15 replies to this topic

[Moshtaraq]

Hi again,

 

I just build my first engine and started it two days ago. Purring like a kitten! Drove it for 20km the last two days and this morning I noticed a oil spot on the ground. From what I can tell it's coming from the half moon seal. I put a hard one in after I saw a leak during the build. Is there anything more that I can do? New backplate? rtv on the seal (I only put some on the ends)?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Specs if anyone is interested:

1330cc

10.3 CR

Hiff44

Evolution001 cam

Maniflow single box

[Ethel]

It doesn't seal on the front plate so that wouldn't help really. If you're sure it's coming from behind the plate it could be the gasket. If you really think it justifies the effort removing the plate would allow you access to check out both. Even then, you could consider running it to bed in the timing chain so at least you also get to recheck the cam timing for all that effort.

[Moshtaraq]

My plan was to run in the engine and then adress the leak, I really dont know why it would be leaking, I completely covered the gasket with rtv?

[mk1leg]

did you use a sealent on the halfmoon rubber and was it a flexi ot the original hard seal

[Moshtaraq]

I first used the flexible type but it leaked and then replaced it with a hard one. And I used sealant on the ends, I read that somewhere on a thread here.

[Moshtaraq]

It doesn't seal on the front plate so that wouldn't help really.

Doesn't the gasket sit against the half moon seal?

[The Principal]

have the two screws at the bottom of the end plate bottomed out? 

[Moshtaraq]

I remember torquing them down to spec but can't say if they bottomed out or not. That would explain the two leaks though. I noticed the first time that the bottom of the gasket was oily so I thought I didn't put enough sealant on there but I put a lot on it this time so the screws seem to be the culprit here. Although I used a new set of screws...

[nicklouse]

ok the hard seal is a replacement so you dont need to split the engine and box. it is not "original" it was a development. and it is also slightly shorter than the flexy one.

 

but the first thing i would do is get some UV oil additive and then clean up the area. all around above and below. as best you can then go for a drive and then get the UV lamp on it and check exactly where it is leeking from.

[Moshtaraq]

I'll look into that, from what I can see it is coming from the gasket between the end plate and the bearing cap. And yes the hard one was developed to reduce labour costs 😄

[nicklouse]

I'll look into that, from what I can see it is coming from the gasket between the end plate and the bearing cap. And yes the hard one was developed to reduce labour costs

there is no gasket there. only the seal.

[Ethel]

Gasket sits on the face of the bearing cap, the seal its between the cap and the "sump". They'd be in competition with one another if the both sealed on the back of the plate - a possible cause.

[Moshtaraq]

They'd be in competition with one another if the both sealed on the back of the plate - a possible cause.

Can you elaborate on this? I don't think I understand what you mean...

[Ethel]

The plate fits against the engine block & bearing cap the gasket is compressed between them. But the plate also sits close to the gearbox and the half moon seal is partly in that gap. If the seal is too tight against the plate it could stop the gasket being compressed enough.

[nicklouse]

the Horror but you can see the gasket and the rubber if the gasket is too thick or the two bottom screws are not tight through bottoming out in the holes or such like the front plate can sometimes not seal on the rubber.