Rx7Ridah

iTrader: (8)

alright i am having a little difficulty locating an oil leak that i am having. it doesnt appear until higher oil pressures i.e. driving it around for a while then park it. it appears to be originating from the front of the engine bay ruling out the oil filter base orings. rear main seal is new and not leaking at all, checked through inspection plate and prefectly dry in there. oil pan has a brand new gasket and used some black magic prematex for insurance. all bolts are tight on oil pan. motor is a recent rebuild. turbo lines and turbo prefectly clean. turbo return was just resealed to verify. it is leaking about 2 quarts to every 50-75 miles. the front cover has never been removed and didnt leak prior to my rebuild of the motor 2000 miles ago. i havent changed the front main but it is next on my list. is it possible for the front main to leak that kind of oil? there is moist residue visible on the front cover and it drips off the passenger side of the oil pan near the firewall side. my only other thought is the oring on the main pulley bolt could have went bad. any ideas before i rip the front end of the motor apart? there arent any "oil trails" from the leak suggesting front main.

SureShot

Are you sure about that turbo drain line?

Rx7Ridah

iTrader: (8)

yep removed the tube from front cover, resealed at front cover and at turbo drain to front cover exstension. no drips on the braided part of the return nor from the fitting on the turbo. i thought that it was the culprit originally b/c i found a small pool on the front cover lower lip under it, but it didnt solve my prob.

Go48

iTrader: (7)

I suggest you clean up the oil using a spray solvent or whatever, dry it off and run the engine just enough to cause it to leak a little and then you should be able to pinpoint the source of the leak. Better to confirm the leak source before tearing into the engine again only to find that the "fix" didn't stop the leak. Good luck!

HAILERS

Get a small mirror and flashlight. With the engine off, look straight at the front pulley bolt. There should be no oil in the area of the front pulley bolt.

It could be a oil metering pump gasket or the arm/lever has a tendency to leak after a couple of decades. The lever has a o'ring that you can't see unless you take the arm/lever off. There is no known part number for that 0'ring. It does not come with a gasket set.

Rx7Ridah

iTrader: (8)

hailers you could be a genius! the only place i could find any pooling of oil was right behind the omp. now i had thought that it could be that but didnt find anything to verify thats what it is, but i have a few spare omps i will swap it tomorrow and post. thanks.

Rx7Ridah

iTrader: (8)

Okay update on my situation: i think that it may be my front cover gasket. further inspection today with the car in my shop at work revealed that with the car jacked up and in gear, had a coworker hold idle @ 3000 and watched the oil run down the passenger side. it is pouring out from an unknown origin but i can see it flow where the front cover meets the front iron somewhere above the turbo drain like behind the water pump housing. any more suggestions or is it time for the stupid front cover to come off?