oil leak from cam tower

[brianabbot]

Hi, I have a 90 Esprit turbo SE and oil appears to be leaking from the lower cam tower seal onto the exhaust, which then burns off, has anyone changed this seal and is it a job for an amateur? If anyone knows of a step by step guide on the internet I would be really grateful. I am in Rye East Sussex - if this is not a job for me can anyone reccomend a good garage near me. Thanks in advance. Brian

[chandrab]

I'm curious too, since My Esprit SE has the same problem...I am starting see oil in the #4 Sparkplug well and the burn off is annoying.

There used to be directions LEW on how to replace the O-Rings under maintenance, but that seems to have disappeared!

Anybody have a copy of the directions?

Thanks,

Chandra

91SE

Hi, I have a 90 Esprit turbo SE and oil appears to be leaking from the lower cam tower seal onto the exhaust, which then burns off, has anyone changed this seal and is it a job for an amateur? If anyone knows of a step by step guide on the internet I would be really grateful. I am in Rye East Sussex - if this is not a job for me can anyone reccomend a good garage near me. Thanks in advance. Brian

[Quicker]

Glad to see we all have the same issues....

I too get a few drops on the floor and on the manifold... less the more I drive.

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EGuides/EM...haft_Oring.html

now to find a source state-side....

[chandrab]

Lou - Thanks for the guide.

Shouldn't JAE have the O-Rings?

Glad to see we all have the same issues....

I too get a few drops on the floor and on the manifold... less the more I drive.

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EGuides/EM...haft_Oring.html

now to find a source state-side....

[Quicker]

yeah they should - I have a message into Jeff already - I'll post up if he has them.

[Bibs]

Remember as a Club Esprit member you get discount at JAE too

[brianabbot]

My oil leak seems to be from the lower side of the cam tower, unfortunately it drips straight onto the pipe going to the turbo, I did'nt notice it driving only when stationery, I dont think there is a gasket, it looks like theres just some red sealent and it is seeping from that - I only bought the car a couple of weeks ago, I was kind of excited at the prospect of buying an esprit and any mechanical checks wre pretty much forgotten once I'd driven it - I think I'd have bought it even if I'd had to push it home, oil leaks aside it's a great car! Does anyone know the torque settings for the five allen head bolts that secure the cam tower, I was hoping rather optimistically that it might just need tightening - unlikely I know

Thanks

Brian

[Splodge s4]

Your certainally not alone chaps, mine were leaking & pouring oil onto the manifold on hard right turns. I'm not much help with how to fix it, Geoff at Esprit Engineering did it a few weeks ago. Very common problem by the sounds of it.

[Guest Troy Halliday]

Now are you talking about the cam covers or the cam carriers to head joint.

The cam covers have a gasket which can be replaced quite easily and I would recomend using a gaket sealent on these as they always seem to leak. The cam towers however is a more involved job.

[bigsi]

as troy said , heres how i sorted mine.

i got some comma red liquid gasket rated to 360c first i removed the cam cover and then the old gaskets, i then spent a good ten mins on each surface cleaning and degreasing.

i then wiped dry, and started to put a thin line of liquid gasket around the face, in the centre where the studs stick up for the cover bolts to bite onto i put a small ring around the surface. i then fitted the gasket ontop of the cam tower.

withthe cover off and clean i then put a small line around the face of that of the liquid gasket and then placed on the tower, fitting the top bolts and tightening down.

when tight i then cleaned the excess liquid gasket from around the edges and the job was done. since then not one drop of oil has come out of them.

[brianabbot]

Now are you talking about the cam covers or the cam carriers to head joint.

The cam covers have a gasket which can be replaced quite easily and I would recomend using a gaket sealent on these as they always seem to leak. The cam towers however is a more involved job.

Hi thanks I really appreciate everyones help with this, unfortunately I am talking about the lower seal where the whole unit bolts onto the engine and not the cover - sorry I did'nt explain it too well.

Brian

[Guest Troy Halliday]

Ok this is a far more involved job which means romving the cam belt, cam carriers and refitting them with new seal.

My workshop doors are now open so if you need any help woth this let me know.

[brianabbot]

Ok this is a far more involved job which means romving the cam belt, cam carriers and refitting them with new seal.

My workshop doors are now open so if you need any help woth this let me know.

Thanks for the info, it's probably a bit beyond me at the moment and it would be a shame to break it so soon after getting it, do you run a garage? or know of any in East Sussex that would do this type of thing?

Thanks for your help

Brian

[910Esprit]

Dont be tempted to simply tighten the 'screws' It will not work and you will risk stripping the threads.

Unless its a flood, I would wait until your next cambelt or tappet service.

cheers

Steve

[brianabbot]

Dont be tempted to simply tighten the 'screws' It will not work and you will risk stripping the threads.

Unless its a flood, I would wait until your next cambelt or tappet service.

cheers

Steve

Hi, it's not a flood but it drips and smokes quite a lot when it's stationery, it can't be too bad as the level has not dropped noticeably. I'm just a bit concerned about the fire risk

Brian

[matk]

Brian

As far as garages go, take it to Troy. He's one of us, an expert, has just opened his own garage business and I suspect not too far away from you. I notice you've just joined the Forum. If you do a search on previous threads that he's posted on you will see the level of his expertise and you will pick up that he was instrumental in the Big Si restoration project. He has also restored his own S3 Esprit down to the last nut and bolt, to a fantastic standard.

Take it to Troy........

[dazmans3]

Check out my THREAD 'S3 Turbo HC conversion', post no 39.

There are some pictures that might help you see whats going on. It seams to be common for either the 'O' rings to weep, as has been mentioned, or for the sealant between the Cam Carrier & the Head to weep oil, esp over No 4 exh pot. The Turbos use an Anorobic pinky/redish sealant here. N/As have a Gasket.

If removing the Cam carrier to reseal, then you will have to be extra careful on torqing down as the setting is only 16 lb. If this has had work done to at some time them maybe the damage has already been doen, as I discovered with mine.

I would clean off this area first, Brake cleaner spray is very good for this. Then monitor it to see how significant the leek is. then you can gauge as to how soon you would need to have sorted, or you may be able to trace the source.

Daz