I have been chasing an oil leak on the front of my engine for a while now. It is a pretty good one. It covers the lower drivers side of the block /oil pan /front suspension. Actually had two leaks. I fixed one, the crankshaft seal. It is now dry. I checked the gasket between the vacuum pump and timing case and resealed. It is dry. The leak is from the back side of the timing gear cover between it and the block. It appears near the third cover bolt starting from the damper and moving to the drivers side. The KDP has been dead on mine for about a year and rechecked it when I did the crank seal. It had not moved. So case damage from the KDP is not possible. Is there a gasket behind the gear case between it and the block? If not how would a leak like this be repaired. I hate leaks.

TIA,
4x4

 

I believe there is a gasket between the cover and the block. And if it is indeed leaking there....that sux. If I'm not mistaken the only way to replace that gasket is by going through the front cover and removing all the gears. I had asked my bro who is a body man at DC dealership to get me a Vacuum pump gasket...he got me that and the inner and outer cover gasket and crank seal...( might need it someday ).
Maybe removing the front cover and tightening the inner cover bolts might slow the leak and with any luck stop it....that is if you can see them all? Wish I could be more help.

Good luck...I hate leaks too.

Craig.

 

The right way to fix a leak in that location is exactly as much work as repairing damage from a KDP. Heres an overview
http://www.flex.net/~triplem/new/dowelpin.htm

I've seen dealers get away with just loosening the gear case bolts and prying the case from the block enough to squirt in some gasket goop. Make sure the bolts are torqued evenly.

 

There is a gasket between the timing case and block and to repair it correctly you have to the same amount of labor as repairing KDP damage . I was quoted $3500 on labor from a local dealer when my gasket went bad and ended up having it repaired at a local heavy equipment shop for $750 labor

 

Thanks to all that replied. Not really the news I was hoping for...

Does anyone have a picture from the service manual showing the location of all the hold down bolts. I am going to try tightening them to see if it stops the leak and I don't want to miss one behind the gears.

My Haynes manual doesn't show a clear view of the bolts.

Or a count would be helpful.

TA,
4x4

 

This picture may help. If I remember right there are two bolts you can't get at without removing the cam gear.