Exhaust camshaft oil seal leak :(

[theRossatron]

Just taken my 2001 S2 in for an A service. Been told there is a leak from the exhaust camshaft oil seal.

The leak has contaminated the alternater belt and 'may' have contaminated the timing belt - which was changed just last year and 5000 miles ago.

£3 for the part and about a million for the labour. Dont think I'll take it to lotus for that.

Might even have a crack at it myself. Is it a clam off job?

Cheers for any thoughts.

[djroadboy]

Its not a clam off job but its a PITA cos you have to do it through the wheel arch and without a cam locking tool its almost impossible to do it on your own.

Where abouts in Scotland are you? If you fancied a trip down to Newcastle I could do for you at a very reasonable cost.

Drop me a mail "[e-mail]" if you're interested.

Dan

[theRossatron]

Thanks Dan, I've been told by a few people that F1 of Newcastle (who changed the cambelt last) may be responsible for it if their work carries a warranty.

I've tried and tried but i cant see any Oil leaking out and none on the alternator belt as I was told.

I'll definately send you an email if it looks like it needs sorted!

[djroadboy]

I've seen one before where it was losing quite a lot of oil but it was really difficult to tell where it was coming from. There was oil all over the cambelt but none on the alternator belt.

Dan

[theRossatron]

It's just the guy at Murray Lotus told me it had already contaminated the alternator belt, so I was expecting to see some there. I think I'll take the timing belt cover off at the weekend and have a peek, will that reveal all?

[djroadboy]

You should be able to tell if the camshaft oil seal is leaking when you get the pulley cover off. Make sure you've got a good light.

Dan

[djroadboy]

Just one more thing Ross, I dcan't see Formula 1 being responsible as the wouldn't have got anywhere the the camshaft oil seals when the did the cambelt. I would 've thought it would be very difficult to dmage one during a C serviec.

Worth a try tho!

Dan