Oil leak, 2004 Santa Fe 3.5L

I have an oil leak that just started today on my 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe V-6

3.5L engine. I took the engine cover off and I found that the oil is leaking out around a black plastic cap that I think covers the end of a valve camshaft. I am not sure if "camshaft" is the right term, but here are some photos:

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In the first photo, the black plastic cap is in the center of the photo and is on the end of the valve cover for that half of the engine. The plastic cap was partially popped out. I pushed it back in and started the engine again and the plastic cap popped back out again.

The second photo is with the black plastic cap all the way out and I placed it on top of the valve cover to show what it looks like.

The third photo is just a closer look into the opening where the oil is leaking out. In that view, with the engine running, I can see the camshaft turning and oil leaking out.

Do I have the right term? -- is it called a camshaft?

What is the fix for this? I am assuming that it is some kind of bad seal that goes around the end of the camshaft. If so, is that something that maybe I could fix if I take the valve cover off? Or, if not me, would it be a big job for an auto shop or dealer to fix?

Is there any chance that there is some way to replace just the black plastic cap in a way that would keep the oil from leaking out of the engine without having to replace the seal on the camshaft?

Any info or clues about this would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Reply to
TomR
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Rear Camshaft seal.

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Never had to replace one, but I imagine it just presses (force) in place.

I have an oil leak that just started today on my 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe V-6

3.5L engine. I took the engine cover off and I found that the oil is leaking out around a black plastic cap that I think covers the end of a valve camshaft. I am not sure if "camshaft" is the right term, but here are some photos:

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In the first photo, the black plastic cap is in the center of the photo and is on the end of the valve cover for that half of the engine. The plastic cap was partially popped out. I pushed it back in and started the engine again and the plastic cap popped back out again.

The second photo is with the black plastic cap all the way out and I placed it on top of the valve cover to show what it looks like.

The third photo is just a closer look into the opening where the oil is leaking out. In that view, with the engine running, I can see the camshaft turning and oil leaking out.

Do I have the right term? -- is it called a camshaft?

What is the fix for this? I am assuming that it is some kind of bad seal that goes around the end of the camshaft. If so, is that something that maybe I could fix if I take the valve cover off? Or, if not me, would it be a big job for an auto shop or dealer to fix?

Is there any chance that there is some way to replace just the black plastic cap in a way that would keep the oil from leaking out of the engine without having to replace the seal on the camshaft?

Any info or clues about this would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Reply to
Partner

It's actually held in place by the end camshaft cap. You'll need to remove the valve cover in question and pull the cap off to replace this. I've ne ver seen or heard of this happening.

I wonder if there's enough room to install one of those rubber freeze plug repair kits with the bolt through the center for expansion. Not really the right way and may be prone to quick failure, but if you're looking for som ething cheap and quick to try, it's worth a thought.

Reply to
hyundaitech

Thanks. That looks like the cap that I have that came out. IN my next post I'll write a little more about that.

Reply to
TomR

This also looks like it is the rubber cap/plug/part that came out (which I still have):

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Thanks. I am not sure about what the "end camshaft cap" is that you are saying may be what holds this in place. In the exploded parts diagrams on the following link, I don't see an end camshaft cap:

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The rubber cap that came out (that I still have) can be pressed back into place, but I don't see what would hold it there. When I pressed it back in, it just came back out. But, that was with oil all around the perimeter of the rubber cap, so it just slid back out when I turned on the engine.

I may just try cleaning off all of the oil, replacing the rubber cap/plug, and using either super glue or maybe the grey silicone gasket stuff that is used for the oil pan seal to try to keep it in place -- or some other kind of adhesive. It seems like it couldn't hurt to try that and see what happens.

Reply to
TomR

Oops, that second link above should have read,

"In the exploded parts diagrams on the following link, I don't see an end camshaft cap:

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."

Reply to
TomR

Well, I seem to be in uncharted waters here. I think I'm going to try putting the hard rubber cap back in with one of these three products and see what happens:

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I'll post back here which one(s) I try and how it works out -- probably in a day or two.

Reply to
TomR

It's labeled "bearing cap (rear)."

Reply to
hyundaitech

Okay, thanks.

Reply to
TomR

I ended up trying putting the cap back in place with the Form-a-gasket No.

  1. I am now waiting until it cures for more than 24 hours before trying it to see if it works.

When I cleaned out all of the caked-on crud and dirt before putting the cap back in place, I discovered that there is a weep hole at the bottom that I assume lets any oil drain back into the engine. I think the weep hole was probably clogged, and maybe that caused oil to get in behind the rubber cap with no way out. If that's correct, I think that pressure would have built up and pushed the cap out and caused the oil leak.

Here are 3 photos -- a "before cleaning", after cleaning (showing the weep hole), and after I put the cap back in place with the Permatex form-a-gasket No. 1:

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And, in case it helps, here is a "before cleaning" video with the engine running:

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I think the video shows the oil coming out through the camshaft bearing, but not draining out through the (probably clogged up) weep hole.

Reply to
TomR

It looks like the fix/repair that I did worked. As shown in the last photo that I posted (not the video)

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, I sealed the plastic cap back in place using Permatex form-a-gasket No. 1. I then let it cure for 36 hours and tried it. The oil leak is gone, and the cap is staying in place. So, hopefully, it is completely fixed and will stay that way.

Thanks for all of the responses to help me get this figured out.

Reply to
TomR

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