Front Cover Leak- Two Questions
Front Cover Oil Leaks - Two Questions
I have read most of the leak threads and have two questions:
1. Where on the front cover do the leaks typically come from? Mine seems to be leaking at the very top but cant tell where because the alt and ac comp are in the way. Do the head gaskets ever leak oil at the front?
2. More importantly, why does it leak? Makes no sense as that area should never even see liquid oil (above the pan area)except splash lubrication, so why does this thing leak so much?
1. Where on the front cover do the leaks typically come from? Mine seems to be leaking at the very top but cant tell where because the alt and ac comp are in the way. Do the head gaskets ever leak oil at the front?
2. More importantly, why does it leak? Makes no sense as that area should never even see liquid oil (above the pan area)except splash lubrication, so why does this thing leak so much?
Last edited by Extinct; Mar 31, 2013 at 06:35 PM. Reason: Clarification
coolant passes through the cover cuz the waterpump is mounted to the front......
the front cover IS the oil pump and also covers the cam chain....so there's a lot of oil there too.....
and yes, most of them leak. new gaskets and front crank seal are probably in order.....
quite common to leak oil at the top.....not to make your day, but the oil leaking at the top could also be coming from the manifold end seals leaking.
the front cover IS the oil pump and also covers the cam chain....so there's a lot of oil there too.....
and yes, most of them leak. new gaskets and front crank seal are probably in order.....
quite common to leak oil at the top.....not to make your day, but the oil leaking at the top could also be coming from the manifold end seals leaking.
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Here's pix of the back side, the oil pump is in there, so oil pressure "starts" in the front cover. Water pump flow is thru the two big "ears" at the top. Note oil pressure switch on the side.
Last edited by Savannah Buzz; Apr 1, 2013 at 01:02 AM.
Thanks for the answers! I did know that oil pump was in the front cover and of course that the coolant ran through it.
What was a bit baffling for me is how it would leak oil at the top above the coolant ears, as that area should only ever see splash lubrication at most. Almost as strange is why it would leak at the manifold corners, as even that area should only see splash lubrication as well right?
It makes sense the lower edge of the valve covers would leak, they are flooded in oil from rocker oil, but the top of the timing cover or the corner of the manifold makes no more sense to me than the upper edge of the valve cover gasket?
Of course, leaking at the oil pressure switch makes sense because it is under pressure.
BTW, strangely enough, front crank seal is not leaking, appears to only be leaking from very top of the engine - do the head gaskets ever leak oil?
Just wondering about the root cause of it all.
What was a bit baffling for me is how it would leak oil at the top above the coolant ears, as that area should only ever see splash lubrication at most. Almost as strange is why it would leak at the manifold corners, as even that area should only see splash lubrication as well right?
It makes sense the lower edge of the valve covers would leak, they are flooded in oil from rocker oil, but the top of the timing cover or the corner of the manifold makes no more sense to me than the upper edge of the valve cover gasket?
Of course, leaking at the oil pressure switch makes sense because it is under pressure.
BTW, strangely enough, front crank seal is not leaking, appears to only be leaking from very top of the engine - do the head gaskets ever leak oil?
Just wondering about the root cause of it all.
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If you have a copy of the Rave CD, shop manual, then pull the oil pan and then the front cover off to find and fix the leak. While in there, if you are over 100,000 miles seriously consider replacing the oil pump gear set and timing chain set cause they should be showing some wear by now.
drowssap, no coolant leaking there, just oil. PO had done the waterpump alread.
DiscoMike, I do have a copy of the Rave manual, and although I am quite capable of repairing said issues I was more interested in starting a discussion about the wheres and the whys for the common leaks. Although I am new to LR's I am quite experienced in the realm of hands on wrenching and as an experienced mechanical design engineer I am always interested in the root cause of these types of common issues.
For example the poor design of the head bolt/cylinder causing head gasket leaks is readily apparent once you look at the design and the more experienced members share their experiences, the front driveshaft is another example of a design issue (although relatively minor with respect to the placement of grease fittings. I just did not see an obvious design flaw that causes common oil leakage at the front cover as I did the other design flaws, so I thought I would start a discussion and learn from the members with more land rover experience.
Thanks again for all the replies!
DiscoMike, I do have a copy of the Rave manual, and although I am quite capable of repairing said issues I was more interested in starting a discussion about the wheres and the whys for the common leaks. Although I am new to LR's I am quite experienced in the realm of hands on wrenching and as an experienced mechanical design engineer I am always interested in the root cause of these types of common issues.
For example the poor design of the head bolt/cylinder causing head gasket leaks is readily apparent once you look at the design and the more experienced members share their experiences, the front driveshaft is another example of a design issue (although relatively minor with respect to the placement of grease fittings. I just did not see an obvious design flaw that causes common oil leakage at the front cover as I did the other design flaws, so I thought I would start a discussion and learn from the members with more land rover experience.
Thanks again for all the replies!
The Rover V8 uses a high volume oil pump, so lots of oil is being thrown around.
The Rave has a diagram of the oil flow in the engine, the front cam bearing is being lubed under pressure and will run off onto the timing chain, which is designed to last the life of the engine, it is a non interference engine.
I have never heard of a Rover timing CHAIN breaking, I have heard of the cam being snapped in half because of lack of lubrication, but the chain was still good.
It is common for the timing BELT on a TDI to break it not replaced per schedule, that is a interference engine, so it is toast when that happens.
The Rave has a diagram of the oil flow in the engine, the front cam bearing is being lubed under pressure and will run off onto the timing chain, which is designed to last the life of the engine, it is a non interference engine.
I have never heard of a Rover timing CHAIN breaking, I have heard of the cam being snapped in half because of lack of lubrication, but the chain was still good.
It is common for the timing BELT on a TDI to break it not replaced per schedule, that is a interference engine, so it is toast when that happens.
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