I have an oil leak coming from the top of my front cover. I have searched and found the cause is the failing paper gasket that comes with the re-man engine currently in my car. I know the "right" fix is to pull the engine and replace it with a metal gasket, but the car runs absolutely perfect and really don't want to chance anything going wrong with a perfectly running car by pulling the engine. Has anyone tried an exterior sealing method and had any success?? I would think that there would be some sort of high temp, ultra bonding silicone of some sort out there that may not be the prettiest fix in the world, but would accomplish fixing the oil leak until something else more serious happens and I can fix it at that time??? If there are threads on this I do apologize, but I could not find anything but people explaining how they had to pull the engine and such..

Thanks in advance.

Gil

 

I know I'm not the only one out there with this problem or this idea.....

 

If you really want a sloppy job that might not last very long, grab some exhaust manifold selant and goop the hell out of it.

 

you don't have to pull the engine to replace the front cover gasket.

if you do replace it, you might want to think about an rx8 front cover gasket. they're made out of metal with a crushable section--much much better than the paper gaskets, and they're inexpensive.
http://www.rotaryheads.com/modificat...asket_mod.html

i've had nothing but perfect results using them so far.

 

Ok, guitarjunkie.. If i don't have to pull the engine, how do I change the gasket AND get to all the bolts to remove the front cover, without removing the engine? Do you have a writeup????

 

thats good news. those paper gaskets are so fragile that the parts guy at mazda broke 1 putting it into a bag.

 

Just remove the mail pulley, drop the oil pan, and take the front cover off.. I believe thats how you would take it out with out acturally pulling the motor.. I'll go home and take some detail pics of my engine.. but I'm almost certain you don't have to drop the engine.

 

Did a quick search and found this thread.. should be helpful

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/replacing-front-cover-gasket-how-hard-151653/

Its the Eshaft bolt thats going to be hard to take off (holds the front pulley to the E-shaft).. but you could do it! Oh, and the oil lines.. I'll take some pics for you when I get home.. If you like??

 

herblenny,
Hell yeah, any pics or other help would be much appreciated. I know you are friends with Bryan from BNR and so am I .. I have a set of his older stage 3s on my car, I remember reading some of your threads.

Thanks for the help.

Gil

 

you don't even have to drop the whole pan if you're careful. the odds lean towards you tearing the gasket and having to do it, but if you go really slow and use a very sharp putty knife, you can seperate the gasket from the front cover--then you won't have to drop the pan.

should i do a writeup on it?

 

If you could it would sure help me out. I'm going to attempt it myself and would rather not go into the task completely blind, know what I mean?

 

yea, but by the time i get around to doing it and posting it up on the website, you'll probably have long since completed yours.

if you just wanna do it, hit me up on aim and i'll try to give you some step-by-step instructions.

 

I'm about to put his older stage 3 on my new engine.. which's been sitting around for over 6 months..

Ok, looks like I'm not going to be too big of a help.. but will try..


My engine is currently sitting inside this tire and I can't lift and take the pics at the same time.. But all you need to do is:
1. remove the oil lines to the side right side,
2. oil metering from the left,
3. AC and PS off and the bracket.
4. Take off the big bold from the main pulley to the Eshaft.
5. drop the oil pan
6. remove the bolts holding the front cover.

Oh, In order to do all this, you need to remove water pump housing and such.. Also, I might of forgotten few things but you'll figure out.. anything thats front of the cover and anything that's attatched to it have to be off..

I guess you could do that.. But if Gil's having issues with his original gasket then most likely if he tries to mess with his oil pan, the oil pan will start to leak. I suggest either going with new metal gasket or go with silicone.