So I have an oil leak. Top of plug wires are wet, weep area has oil all over it, etc... So I'm thinking it's the seal behind the water pump, even tho it's new and I was extremely careful putting it on. So I pull the fan and water pump...


And like I thought the seal is fine. Also note the common intake leak area is fine, I wasn't holding back with the ultra copper as you can see.


I'm not sure if it's possible, but can it be coming from the weep hole on the water pump? Or maybe the gear seal on the back of the water pump?


It was really wet with oil but I wiped it down. Also, the fact that oil drips develop on the plug wires tells me it isn't coming from the opti timing cover seal, and I can see the crank seal and it isn't coming from there.

Also, all the seals on the timing cover are new, as is the gasket. I doubt the opti seal is bad anyway, seeing as how it's brand new.

Water pump is weeping oil?

 

Feel for oil on the w/p drive. If the oil spatter is that high and you can tell it is not coming from the intake manifold seal, then it just about has to be the w/p drive seal. They are notorious for letting lots of oil escape.
The water pump can leak no oil, because it has no oil going to it.

 

Ok, I'm going to run it for a minute without the water pump to see if I can spot a leak up there.

 

Well, it isn't coming from the drive, that's for sure. I'm going to pull the hub and opti while I'm in there and check that seal as well.