Whats up fellas? So with my search and what i have noticed with the oil leak I have. Its dripping right on top of the power steering pump and working its way down. Also its noticeable right under the thermostat area. Not leaking from crankshaft. So this should be my camshaft seal? Or is there something else I should be looking for. Thanks

 

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possibly.
start pulling off parts until you can find the source. can't say anything without you getting further into it.

 

It may just be a leaking valve cover.

 

Valve cover gaskets where changed about 6 months ago . There nice and dry. I had sprayed engine cleaner about 2 weeks ago and washed all areas with oil down. Theres a post that I read where if its leaking on top of the power steering pump thats its coming from thre cam seal. Cause its not leaking from the crankshaft and spitting it all over that area. I just wanna make sure. Planning to change my seals and timing belt hopefully this week.

 

just buy the cam seals and have them ready to go. but don't be surprised if its something else. could be anything on an almost 20 yr old car.

 

I would imagine that if it was a cam seal it would appear to be leaking at the crank. The dust cover over the timing area would direct the oil down the block. I don't think it is anything in the cam/timing area. Having some experience with leaking oils and such, I suspect it may be more likely that you've got a busted power steering pressure hose that is squirting power steering fluid and possibly being spread through the rotation of your drive belts to around the water pump. However, this is simply my thoughts and as said before, you just won't know until you tear into it. A good start is running the engine and watching to see where the oil leaks from then back track it. BTW, if it is the power steering pressure hose, then have someone turn the steering wheel and watch for sprays or leaks. May also check your resouvior as well to make sure it is full.

 

I had the same oil problem on my 92 a few years back, and it was the right camshaft seal. A leak there tends to get the whole corner of the engine wet around the power steering pump. Once the timing belt is off, it's not all that much more work to replace the seal.

 

i have a lot of oil around the knock sensor and by the junction of engine/tranny but i always assumed it was spillout from the oil filter during oil changes.

 

Well its not a power steering hose. Never had to refill it.Had this leak for months just gotten worst. Just had to put motor oil ever month. Like half a quart.Plus the oil thats leaking is brown in color.its got to be that right cam seal. Cause the timing belt cover on that side is all wet plus like I said before ,the top of the steering pump is wet.Which dripps down all the way to the control arm bushing which i'll have to change also. Hopefully this weekend i'll do it if I find all the parts I need.

 

see if you can pull the TBelt cover off without taking a bunch of other stuff off, and peek in there. I can't remember at what point during the job we took off that cover.

 

Those That cover also have a gasket?

 

heh, if it does, we didn't put one on. I bought a full kit, and it came with a WPump gasket and a thermostat gasket but no tbelt cover gasket


FSM shows no gasket.

so let's go with "no"

 

 

Just asking. Will find all the mysteries when I go in there.Just getting prepared.Dont want no surprises.

 

There is no "gasket" on the timing covers in a replacable sense. But, there are beads of rubber that line the covers which act like a seal. Almost sounds like a gasket though to me. Dunno.

 

well uh, black RTV if you really want but chances are you're gonna smear it on EVERYTHING while reinstalling that cover unless you have VERY steady hands. On my friend's POMFS Elantra the gasketesque material was just some soft rubber molded onto the edges of the cover.

 

That's exactly what I was talking about on our covers. Doesn't everyone else's max have this rubber bead? You described it better than me.

 

o ok. should all be the same. by bead i assumed you meant something applied such as rtv sealant, versus a molded piece that was part of the original design

 

all that is is a dust seal. don't really worry too much about it. if they're gone, make sure the rest of the cover is in place and you'll be fine. Hell, many Z, Honda, and Toyota guys don't even run the upper covers. not a big deal really.