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Oil Leak Questions

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RJS

RJS

Jedi Warrior
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Hi

I have small leaks from two areas. What's you opinion?

1. After engine shut down I get a small oil leak from the oil seal on the timing chain cover. I can see it dripping (1 drip every 15-20 seconds) from the crank for a few minutes. It seems to have started after I tightened the timing chain cover bolts when I had the cooling fan off. Is it possible by tightening those bolts I messed up the oil seal? Any chance I can "realign" the cover and get the oil seal to seal again? Or, am I looking at a removal and replacement of the oil seal?

2. I have an OD transmission. A while back I changed the tranny fluid to Redline MT-90. Tranny shifts great but, it seems to have developed small seeping leaks around the seals - trust me it is very small. Perhaps 1-3 drops if left in the garage for a montht. a) does this sound reasonable that switching to MT-90 synthetic would cause this? and b) would changing back to a conventional oil stop the leaks? Or, are the seals now compromised?

Thanks

Bob
 
Wait...are you saying you did not have any leaks before you tightened the timing cover and changed to MT90 or that these 2 were just added to previously existing leaks ?
 
On the transmission, if the factory specified conventional 90, that is what you use. Don't "improve". If the timing cover leak gets bad enough to worry, new gasket, seal, and speedisleeve, if available, would be in order. Never fix something that ain't broken. Bob
 
I've not found MT90 to be any more "leaky"...just much improved shifting.
 
There is no way I know of to "reseat" a seal. It has been my experience that synthetics tend to weep through worn out seals more than conventional oils do. The seals have to be weak to begin with, though.

Personally, my own car would have to leak a bit more than yours to worry about it, though.
 
I recently read about, either here or the "Pack" (gasp) the same problem from somebody.
Might have even been a 4.
Can't remember the fix though
 
I use MT90 in the OD gearbox -- get some small but acceptable (to me) leaks but I have never attributed it to the RedLine.

As for using what the factory specified -- I think even they changed their minds along the way -- but they never had the option of specifying a synthetic. I see no reason not to take advantage of improvements (synthetics, modern grease, DOT5 brake fluid, modern tires, hardened seats, Viton needles, etc) when they offer a safer or more reliable ride.

There was a thread here on an OD leak that Kentvillehound did battle with -- possibly what Don remembers. But the 'fix' would depend on where it is leaking (which itself can be a project to nail down).
 
Naw George, it was a front seal leak.
Think Randall had a response or two in it
 
Thanks all. I had a few other very minor leaks to begin with but, doubtful I could easily remedy (i.e. typical rear main seal). But, the leaks mentioned in my original note were new leaks last season. I'm not too worried about them and just wanted to see if there was a quick easy fix.

I do like the MT-90.

Thanks

Bob
 
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