R34 Rb25det NEO weeping oil... anyone been here before?

[D0gg94]

Hey gents,
 
So I've been chasing blood (oil) loss from my rb25det NEO....
 
Basically it's soaking the inside of the timing cover and dripping down the front of the oil pump and sump etc,
 
Now, many hours have been spent attacking the usual culprits for this nonsense: genuine valve covers, half moons, cam seals and front main seal have all been replaced with genuine gasket goo to help. I also re torqued the head studs while the covers were off.
 
To my displeasure I pulled the timing covers off again today and she's still bleeding. I fear it can only be coming from the head gasket seal (or lack there of)...
 
The head was recently (6 months or so ago) reconditioned and ARP head studs, Tomei metal (standard thickness) Head gasket and tomei poncams went back in with it (would have been rude not to...)
 
The place I took it to obviously made it clear they needed to get the deck of the block as smooth as a babies ass in order to seal it with a metal head gasket... I'm thinking perhaps she wasn't smooth enough... But it's certainly not leaking compression so I'm scratching my head a bit cause there's not much room between the front of the block and cylinder #1... surely if it's leaking oil that far foward it would leak compression aswell?
 
I'm uploading pics of where the oil is pooling on top of the water pump for your viewing pleasure.
 
Anyway I guess I'm at the point where I'm trying to work out:
 
A: Are there ANY other spots on the front of a turbo NEO where oil could get into the timing cover ( VCT maybe?) That people know of?
 
B: If it does turn out to be the head gasket, could I just one-for-one it with a genuine HG without getting the head sent to a shop (Again) cause its still newishly refurb'd or is that bad joojoo? (Also not pushing much boost or power... I was just future proofing it)
 
C: Bite the bullet and start looking for/ organising a rebuilt long motor since effort is required either way
 
D: Attempt to convince the shop I took it into that they should really help me out..
(I don't like my chances here because all other seals weren't installed by a 'qualified mechanic', so f$#@ery could ensure)
 
There's tons of experience and genuine dudes and dudettes on here and any input, advice or opinions would certainly go towards the brain storm.
 
Thanks guys if you read this far.
 

[Rusty Nuts]

Check the vct bolt is tight , what about camshaft seals?? Unfortunately a drip near the gears can throw it everwhere, but I've had an external oil leak from head gasket which didn't spread to the cylinders ( on a BMW not RB25) check the easy stuff first then take the car back to get the head gasket checked There are no seals that can effect their part of the work because you eliminated any chance first by checking the easy stuff

[Rusty Nuts]

If there is a substantial groove in the crankshaft it will never seal no matter how many new seals. 

[D0gg94]

If there is a substantial groove in the crankshaft it will never seal no matter how many new seals. 

Yea it was all pooled down there... But when I changed the seal Just to be certain, the one I pulled out was bone dry, if there IS a groove i guess I'm pretty screwed anyway [emoji17]

[D0gg94]

Check the vct bolt is tight , what about camshaft seals?? Unfortunately a drip near the gears can throw it everwhere, but I've had an external oil leak from head gasket which didn't spread to the cylinders ( on a BMW not RB25) check the easy stuff first then take the car back to get the head gasket checked There are no seals that can effect their part of the work because you eliminated any chance first by checking the easy stuff

I'll check the VCT bolt tonight for sure, otherwise Yea, might have a chat to the dudes who did it.. cause all the easy stuff has now been changed and checked

[Rusty Nuts]

Was there oil present on the rear face of the Harmonic Balancer? I have in the past shimmed the seal forward 1mm when removing the engine was not possible. Its fiddly and a bodge but it worked. I got the shim from Blackwoods they have a large range in their catalogue. Oil leaks are a PITA wish you all the luck in the world mate

[Rusty Nuts]

The shim was from Circlips Australia and was called a P-Shim shim washer

http://www.circlips.com.au/content.php?sec=products&sec2=circlips&sec3=shims

Edited May 7, 2018 by Rusty Nuts

[D0gg94]

Was there oil present on the rear face of the Harmonic Balancer? I have in the past shimmed the seal forward 1mm when removing the engine was not possible. Its fiddly and a bodge but it worked. I got the shim from Blackwoods they have a large range in their catalogue. Oil leaks are a PITA wish you all the luck in the world mate

Hmm the balancer look like it only had some sprayed oil from the timing belt and sprocket going around... But I'll have a look into this. Thanks heaps for the info !