Paul Winey

Tabbed KDP about 1 year ago. Everything went ok. Last Summer had slight oil seep from timing cover. Put locktite on cover bolts and retorqued. Now have more that a seep. Losing about a quart per 4,000 miles but a mess. Oil pan and front differential sprayed from fan blast. Don't want to do it all again but don't see as if there is a choice. Looking for best solution for timing cover gasket vs RTV sealant to keep from getting a leak again. Any suggestions for fix? I'm off net for a day or so and will check later. Thanks. Paul

dsljunkie

Try the black gasket maker called the "Right Stuff" I use it on EVERYTHING. You could probably get away without using a single bolt if you use it .
Scott

richard

Iwould also go with Right stuff.
If you can't find it,
get a timing cover gasket and coat both sides
with Indian Head gasket shellac and it should not leak.
Did mine over a year ago with the Indian Head and hasn't leaked a drop.
Hope this helps.
Rich

infidel

Friend had one leak where you speak of, dealer tried fixing it without totally removing the cover with gasket goop, it didn't work. Too hard to remove oil residue to get a good seal. Think your best bet is start over with a new gasket and seal otherwise you might be doing it again anyway.

kd460

Are you sure it's the gasket? Just a thought, but it might be the crank seal. When you did the dowel pin, did you put the seal on dry?

If it is the gasket, sounds like you need to pull the cover and replace. The factory used sealer on the cover side, and dry on the other (at least on my 97). So I did the same thing. No problems so far, but been only about 4 months. Good luck, Kevin

1dslram

Did yourself or someone replace the front cover seal without removing the cover? The reason I ask is that 90% of the time the front cover gets warped and is useless and must be replaced. I also think it could be the seal leaking that is what I had.
Bruce

R.I.P. Nowel

Paul Winey

Thanks for the suggestions. I had wondered about the crankseal too but can see behind the dampener with a light and it is dry so the seal is good. Picked up a gasket and new seal yesterday and talked with one of the shop guys. Like KD460 said, they use an RTV type sealant with the gasket. Would you use the "Right Stuff" plus a gasket then? Hope mine isn't like 4X4's behind the gear case. Looks like a good project for the New Year! Paul

tmiller24

From experience with my racecar I've actully had to read the label on a tube of silicone sealer. If I just apply sealer and immeadiately stick the parts together, I find that I get about a 75% chance of a good seal. If I apply sealer and let the parts sit about 20 minutes, for the sealer to skin, I had a 95% chance of sealing them. Nothings perfect, of course, but I hate a leaking mess, especcially on the floor of an enclosed car trailer, after the dew is fallen and my feet are wet. OUCH!

OHFarmboy

After tabbing my kdp I used rtv sealer and let it set up some, them laid my gasket out on it and tied with thread, no leaks yet!!

Tom

Paul Winey

Worked on it this weekend. New gasket, sealer, and crank seal. Even retorqued the timing case bolts. Everything went back together ok but still have leak. Now can see it's coming from the backside of the timing case and block. Not what I wanted to find. Anyone up for a big tear down? Makes me think about doing the set screw fix rather than the tab for the KDP.

Paul

infidel

I feel the same way. Why mess with taking the front apart for something that is very unlikely to happen but has to be done when an easier way is available?
If there is a seal or gasket leak already then the tab method is justified otherwise the jig fix is plenty adequate

Dr. Evil

Ive heard some of the bolts in the timing case working loose as well. I imagine that would have the same effect as dropping the KDP....

infidel

I never heard of the bolts causing damage but that doesn't mean it isn't possible.
No doubt there are other bolts in the engine that may come loose, what should you do take it apart to tighten them?
In case you haven't noticed I'm a don't fix it if it isn't broke kind of guy.

Either method of pin containment is fine, just make sure you do one.