cross-posted to alt.autos.ford, alt.cars.Ford-Probe, rec.autos.makers.ford
I have a '94 Probe with the 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine that has developed an oil leak. It looked like it was coming from the bottom of the timing cover area at first glance. I figured it was a crankshaft seal going out, so I started removing the components on the front of the engine necessary to access the timing belt and sprockets. I found the lower timing cover had a
1/4 inch wide gash about 3 inches long worn through from the crank pulley rubbing against it. The more I looked at the engine face the more I thought about where the oil was coming from. The entire inside of the timing cover area is soaked with oil from top to bottom. It appears to be more than just the crankshaft seal leaking. Is this supposed to be a dry area of the engine? Oddly, the timing belt doesn't seem to be oil contaminated, but I'm going to replace it anyway. I don't know if there is oil leaking out of the timing cover, or if there is something leaking oil into the timing cover. Is the damaged timing cover the source of my oil leak, or is there something else leaking that's letting oil get in there in the first place?Ken