is being driven than when it's idling. I therefore
believe the oil leak(s) involve a pressurized oil passage. What makes it
frustrating is that I just spent two weeks working on the motor to stop the
leaks with no success.

I've just replaced:

Timing belt & idlers
Serpentine ("ribbed") belt & tensioner
Valve cover gaskets
Intake manifold gaskets (removed manifold to reach valley pan)
EGR gasket
Valley pan gasket

And after reading the debate on the currently recommended 1/4 turn to the
head bolts after removing the intake manifold, I elected not to torque the
head bolts down further.

I gave special attention to sealing the valley pan gasket and used a film of
silicone form-a-gasket on it to make double sure it didn't leak. I put
everything back together, went over the underside of the motor thoroughly
with engine cleaner, and after driving it, I realize that it's leaking
faster than before!!!

"Razzin'-frazzin oil leak" doesn't fully express my feelings.

The crankshaft front seal is definitely not leaking, nor is the oil pan
gasket. The oil slick is visible only on the rear end of the block, although
it's dripping off the transmission and area behind the motor. After much
contortioning and peering, I see from below that the highest signs of
leakage reach juuuuust about to the height of the rear seals on the
camshafts.

I don't think it's the rear main. Why? The car has a manual transmission,
and most of the time when a rear main leak occurs, it makes the clutch slip.
Also, there's more oil outside the bell housing than a rear main leak could
account for - I think.

I'm thinking that the offending seals are those at the back ends of the
camshafts. However, BEFORE I start tackling that particular can of worms, I
would welcome any thoughts about possible alternative sources of the leak,
and any recommendations (do's/don'ts) about replacing the rear cam seals.

I APPRECIATE ANY HELP.

************************************
Al Powell
apowell at gocougs.wsu.edu
1958 Fiat 1200 Transformabile Spyder
1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo
1993 Audi 90Q 5-speed
1997 Chebby Blazer
1999 Chebby Blazer
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