Oil leak from cylinder base gasket.

While taking a quick spin down the road after an oil change, I came back home to a soaked area on the left rear of the cases. Giving the area a quick wipe down and running at idle stationary, I could see oil slowly weeping from the gasket line. Looks like its time to go digging in. The engine currently has 32,000 miles on it and hasn't had any major problems for the last 20,000 or so besides of slightly lower compression (between 130 and 142 psi). While I have the top end apart I'm planning on seating the valves and tossing in a new set of rings. As long as there is nothing else obviously damaged does anyone see any reason to split the lower end and overhaul the entire engine? Should I bite the bullet and replace the chain guides regardless of condition? Although the starter clutch hasn't slipped should I go ahead and rebuild it? Anyone have any other recommendations of things to check? Any help or input is appreciated.

 

Start by making sure that is where the oil is really coming from. It is far more common for the valve cover gasket, or cam chain adjuster gasket, to be leaking. Leaks from either area can wick around and end up looking like they are coming from a different gasket.

De-grease her good, dust with baby powder (talc, not corn starch), and look for dark stains while idiling.


If you do end up finding that it is the base gasket, go ahead and split the cases to replace the alternator chain guide, and rebuild the starter clutch (after inspecting for cracks). Both will fail eventually, and the chain guide tends to fail from age more than it does from mileage. The rest of the bottom end won't need any work.

 

I've made sure that it is using the floursent dye that goes in the oil as well as talc. As far as the gaskets are concerned is the price difference for OE gaskets worth it or will aftermarket gaskets perform just as well?

 

Order from Chacal/ XJ4Ever. There are plenty of aftermarket gaskets that do not fit properly. Chacal only stocks the ones that do fit.

 

Tell us more about this product...............

 

The fluorescent dye is a product that you can pick up at most auto parts stores. It is very similar to the kind that is used for detecting leaks in A/C systems but is formulated to be used in petroleum based products. All you have to do to use it is put in a measured amount that is based off of a ratio of oil capacity to dye. Then using a blacklight you let the engine idle and watch the suspect areas for a bright fluorescent green to start to appear. Once you see it, its unmistakable to distinguish where the leak is coming from. If you haven't used it before it's worth looking into. I personally find it quicker to use than talc. You don't have to wait as long with the engine idleing nor do you have to degrease the engine, it does help while pinpointing the exact location though. I attached an image of the dye bottle. I left this morning to travel for work. It can take pictures of the results when I return home.

 

I use dye daily at work. Makes diag quick work.

 

I used to have that luxury in my prior career. It's a great tool. I just don't have much call to use it at home, and talc is cheap (and plentiful given how hot the summers are here).

 

Dye is the only FORD warranty approved method of finding leaks.