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Oil leak

J

jclays

Regular Contributor
Was getting ready yesterday for a burial at sea. Opened the engine compartment to check the hoses oil level etc...general prep when is spotted oil in the bilge water. A fair amount. Port engine 1 quart low. Spent a few hours cleaning up the oily water, topped off the port engine and laid down new oil diapers. Did the burial at sea. Engines ran total of 3hrs including lots of idling. New oil diaper had oil about an 8 inch diameter fairly wet in the area centered under the harmonic balancer. Blown seal at the timing chain cover is my first thought. Any other possiblities??
Thanks
Jim
 
I would think that the leak is where you think it is, but to be certain I would try the dye in the oil and be sure before tearing things apart.
 
JIm; 3 things I have seen there. The crank seal can leak, the timing cover seal can leak, the timing cover can pinhole due to rust. The seal against the oil pan is critical, and needs RTV on assembly, and not just on the corners. There are harmonic balancer kits to sleeve it, if there are grooves there.
 
Thanks for the replies. My big concern is the removal of the timing cover. I cannot drop the oil pan without pulling the engine. Can I effectivly remove the cover and properly seal it with the oil pan in place? Also Diver Dave what are we sleeving with a harmonic balancer kit? thanks.
 
jclays said:
Thanks for the replies. My big concern is the removal of the timing cover. I cannot drop the oil pan without pulling the engine. Can I effectivly remove the cover and properly seal it with the oil pan in place? Also Diver Dave what are we sleeving with a harmonic balancer kit? thanks.
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I have done this job with the engine in place. You don't need to drop or even loosen the pan to replace the full timing cover gasket. You do need to pull the balancer off with a steering wheel puller. Both water pumps will be off for this task. If the balancer has a scored seal surface, it is easily fixed with the kit. It is a great time to check the cam chain free play as well.
 
My heart sank today... Took another look at whats involved in removing the pumps and timing cover. I have the yoke style engine mount at the front of the engine. Need to have a better look with a flash light and possibly remove the pumps and harmonic balancer to see if the engine mount covers up part of the timing chain cover. Anyone know if its clear or if I'll have to jack the engine and remove the mount?
 
On mine, it's not the engine mounts that interfere, but you do need to remove the raw water pump bracket, alternator, coolant pump, crank pulleys, v belts. Does this yoke bracket bolt to a stringer in front of the engine, not the side?
 
Dont recall. going to have to look again. But the mount it self is U in shape and bolts to the front mounts on the face of the block and I believe has a mount directly below to a cross stringer.
 
Checked this afternoon. the "U" shaped yoke mount is bolted to the front of the block via the old style mounting holes currently used by other boats for accessories. 2 bolts on each side of the block front. One mount in the center is secured to a cross member spanning the 2 longitudinal stringers. The mount makes its U shape under the harmonic balancer. I might have the clearance to remove the timing chain cover but wont know until I remove the balancer and 2 pumps.
 
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