Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
EbenDahl
Samba Member


Joined: October 26, 2020
Posts: 44
Location: Washington
EbenDahl is offline 

PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2021 9:54 pm    Post subject: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

I recently completed my EJ25 swap into my 82' vanagon. I have a recurring oil leak on my thermopipe. You can see in the photos where the oil leaks are. I tracked it down to a leaking cam and crank seal. I have replaced them twice, and the leak gets worse.... Its legit dripping oil after I start it up.
Saw a mechanic today and he noticed that on my left side cam the factory did not out gasket material on the mating surfaces. You'll see how my gasket is pressed in square and flush, but there is a noticeable line above and below the seal. Mechanic tells me to put RTV on the edge of the seal and over these cracks above and below. Low and behold its raining and I go to pull this vanagon inside the shop and it's leaking oil still. What do I do? Replace the seals for a third time, or contact the dealer I bought this rebuilt this engine from? The engine has a 3 year warranty, To reach this one part of the head to seal it would require dismantling the head entirely...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
EbenDahl
Samba Member


Joined: October 26, 2020
Posts: 44
Location: Washington
EbenDahl is offline 

PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2021 10:02 pm    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead


Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16803
Location: sticksville, ct.
skills@eurocarsplus is offline 

PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2021 10:31 pm    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

there should be subabond or similar sealant between the head and cam carriers. if not, it's just gonna piss out.

scrap the junk seals too. get NOK or genuine subaru seals. those aftermarket ones get rock hard in short order
_________________
gprudenciop wrote:

my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese.......
[email protected] wrote:
most VW enthusiasts are stuck in 80's price land.

Jake Raby wrote:
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public.

Brian wrote:
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
syncrodoka
Samba Member


Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 11998
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
syncrodoka is offline 

PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2021 11:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

skills@eurocarsplus wrote:
scrap the junk seals too. get NOK or genuine subaru seals

For the op's reference, Good Vinton seals are brown, cheap seals that will will leak are black.
I don't see a obvious leak point, maybe with the plastics removed it would be more apparent. I would talk to the builder about it leaking.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Kombi///M3
Samba Member


Joined: March 16, 2011
Posts: 427
Location: Vancouver, BC
Kombi///M3 is offline 

PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2021 11:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

How's your crank seal and oil pump seal?
When you take the plastic cover off.. where
Was the oil drip?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
4Gears4Tires
Samba Member


Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 2982
Location: MD
4Gears4Tires is offline 

PostPosted: Fri May 21, 2021 7:04 am    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

If the motor has a warranty, it's a no brainer. Contact the dealership. You may be SOL if you already took the motor apart to replace the seals once before. But maybe they will work with you? I would have contacted them the first go around.

If they tell you to pound sand, I would follow skills' advice.
_________________
'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
xclemjustinx
Samba Member


Joined: August 06, 2016
Posts: 197

xclemjustinx is offline 

PostPosted: Fri May 21, 2021 9:58 am    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

That is either the oil pump or the cam seal.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
11BC2
Samba Member


Joined: August 27, 2017
Posts: 494
Location: Cool, California
11BC2 is offline 

PostPosted: Fri May 21, 2021 4:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

If they shop used those black cam seals, they probably don't know Subaru engines.
I'd wager they either didn't use any FIPG or the wrong type during assembly.
ThreeBond, Wurth, or Seal Maxx from Kimball Midwest will all work very well.

Judging by the pictures, my guesses are the following:
-Mating surface between block & oil pump/crank seal
-Piston wrist pin access plugs
-Cam cap to head mating surface
-Case halves
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead


Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16803
Location: sticksville, ct.
skills@eurocarsplus is offline 

PostPosted: Fri May 21, 2021 7:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

11BC2 wrote:
If they shop used those black cam seals, they probably don't know Subaru engines.
I'd wager they either didn't use any FIPG or the wrong type during assembly.
ThreeBond, Wurth, or Seal Maxx from Kimball Midwest will all work very well.

Judging by the pictures, my guesses are the following:
-Mating surface between block & oil pump/crank seal
-Piston wrist pin access plugs
-Cam cap to head mating surface
-Case halves


agreed. it would seem he has a pressurized leak from his description....and i didn't really want to say anything till the o/p replied but...

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


i have seen people fuck up the head gasket. the red circle is the oil feed to the head. usually the oil leak will run down the seam between the block/head and could also pool up in the valley on the top of the block.
_________________
gprudenciop wrote:

my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese.......
[email protected] wrote:
most VW enthusiasts are stuck in 80's price land.

Jake Raby wrote:
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public.

Brian wrote:
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
11BC2
Samba Member


Joined: August 27, 2017
Posts: 494
Location: Cool, California
11BC2 is offline 

PostPosted: Sat May 22, 2021 9:24 am    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

skills@eurocarsplus wrote:


agreed. it would seem he has a pressurized leak from his description....and i didn't really want to say anything till the o/p replied but...


i have seen people fuck up the head gasket. the red circle is the oil feed to the head. usually the oil leak will run down the seam between the block/head and could also pool up in the valley on the top of the block.


Forgot about that possibility.
I'd like to see more pictures and have more information on parts used, machining done/not done, etc.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
EbenDahl
Samba Member


Joined: October 26, 2020
Posts: 44
Location: Washington
EbenDahl is offline 

PostPosted: Sat May 22, 2021 3:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

Thank you for your insights guys. I think you're spot on about this being a pressurized leak. I've contacted the shop. It is quite possible i'll be removing the head to fix this leak. It just seems very unlikely that 3 sets of oil seals would be leaking this severely. I will tell you guys what happens in the next few weeks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
EbenDahl
Samba Member


Joined: October 26, 2020
Posts: 44
Location: Washington
EbenDahl is offline 

PostPosted: Sat May 22, 2021 9:09 pm    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

[quote="11BC2"]
skills@eurocarsplus wrote:


agreed. it would seem he has a pressurized leak from his description....and i didn't really want to say anything till the o/p replied but...

Forgot about that possibility.
I'd like to see more pictures and have more information on parts used, machining done/not done, etc.


This was a rebuilt engine done by ATK. I live in Washington. It seems like they do all their rebuilds in Texas and then ship them up north to be sold for a higher profit than down south. I think it's quite possible the rebuilder just forgot to RTV that one spot. Must've been rebuilt on a monday or Friday Confused
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead


Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16803
Location: sticksville, ct.
skills@eurocarsplus is offline 

PostPosted: Sat May 22, 2021 10:14 pm    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

EbenDahl wrote:

This was a rebuilt engine done by ATK


Shocked woof

my condolences

https://www.trustlink.org/Reviews/A-T-K-North-America-205702895
_________________
gprudenciop wrote:

my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese.......
[email protected] wrote:
most VW enthusiasts are stuck in 80's price land.

Jake Raby wrote:
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public.

Brian wrote:
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
mackaymanx
Samba Member


Joined: October 12, 2006
Posts: 479
Location: Australia
mackaymanx is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 23, 2021 1:37 am    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

Have a look at at the gudgeon access plug, had a leak like this on an EJ22 and that was the cause.
_________________
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate2-18600.png]Click to view image[/URL]
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
EbenDahl
Samba Member


Joined: October 26, 2020
Posts: 44
Location: Washington
EbenDahl is offline 

PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2021 5:46 pm    Post subject: Re: Oil Leak- EJ25 Motor Reply with quote

Just heard back from the shop. One source was the oil pressure switch. I'll be picking it up tomorrow and look further.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.