I have a large leak from the opti/timing cover seal. Clean off the front of the engine and then drive for 10 minutes and it would leave a 3" size puddle on the floor. I thought all of it was coming from the crank/hub seal, but I fixed that with a repair sleeve from NAPA.$9.00 and 45 minutes later it does not leak from the crank/hub anymore! But I still have a leak, about the size of a silver dollar after 10 minutes of driving. I can now see the trail of oil coming from behind the optispark. This engine has been just installed and run about a month. It has a new timing cover, new seals and new pioneer balancer/hub.
Any ideas?

 

The waterpump has a teflon seal, did you bugger it changing it?

 

Yeah, the water pump seal is usually the biggest offender, especially when torn during installation. It can leak a lot of oil.

 

The water pump shaft seal? It has a new one, and i tdon't think I messed it up, butthat would be easier to fix it if were! Gotta go look at it.

 

The waterpump shaft seal has 2 "wipers" and it's easy to roll the inner wiper over during installation.

 

I had the common opti leak and it would also leave a small puddle after the oil is heated up. I decided to do an auto-rx treatment cause I figured the engine was due for a treatment. Believe it or not it stopped the opti leak. I cleaned all the gunked up oil off the bottom of the front of the engine and cleaned the engine harness cover up and since then it has stayed clean and there are no drips. I didn't intend on using auto-rx to fix the leak but it did. But I will still replace the seal when I do a cam swap to be safe.

 

What is auto-rx treatment?

 

http://auto-rx.com/index.html

 

Did you put the waterpump drive seal in before installing the cover or after? If you put it in before installing its likely your leak. Been there done that. Install the waterpump seal after the cover is on.

 

Not sure i understand that one. I cant remember how its set up.
I didnt install the cover myself, the engine builder did that. but it seems to me either way, i would still be pushing the seal over the shaft whether its on the cover or after the cover is already on.? what goes wrong ?

 

The inner part of the seal catches on the edge of the wp drive shaft behind the splines and it rips the seal.

 

The cover had all the seals in it already since I bought the cover new from GM. I ordeed all new seals and am just gonna replace them all while I have it apart.

 

Most seals have a double lip. One pointing toward the back of the motor and the other pointing to the front. As you push it on the shaft, many times the inner lip is rolled under and is obviously not laying flat.

We will often use a rolled up piece of mylar as a collar over the shaft to help slide it in place so it won't do that. Then simply slide the mylar out after the seal goes in. It is imperative to lube the gap in between the 2 lips to also help the seal slide in place and remain sealed correctly. If you make it slippery enough, it usually won't roll under.

 

You don't want to put any lube on the teflon seals.

 

so which is it, lube or no lube?