Leaky ECOTEC

How difficult is it to change the crank and cam seals on a 2.0 Ecotec?

I'm doing the cambelt this weekend, and figure it would be the ideal time to chase the leaks.

Main concern at this stage is getting the crank pulley off. - any tips / advice welcome.

Reply to
IanDTurner
Loading thread data ...

I'd be more worried about whipping off the flywheel. There's seals at both ends...

Reply to
Conor

Cam's easy, but for the crank you need the engine out. Crank pulley will need the serpentine belt removed, not the easiest job job in itself, but the flywheel end is likely to need attention too.

You don't say which car this is in - the RWD layout of, say, the Omega, means you could do the crank pulley relatively easily, though from memory it will take the skin off your knuckles removing the ancillaries round it, especially if aircon is involved. You'll find it easier with the rad out. However if it's transverse, forget it unless you're taking the whole lump out.

Reply to
asahartz

depending how bad your leaks are & if you wish to keep the car long term, we have used Forte Seal conditioner quite successfully in the past

formatting link
there are other brands available.

Reply to
reg

Thanks guys - the car is a Cavalier CDX by the way.

I was only really looking at the cambelt end - that seems to be where most of the leaking is from. Serpentine belt will be off for the belt change anyway - surprised you say that's hard. OK, so I have to remove an engine mount as the aircon models have the belt going round one, but not overly difficult. I have changed it in the past without too much hassle.

Plan is to keep the old girl going for some time yet, so would prefer to cure the problem rather than temporally fix it with Forte etc.

Reply to
IanDTurner

have you checked that all the breather system is clear?

Reply to
Mrcheerful

Yes - even fitted the upgraded filter to prevent sludge from the crankcase return line. Engine is clean other than that end of the engine. It's clearly leaking from somewhere under the cover - suspect the seals. Just a pain, because it then drips onto the exhaust....

Reply to
IanDTurner

I have seen quite a few cam box covers leaking

Reply to
Mrcheerful

No - I cured that one eventually with a decent new gasket and a tube of Hylomar. ( e-bay cheap ones seemed to be just that, and after a couple of futile attempts I paid for an OE which worked )

Reply to
IanDTurner

I take it you have to be able to get to the seal to use this? I've got a leaking rear crankshaft seal, but given the work required to get at it, it doesn't seem to be worth fixing...

Andy.

Reply to
Andy

No you pour it in the oil & it makes all the seals in your car swell. (Wynns, forte, amtech all make such stuff)

Reply to
Duncan Wood

In article , snipped-for-privacy@AOL.com writes

Are you sure it's not the rocker cover gasket? This hardens with age and heat from the engine and begins to leak. With oil leaks, it can be hard to be sure where they are coming from.

Did this on a 1995 2.0 Ecotec a couple of years ago, although it was leaking from the other end, where the plug leads pass through the well cover. Also leaked inside the well, so the plug holes were full of oil.

Reply to
Mike Tomlinson

Yes, I'm sure!

Rocker cover lip is totaly clean, with no seepage at all now. Leak is coming from behind cam belt area somewhere. I have a full seal set, so figure I may as well have a go.

Reply to
IanDTurner

easiest will be to use an air wrench, otherwise you will need to jam the ring gear

Reply to
Mrcheerful

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.