I am leaking oil bad. I just did a cam change. I have no idea where it is, just that the opti and my wires coming out of the opti are covered in oil. Any thoughts?

 

Couple of places to check.... intake, water pump drive seal, opti drive seal, front crank seal, front cover gasket itself and where it meets the pan. More than likely you cut one of the lip seals... opti or w/p drive seals.

 

Mine was actually leaking in 2 places after my cam install. Make sure the oil pan gasket was not ripped when you dropped it to take the timimng cover off. This will be the more obvious of the 2. Also as mentioned above, it is pretty common to rip the O-seal in the timing cover behind teh water pump. the Opti seal does not typically rip and wouldn't think that's it. If you narrow it down to either of those, email or PM me and I can give you some hints on replacing both fairly easily. Good luck,

Kyle

 

Most likely you tore the oil pan gasket under the front of the timing cover, its pretty easy to do....I did the same thing on both of my cam swaps, even being very careful. This last time I used plenty of copper hi Temp RTV, and now it will never leak....haha

 

anyone have any tips for going back and replacing oil pan gasket after you find out it leaks like a civ?

 

I will be changing my oil pan gasket in the morning. I am doing a cam install now myself btw. I was told by fellow members here that it is possible to get a new gasket in the inch or so the pan drops after removing the bolts without jacking up the motor. I will see tommorrow. Cross your fingers. I can tell right now that having an extra set of hands is going to help on this one.
I wish I had them.

http://photos.yahoo.com/jeffdobbins2000

Jeff D.

 

For the oil pan, drop the y pipe and remove starter (after you disconnect battery). Now, remove all bolts from oil pan. You don't need to remove motor mounts and jack motor up no matter what anybody says. The oil pan will not be able to be removed but will drop and give you a couple of inches to work with. Pull the old gasket out and clean the mating surface the best you can. The trick to putting the pan gasket on is the flexibility of the new gasket. There are metal rods in the staright parts of the new gasket but the ends (half circles) are flexible. Slide the new gasket between the frame and bottom of oil pan, almost like it's in place but underneath the oil pan mating surface where it needs to be. Try and keep the gasket as clean as possible though. Now that it is basically in place, pull on one side of the gasket to wrap around the edge of the pan and put it above the the pan mating surface and engine block like it should be. Once one side is in place, do the same to the other side. Once both side are in place, put some black RTV (not too much) on both top and bottom of half circle parts of gasket for a little reassurance. Bolt the pan back into place, not forgetting the retaining plates that go on outside of pan. Bolt up the y pipe and starter and you're done. Took me a whopping 30 minutes start to finish.

Kyle

 

I did what Kyle said above today and it was a piece of cake.

http://photos.yahoo.com/jeffdobbins2000

Jeff D.

 

It's easier than most peole think. Glad I could help.

Kyle