Well, I am new to this board.. heard from a friend that you Camaro guys really know your stuff when it comes to the dreaded OptiSpark. I have a 1992 Vette, and about 2000 miles ago, I did a significant engine upgrade (Heads, Cam, electric water pump, double roller timing chain, and a '95-'96 vented Opti).

Well, about a month ago, my car started having some serious trouble running after I over-heated the engine (damn wire came loose on the electric water pump). I only drove about a mile with the enigne over heated, before I realized it, and re-did my wiring.

The next time I took the car out.. as soon as it warmed up, it threw a code 16 or 36, and would stop running.. So, today, I pulled the opti, to see what was going on. I opened her up, and to my suprise, on the optical sensor side of the opti, there was engine oil!! For the life of me, I cant figure out how engine oil would have made its way into the opti. Does anyone have any ideas??

-Mark

 

I don't know, either. Was the opti new? Do you have the vent system hooked up correctly? Any oil leaks around the opti that could have gotten in through a poorly sealed unit?

 

That is what is baffling me the most.. new opti new timing chaing cover and seal.. and no.. I am not leaking oil anywhere. It appears that the oil was coming in around the bearing seal in the opti. Has anyone been able to disassemble the opti completely? I got everything apart except for the bearing, and drive shaft.. How does that come apart. It would help immensely if I could get under there and take a look.

 

Was there oil on the back side of the metal body of the opti, like maybe the round timing cover drive seal was not sealing?

 

Yes.. I think there might have been.. I'll take a look at the front side of the timing cover, and see if there is any oil there.

 

I would have to think the bearing seal has to be bad. Once the oil gets past the big drive mechanism on the back of the opti, it still has to go through the seal on the bearing.

Which leads to the next point, both the seal in the timing cover and the bearing must be bad. If that occured as a result of overheating, what else is bad that you don't know about? You may want to consider retorquing the heads. Did I spell that right???

BTW glad to see someone from my original part of the country. I went to Trenton State in the early 80's. Welcome to the board.