Important FYI for I5 timing belt changes...

[Steve Eiche <seiche@cellport.com>]

While doing the timing belt, idler pulley, water pump and crank seal on
my recently acquired '91 200q, I found something that probably gets
overlooked.  At least I have overlooked it on previous jobs...

The problem was that I had an fairly significant oil leak after all the
work was done that seemed to be coming from the oil pump gasket.  The
front crank seal was replaced and had me concerned at first, but upon
disassembly I found it was dry there.  All the bolts holding the lower
belt cover on which go through the oil pump were properly torqued but
covered with oil.  

That's where the problem was.  The bolts that go through the oil pump to
the block had sealant on them from the factory (and probably from the
last timing belt job at the dealer), but I had failed to put it on this
time.  I found no mention of this in the Bentley manual, but when I
asked an Audi trained mechanic about it, he smiled and said, "That's how
I know an Audi mechanic hasn't done the timing belt, they leak oil. 
They don't put everything you need to know in Bentley. (big smile)" 
Tricks of the trade I guess...  So at least one of the bolts goes into
an oil gallery and the oil under pressure will work its way around the
threads of an uncoated bolt and find daylight.  I seem to remember a
similar thing with water pumps on SB Chebbies.

I cleaned everything up, coated the bolts with some Locktite 242,
buttoned it all up and the front of the engine has been dry ever since. 

Steve Eiche
Englewood, CO 
'91 200q
'82 Not So Ur q 20Vt