Found oil leak, Cam shaft seal !! any help on how to ?

[s52e368]

im changing the cam shaft seal this weekend any articles floating around out there ?

[Sean]

Just pull the cover off, tap it out, and push the new one back in. Really simple and straght forward. Oil it up a bit too.

I usually use the old seal to tap the new one in about 2-4 mm - so it can make a new seal to the cam.

[s52e368]

what about the timing gear and what not ?

[Sean]

what about the timing gear and what not ?

Has to be removed.

You'll need to do the timing belt when you do this too - figured that was a given.

Your best bet to get the bolt off - leave the belt on, get an impact gun, and remove it quick (hopefully not turning the motor over.) To get it on, use your old timing belt, wrap it around everything in such a way that you can get a pair of vice grips on there and keep the belt from turning. Doing this will keep the head from turning. Problem is, you don't want to push the valves into the pistons. You also need to keep the gear in place so you can torque it down to the...I believe...45-50 lb/ft.

Pretty much the whole front end of the engine has to come apart.

Also - there's another gasket in there. Look at Real OEM. There's the piece the camshaft seal goes into - has two bolt holes in it, and it's pushed in around the cam. There's a little circular seal in there that you should replace while it's out. Make sure to get that too.

To get it out, wiggle it back and forth. I had to use a hammer combined with a screw driver to carefully get it to start coming out. Your best bet is to get it spinning around the cam, and keep doing that until ti comes off.

Forgot to mention, depending on your year, you'll need either a male or female TORX socket of the correct size for the camshaft gear bolt.


I never took a picture when I did mine - I never thought of doing HOW TOS when putting my engine back together. Maybe I was more in tune with wanting to drive my car agin? lol

Let me know - I can describe how to do it to a T. ;)

[s52e368]

well i just had the timing belt done so i wasnt planning on it again.
i got the bolt out already, but i removed just to get teh dust cover out so i could see.

ill put it back on and turn the engine to TDC and remove cover and bolt for the gear. whats the best way to get the tensioner loose ?

[Sean]

well i just had the timing belt done so i wasnt planning on it again.
i got the bolt out already, but i removed just to get teh dust cover out so i could see.

ill put it back on and turn the engine to TDC and remove cover and bolt for the gear. whats the best way to get the tensioner loose ?

Ooo, that sucks dude. Cause, you're not suppose to retension the belt after tension is removed.

The only way to relieve tension is with the tensioner - and if you do that, you'll need a new belt. Can reuse the tensioner though.

Yea - it's pretty tight on there, I'd put the bolt back in, relieve the tension, and remove the bolt and you actually need to tap the cam gear off of the cam. The gear is keyed, so no worries there.

[s52e368]

well i be getting a new belt :( again

[Sean]

well i be getting a new belt :( again

Yea, that sucks man. But, better safe than sorry! ;)