R32 GTR Oil Leak

[Godzilla32]

Hey everyone, i tried searching for this but there isnt anything exactly like im looking for. I have a oil leak on the exhaust side of my engine. The right side cam cover gasket was leaking so i replaced that but im sure there is still oil leaking from further downt he side of the engine. Im pretty sure its not any of the oil lines for the turbos. I was told that it could be the head gasket leaking. The car runs strong but possibly there is a leak between the oil galleries and the outside? Im running out of places it can leak from! Im not keen on having to pull off the head, not to mention the intake collector and turbo's for a new head gasket, so has anyone had a similar problem or got any ideas. Im very handy around cars and am nearly a qualified mechanic. Just after sum input..

Thanks in advance guys

Regards,

Deren

[Godzilla32]

I have taken off both turbo's and mannifolds. One turbo needs attention anyhow. I have discovered that oil is leaking from the front and back exh cam shaft seals. Im still wondering if there is any oil coming from the head gasket? Anyone seen this before?

[wrxhoon]

There is no rear camseal , there is a half moon there .

Replace the rocker cover gaskets , the rear halfmoons ( you will need a bit of sealant there ) and the front cam seals , if it still leaks look further then .

[Godzilla32]

Yeh i knew it was a half moon seal Ive done the rocker cover gasket already but i thought with the turbo's off it and everything else coming off it would be a good chance to do the head gasket if need be. Has anyone seen an RB26 head gasket leak oil before? Mine still runs strong and makes good even compression.

[wrxhoon]

Yeh i knew it was a half moon seal Ive done the rocker cover gasket already but i thought with the turbo's off it and everything else coming off it would be a good chance to do the head gasket if need be. Has anyone seen an RB26 head gasket leak oil before? Mine still runs strong and makes good even compression.

If i was going to replace the h/gasket on a gtr i would pull the engine out .

Its very tight on the plenum side and very hard to do the plumbing there .

Head gaskets can leak oil but if it leaks from higher up and runs down you cant tell .

[Godzilla32]

If i was going to replace the h/gasket on a gtr i would pull the engine out .

Its very tight on the plenum side and very hard to do the plumbing there .

Head gaskets can leak oil but if it leaks from higher up and runs down you cant tell .

Yeh, I have to get the plenum off anyhow to cut new throttle butterflies.. The workshop manual says it has to be removed to take off the head (its a bastard of a job ive done it twice before)...Whats the chance its leaking from both places? There isn't very much oil. I kinda wanna say stuff it and go with my gut feeling that its only the 2 seals but would kick myself if i found it still leaking oil down the track...Then again shaving the head, buying a new head gasket and everything else involved really would be a waste of money if it wasent leaking. I'll get another foto, it seems to be oily in the join of the head and block on the front and rear ends and a bit along the sides, but not at all towards the middle..Which makes me think its just been running down there from higher up and then as the car accelerates and brakes it runs forward and back...?

[wrxhoon]

It's unlikely that it leaks from the head ( not because there is no oil in the middle either ) , the oil leaking from the cam seals and the rocker cover will travel down and until you fix that you won't know for sure .

Yes you will have to remove the plenum to remove the head but if i was to remove the head , i would prefer to remove the engine out , or at least lift it up a little to get to the plumbing under the plenum easier and get to the turbos easier too.

Once you remove the plenum its very easy to remove the cil head .

if you have good compression do a leak down test as well and if thats very low i would take it the engine is in good nick so i would replace the seals , half moons at the rear and new rocker cover gaskets and put it back together .

How come you removed the plenum twice ? What a job to bust your knuckles , no skin left after that i bet .

[Godzilla32]

It's unlikely that it leaks from the head ( not because there is no oil in the middle either ) , the oil leaking from the cam seals and the rocker cover will travel down and until you fix that you won't know for sure .

Yes you will have to remove the plenum to remove the head but if i was to remove the head , i would prefer to remove the engine out , or at least lift it up a little to get to the plumbing under the plenum easier and get to the turbos easier too.

Once you remove the plenum its very easy to remove the cil head .

if you have good compression do a leak down test as well and if thats very low i would take it the engine is in good nick so i would replace the seals , half moons at the rear and  new rocker cover gaskets and put it back together .

How come you removed the plenum twice ? What a job to bust your knuckles , no skin left after that i bet .

Thanks again for your input mate. I just finished taking the plenum off for my 3rd time! The first time i took it off cuz i wanted to repaint it. 2nd time i had to take it off cuz i had mega air leaks after i put it back on! Sounded astho there was about 10 birds stuck in there chirping away!! This time cuz im still chasing a high idle..Getting new throttle butterflies cut. And yes i have busted my knuckles! Here's proof.....

[wrxhoon]

Yea its a bastard of a job and it dosn't get any better puting it back as you already know .

Make sure you use new gaskets on the plenum and exhaust manifold otherwise it will be coming off again .

Anyway jokes aside i hope you fix your problem and the knuckles will heal in time ..

[GTRgeoff]

Deren, in response to the questions asked, there is a high likelihood that it's just the seals. If there is no evidence of emulsified oil in the water or under the oil filler cap then it is improbable that the head gasket is leaking. It's worth noting that RB30 seals fit perfectly and are pretty cheap from Repco. I've had the front exhaust seal leak a lot worse than that and oil goes everywhere, covering the cross member. The rear still looks pretty dry as well and if you go short on the half moons some silicone will fix it.

Good luck with the spanner rash.

[Godzilla32]

Deren, in response to the questions asked, there is a high likelihood that it's just the seals. If there is no evidence of emulsified oil in the water or under the oil filler cap then it is improbable that the head gasket is leaking. It's worth noting that RB30 seals fit perfectly and are pretty cheap from Repco.  I've had the front exhaust seal leak a lot worse than that and oil goes everywhere, covering the cross member. The rear still looks pretty dry as well and if you go short on the half moons some silicone will fix it.

Good luck with the spanner rash.

Thanks alot guys! Really appreciate that input once again. Thats a very good point you made about the water in oil and vice versa. Im silly for not thinking of that myself it was only a couple of days ago i gave that advice to sumone buying a car! I keep a careful eye on those areas regularly and havent noticed any contamination so fingers crossed. I'll go with the seals and hope for the best! The hands are halfway there! But as Wrxhoon mentioned there is still the reassembly..Doh!

Many thanks to you both

Regards,

Deren

PS i just thought i might ask would it be worth replacing both cam seals & half moons, even though the intake side seems ok?

[wrxhoon]

I would definantly do both of them , buy aftermarket cam seals ( from any bearing place ) they are very cheap . Be very carefull when taking them out not to scratch the camshaft and carefull when installing them not to damage the seals ! You will need to hammer them in with something thats almost the same size ( a tube the same diameter ,but a little smaller ) . If you dont have anything use the old seal if not damaged to much .

Just because there is no oil in the coolant and no coolant in the oil it doesn't mean the oil can't leak from the rear or front of the head gasket . Having said that its unlikely it leaks . Make sure the auxiliary bolts are in place at the front and rear of the head ( little 6mm bolts )