Jetdriver69

I had a very small oil leak from the front seals of the right side cam tower on a 82 5 speed. Really more a nuisance seep than anything, no oil on the floor but the smell of a few drops burning off the exhaust manifold. I called my brother in law who is an engine mechanic and parts store owner and he recommended trying ATP AT-205. I added a bottle with a bottle of Swepco with my last oil change and within a week of occasional driving, the seep is gone. The PO replaced the TB/WP less than 3000 miles ago, but didn't change the tower seals, go figure. Hopefully this will last a while.

MainePorsche

Good call.
Hope it holds for you.

19psi

I had a leak in the same area that produced an annoying oil smell for the first mile or two. Thought it was the cam tower gasket but it turned out to be a cam seal. The oil runs down just right and hits the front of the exhaust manifold.

If it comes back, suspect those seals before the cam tower gasket. They're actually inexpensive and quite easy to replace. Cam tower gaskets don't look like fun and I'm not sure they're even doable with the engine in the car.

18 and/or 17 were the culprits on my '82. I also ordered 14 but left them in place as everything was bone dry when I removed the sprockets. Took me about 2 hours to do both passenger and driver's side. You do need to pull the distributor for the driver's side.

SteveG

Thanks for the tip. Not sure I would have done the tower seals just b/c I was doing a Tbelt. Agree that if it is bad enough to drip, I suppose it should be addressed, but I don't see the WYIT connection between the two.

Now maybe 19psi is onto the culprit referring to cam seals not cam tower seals. You mention "front" tower seals. Isn't the cam tower AKA valve cover seal, a one-piece on each bank?

soontobered84

On the Jalapeno ('80 Euro), I replaced the cam tower seals due to leaks. Dry for while, then began getting a drip from the passenger cam tower near the front. I found that the 2 front lower cam tower bolts didn't get quite enough torque when it went back together. It took me an hour and a half to get the front bolt turned about 1 3/4 turns to tight and about 30 minutes for the second bolt to be turned 1 revolution to tight. In the end though, it fixed the leak.

Jetdriver69

How did you get close enough to to tighten those bolts on the cam tower? It looks mighty tight in there. I think my leak is on the first bolt closest to the front, passenger side or it could be #18 seal. Hopefully the ATP stuff will keep it stopped. I have heard and read only good thing about this stuff It is not going to stop a raging rear seal leak or anything similar, but it seems to work well on small leaks/seeps. About $7.50 on Amazon.