Daniel5691

Hi all,

I have a 1981 Euro S with a front passenger side oil leak, as described in a prior post. I am carefully working my way deeper into the engine to pinpoint the location of the leak, and my first point of concern is the passenger side cam seal. I have exposed the passenger side timing belt and gear.

Should I expect to see weeping/leakage at this stage in disassembly if the cam seal is the failure point?

There was a small "smudge" of oil as shown in the second image, but this was truly a "trace" of oil, as opposed to the oil fountain which was pouring out onto my passenger side exhaust header.
Any insight or thoughts would be very greatly appreciated, Thanks.
Dan

Dave928S

I'd expect to see way more than that if you had a front cam seal leak. That just looks like grime/belt wear accumulation on a casting mark or rib.

If you have a fountain then I'd be suspecting a cam box gasket. When they leak they leak badly onto the manifold. If that gasket is the cause, then use Greg Browns replacements ... DO NOT use a standard gasket or you'll be doing the job twice.

Keep stripping parts (that would have to be removed anyway for the cam box gasket), and keep posting pics as you go.

Dave928S

Look behind #12 where it joins the cam box. On that front plate you're looking for a leak along the cam shaft itself, which seems unlikely from your photo, but you also need to look behind where that plate seals to the cam box.

Look at the rear of the cam box where the end cap is gasketed to the cam box .. #6 & #7.

#23 is the gasket that is the most likely culprit, but eliminate everything else first.