Oil leak at the top of the timing cover

[valveamp]

been getting an oil leak at the front of the engine for as long as I've had the Bronco. I always thought it was the intake gasket. But, today, I started the engine and held the throttle open for a while and high rpm and watched the front of the engine. At the higher rpm, I saw oil accumulate at the top of the time cover. I wiped it away and it immediately came back. As best as I can tell, it's coming from between the engine and the timing cover, not down from the intake manifold area. Is this possible? Is there oil inside the timing cover at pressure? Leak increased with engine rpm. I think that's why I never saw it before, I normally just idle the engine.

 

[70_Steve]

As best as I can tell, it's coming from between the engine and the timing cover, not down from the intake manifold area. Is this possible? Is there oil inside the timing cover at pressure?

Anything's possible! You tell me!

No, there is not oil under pressure inside the timing chain cover. But there is oil slinging around from the timing chain, etc. In your other thread you mentioned you removed the PCV valve and plugged it off. The crankcase needs to be able to, at the very least, relieve the pressure that comes from normal blowby. Do you have any vents, breathers, etc. on the valve cover? it sounds like as you rev the engine, you're building up pressure in the crankcase and causing leaks.

 

[valveamp]

I have 2 breathers on it. What was a pcv valve is is now a breather. Can the oil coming off the timing chain leak out from the top of the cover?

 

[TwoDalesDad]

The timing cover seems to be the piece hit by electrolysis...that may help you...or not

 

[valveamp]

Ok, good point. It looks like I may need to replace it and see what happens. More work I wasn't planning on.

j