AJP V8 Oil Leaks

[Shanksy87]

I believe this is my first post on here, so hello all. Long time reader as I've managed to find most information by trawling, but I wanted to get some experienced comments back on a particular problem I'm having before I get stuck in and strip everything down.

Essentially, there is a fairly serious oil leak in the top of the engine, inside the vee. I know the cam covers need resealing as I had them off recently and they clearly didn't like the wellseal. However, I wanted to here if there are any other common joints to look at closely nearer the front of the engine around the a/c pump/alternator area as there is a lot of oil floating around there right now. The engine was rebuilt 12k ago and has head gasket more recently than that so with any luck it is not this major.

Also, what are the suggest sealants for this type of work? I have tiger seal to hand but wasn't sure if this is too much of an adhesive to be considering as a gasket sealant, hence the failed use of wellseal.

Alex

[AnimalMother]

Have you looked under the coil packs at the back of the v? The oil senders are there for oil temp and oil pressure.

[Tanguero]

You do need to use the correct type of oil proof sealant - either Loctite 5910 or 5699
Wellseal will leak like a sieve after a while as it is non hardening - I would suspect this is where your oil is coming from.

[jsfstu]

you sometimes get a leak where the timing chain cover joins the block, check with a straight edge to make sure its not lipping or sitting proud

[gruffalo]

AnimalMother said:

Have you looked under the coil packs at the back of the v? The oil senders are there for oil temp and oil pressure.

I have had the sender for the oil pressure light fail on me a couple of times and cause a pretty large leak, this would be my first place to look.

[Byker28i]

It'll be just the cam covers is my guess.

When a so called specialist blamed his noisy exhaust on alleged my poor setup, he had the cam covers off to check valve clearences (which were spot on), didn't seal them up properly then drove the car for 150 miles as his daily drive for the week (not putting any fuel in of course).

Big puddle of oil in the V, spat around the engine bay by the alternator belt so I had a puddle under the car and oil everywhere in the engine bay - seriously everywhere.

Turned out to be about a half inch of sealant missing where he's caught the cover putting it back on.

I'd do the cam covers first

[robsco]

Another vote for oil pressure switch. Mine was leaking like bloody hell fire and left a paddling pool in the middle of the V. It's a very cheap part to replace if everything is already in bits.

[Shanksy87]

Brilliant, thanks guys.

So we're thinking correct sealant at the rockers, then hunt down the senders. Can I ask if anyone knows how these are supposed to form a seal? Copper washer, sealant...ptfe tape?

[Jubag]

Try this... http://youtu.be/-dM0getVauM

[Supateg]

Under £7 for the pressure sensor

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...

Hth

[Tanguero]

Shanksy87 said:

Brilliant, thanks guys.

So we're thinking correct sealant at the rockers, then hunt down the senders. Can I ask if anyone knows how these are supposed to form a seal? Copper washer, sealant...ptfe tape?

Ahem!

Tanguero said:

You do need to use the correct type of oil proof sealant - either Loctite 5910 or 5699

That is how they are meant to be sealed. Apart from the head gaskets the AJP uses sealant rather than gaskets for most joints.

[Shanksy87]

Sorry, I meant how are the senders suppose to seal? I assuming its a tapered thread with a copper washer, no sealant? I unsure why a new sender would be required, although for £7 I may as well replace it.

Off to get some Loctite 5980 (update of 5910 apparently?) tonight for the cam covers.

[gruffalo]

Shanksy87 said:

Sorry, I meant how are the senders suppose to seal? I assuming its a tapered thread with a copper washer, no sealant? I unsure why a new sender would be required, although for £7 I may as well replace it.

Off to get some Loctite 5980 (update of 5910 apparently?) tonight for the cam covers.

The senders break, mine blew it self apart twice leaving a fine jet of oil spraying up, that is why they are prone to leaking.

Does your oil light work correctly?

[Shanksy87]

The light works correctly but I wasn't aware these could fail so easily. Have ordered the part ready for the investigation.

[Shanksy87]

I managed to strip everything down yesterday. Net result is oil across the whole of the top of the vee. The question I have for you knowledgeable bunch is whether the lay shaft that drives the alternator is a usual culprit for leaking oil or is there is no oil routing in that area of the block?