Oil leak

[rotaryspeed]

Hello,

 

had my SE on the ramp today and there was quite a lot of oil splattered on the vac pump dribbling down the engine. I was unable to spot it to a specific source. Its pretty tight in there. Does anyone have an idea where it could come from ? Anything common in that area that starts leaking ?

 

Just got a 4500 sq ft warehouse few days ago to work on my cars so the esprit will undergo a more extensive maintenance with all the stuff that has accumulated so far.

 

Many thanks

Brgds

Steven

 

edit: Oh, just saw this got posted in the wrong subsection, I must be too tired by now to read properly. I dont know If I can move it to the right section after it has been posted, meh ...

Edited June 2, 2014 by rotaryspeed

[Peteric]

Well on mine it was the cam tower seal and gasket that leaked down onto the vacuum pump. Apparently a very common problem. I done both cam towers,cleaned gasket faces and used an anaerobic gasket sealant (hope that's how you spell it) and changed all oil seals and cam cover gaskets.

I used permabond A136 but there are Loctite products etc that can be used.

If you get the service notes it clearly explains how to do the job, step by step.

[mr.oogieboogie]

Also check the cam end o rings behind the heat shield where the turbo sits

[top-plumber]

Yes definitely cam shaft oil seals. Did mine earlier this year. As mentioned above change seals both ends. You have to remove the pulleys so check end float on cams and also re shim followers. Good trick is to get some strong magnets and place them against each camshaft lobe so the shims come away with the cups. Check clearance first and make a chart of results. Then you can swap the shims you have measured with a micrometre about to get tolerance right and buy new for those you need to change.

Service notes are a must.

Wayne

[rotaryspeed]

Thanks, camshaft oil seals sounds like something that I will most likely get the shop to do, Well if I find a suitable one. ATM I am not equipped for this as I am in the middle of moving my shop. Not speaking of that the esprit is my daily driver.

 

BTW is a failing cam shaft oil seal something a Lotus shop would/should mention to the customer ? Its been leaking for a while but the mechanics didn't say a word about the oil leak. Either they didn't see it (very unlikely if you have it on the lift for alignment) Or they didn't know what they were facing. *scratching my head*

 

Steven 

[rotaryspeed]

@top-plumber

 

Are you referring to these ? http://lotusespritworld.co.uk/EGuides/EMaintenance/CamShaft_Oring.html

 

In that case, the oil on my engine is leaking from the other end of the motor, 

[top-plumber]

You can replace those seals while it's apart I suggest but the pulley end is where your problem lay. If your not tooled up for it don't do it as it's quite involved and needs to be accurate. Where are you in the country? Must be a specialist local. These are fixes that people selling these cars won't want to do. That's why a proper inspection and a negotiated discount is the way to go.

Wayne