Okay I had the timing/water pump service done last month. Then I did a tune up/oil and filter change. I'd noticed some oil stains on the garage floor and assumed it was left over from my not so gracful removal of the old oil filter. So while doing all my a-arm work last weekend I cleaned everything under there...and now I see I'm getting really nice clean oil drops...and they look like they're coming from the bottom of the timing belt cover!

Could this be a result of the timing belt work or could I just be running into more bad luck? I trust there are several seals back there that could be leaking? Any one particularly likely? How hard to replace?

<img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

 

I've had the same leak I believe - Drips from the very bottom of the timing belt cover, and I got occasional drips from the bottom of the oil pan. I replaced the oil pan gasket (still leaked), the lower balance shaft housing oring & seals (still leaks), so now I'm going to replace the oil cooler gaskets including housing gasket which is the only possibility left. Pelicanparts sells a complete front end gasket kit that you may want to get, but mine is definatly leaking from the oil cooler housing.
Hoped this helped a little.

 

Don't count out the front main seal. That is usually a big failpoint on these cars after a while.

Also, don't ever be sure about anything on these cars until it is fixed and works for at least 6 months after you fixed it.

 

Thanks...I know the oil cooler was rebuilt by the PO just before he sold it (it did the catastrophic failure scenario), so I have this 'front main seal' feeling in the pit of my stomach since there was a fair amount of leakage over just a couple hundred miles. I would imagine you wouldn't get that kind of flow from balance shaft seals...Well I'll pull the cover off over the weekend and have a look. Any 'special' tools required for that seal?

When it rains, it pours!

 

Well I just took a look at the invoice for my timing belt/water pump work. No seals listed.

Wish I would have known to ask for them to be done when it was all apart. Now I get to rip it all apart myself. Oh well the belt does need to be retensioned!

Of course, had the place that did the work recommended they be done I would have done it...but they didn't.

 

Steve, et al,

I just went through this on my 83 944. After two crank seal replacements it still leaked. The culprit, once you confirm the lower balance shaft seal isn't leaking, is the oil pump housing behind the crank seal. The housing has an o-ring which wears a groove in the housing over time. You can replace all the crank seals you want and it will still leak.

The problem you ask? Well that oil leak just happens to get all over the balance shaft belt and timing belt. That is Not A Good Thing. Take the upper belt cover off and check if there is any oil on the belts. If yes, bite bullet and replace both belts, all of the balance shaft seals, the oil pump housing, and the crank seal.

Get only oem seals. I've had some bad exeriences with after market seals. The oil pump housing is around $45 and can be ordered from your local dealer or a mail order dealer like Claire Porsche or Suncoast Porsche.

 

Thanks Joel...I'll be sure to carefully inspect that area when I get it all apart. Is this the same area that others have mentioned where an "oil pump sleeve" has been replaced due to a groove being worn into it?

I ordered a 'front seal kit' from Paragon...I hope the seals are 'oem' or equal to 'oem'!!

Since the belts are all of a few weeks old...if 'some' oil got spattered on them couldn't I clean them off with some alcohol?

 

Steve,

Yes, it is called the oil pump sleeve. Oil seeps into the rubber belts. If there is any oil on either belt replace it. Why risk blowing your engine for another $50? As always YMMV.

 

My mechanic recommended doing them with the belts and pump last year, so I said OK. This year one of them started leaking again, so he fixed them a second time for free. That's one good reason to use a professional.

He says you have to be really careful here, as oil and belts don't mix.

 

Yea, you guys have me convinced...if oil has gotten to either belt I'll replace it. What kills me is that the work WAS done by a place that claims to be a Porsche specialist! They replaced all the rollers and belts...but never even mentioned the seals. Not to mention they got one of the balance shafts wrong the first time around!! Guess I'm going to get my hands dirty more often than I thought.

If I can't get some 'clean sailing' soon I have this vision of my getting home one night...the 944 out on the front yard with a "For Sale" sign on it and a twin bed set up in the garage!!

 

Sorry to be a pest! But if indeed I do need the oil pump sleeve (I found it on Eurowebparts for $30) do I need any additional seals beyond what's in the Paragon kit?

They also had the oem conti timing belt for $10!!

Maybe I can keep that twin bed out of the garage!!

 

Make sure you get a new o-ring with the oil pump sleeve.

 

Okay...I ordered the o-ring that matches the sleeve. PET shows two seals: an o-ring and a larger seal in front which I'm guessing is the crank seal that comes with the kit!