Weeping timing chain cover?

[RacingSloth69]

Looking at a 4.7 V8 Vantage that has a note on its last service earlier this year of an oil leak on the timing chain cover.

An MOT that was carried out a few weeks later doesn’t mention any leaks.

The dealer has looked at it and confirmed it’s a weep/sweat more than a leak.

I’ve seen references to this as being a common issue on the vantage, and some say leave it alone until it starts dripping on the floor, others say fix as quick as possible. Appreciate your thoughts whether this is something I should be concerned about or drive and enjoy.

Spoke to AHM who are local to me and they suggest it would cost £1800+vat to fix. Does that sound reasonable?

Thanks

[Krhuangbin]

Mines (4.3) sweated a little since I bought it, never drops anything.

20k miles/4years, dipstick indicates zero oil use/loss between services.

Driven hard, no issues. Just monitor carefully every few months or so, clean off any sweat at service, job done.

That s my approach! I d fix it if it got worse but it hasn’t

One specialist ex-Aston told me he’d seen the 4.3s sweating from factory on PDI in some cases

[Dewi 2]

It would appear to be safe to leave this, until the (common) weep turns into a leak.
Mine is an early 4.7.
My trusty indie (who could gain extra work), told me to leave it.

Quite a big job apparently, because not easy to gain access to remove and replace the gasket and/or whatever else is involved.
I have never seen a drip on my garage floor.

[Go60 Jay]

Well I’ve learned something new. I thought this was no longer an issue on the 4.7. Damn it!

John

[RacingSloth69]

Thanks all - consensus seems to be monitor it and put some cash aside for when it needs doing

[LPH]

My 4.3 had this. Every year at service they commented on it. Never dropped anything at all, just misted on the engine. over 7 years never and issue.

Then this year I cracked and had it done. Not cheap!

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I hated this being brought up on every service so had it done this year, and it’s done and out of the way

Not cheap but a very big job

Kev

[Dewi 2]

We must look on the bright side.

The repair might cost us, but at least we do have timing chains.
Have you heard about 'wet belts'?

A flexible timing belt, that runs inside the engine and therefore amongst the oil.
What could possibly go wrong?

I am told that slivers of the belt slowly break away.
Those particles eventually clog the oil lubrication system and the engine runs for a short time without oil, until crunch.

Several motor manufacturers tried wet belts. I forget what their 'engineers' thought the benefit would be. Possibly a little less friction, so better mpg. Eventually in many instances, that does turn out to be true. Obviously a car that can no longer move, uses no petrol at all.

[cliffords]

Is it the Jag or the Merc engine in your car ?

[LPH]

Dewi 2 said:

We must look on the bright side.

The repair might cost us, but at least we do have timing chains.
Have you heard about 'wet belts'?

A flexible timing belt, that runs inside the engine and therefore amongst the oil.
What could possibly go wrong?

I am told that slivers of the belt slowly break away.
Those particles eventually clog the oil lubrication system and the engine runs for a short time without oil, until crunch.

Several motor manufacturers tried wet belts. I forget what their 'engineers' thought the benefit would be. Possibly a little less friction, so better mpg. Eventually in many instances, that does turn out to be true. Obviously a car that can no longer move, uses no petrol at all.

My son's car is a wet belt (Fiesta) we had it done this year. About 1/5 of the price of the of the timing chain cover leak on my V8V. That was for a full sump off, clean filter, all new ford OE parts and a new water pump too. You also get a full service included as you get new oil and coolant.

We have always changed the oil religiously at 12 months (only about 5k miles driven) and after 8 1/2 years the belt was still OK and there was no real debris on the oil pump pick up.

They are a bad idea but if you are prepared to step up the oil changes and ALWAYS use the correct OE Ford oil they aren't as bad as people make out.

[Greathey]

4.3s are known for this didn't know 4.7s still do that

Well, another reason to avoid 4.7 besides defective rod bearings

[embdenb]

It’s not an engine out job, buts it’s not exactly DYI

https://bernardembden.com/am/timingcover/index.htm

[kevin_cambs_uk]

embdenb said:

It s not an engine out job, buts it s not exactly DYI

https://bernardembden.com/am/timingcover/index.htm

Wow that is one hell of a job, I knew it was big but that is a lot of work

I never begrudged the cost of mine , glad it’s done

Kev