Oil leaks between head and block. Removed head. Can't find cause.
99 Nubira 1.6 L - 145,000 K - Oil has been leaking between head and block near oil gallery behind exhaust manifold. We have removed the head but can't find any obvious cause......Both bolts were missing from intake maifold support bracket, and we think an exhaust bracket is missing from front of engine. Could resulting vibration cause oil leak?
We were told by previous owner's mechanic that timing belt did break around 80,000 klms., and bent valves have been replaced, and head shaved...... Are oil leaks like this a common problem? Should we just replace head gasket and bolts and hope for the best?..... We've been told we can't use old head bolts, but manual says we can?.........Any suggestions would be appreciated..............Ideas so far - Head wasn't tensioned down properly?...... Quick bodgey repair done to get rid of car (maybe using old head gasket, bolts were really tight)........ Oil pressure relief valve faulty?
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I'm sorry, but I can't provide visual images or diagrams. However, I can describe the general order of gaskets in a 1999 Dodge Durango engine from the top going down:
Valve Cover Gaskets: These gaskets are located on top of the cylinder heads and seal the valve covers. They help prevent oil leaks from the top of the engine.
Intake Manifold Gasket: The intake manifold gasket seals the connection between the intake manifold and the cylinder heads. It helps maintain proper air-fuel mixture and prevents vacuum leaks.
Throttle Body Gasket: If equipped, the throttle body gasket seals the connection between the throttle body and the intake manifold. It ensures proper airflow into the engine.
Exhaust Manifold Gaskets: These gaskets are located between the exhaust manifold and the cylinder heads. They seal the exhaust gases and prevent leaks.
Head Gaskets: The head gaskets are situated between the cylinder heads and the engine block. They seal the combustion chambers and coolant passages.
Oil Pan Gasket: The oil pan gasket is located at the bottom of the engine and seals the oil pan to the engine block. It prevents oil leaks from the oil pan.
Front and Rear Main Seals: These seals are located at the front and rear of the engine crankshaft. They prevent oil leaks where the crankshaft exits the engine block.
Timing Cover Gasket: If equipped, the timing cover gasket seals the timing chain or belt cover to the engine block. It helps protect the timing components and prevents oil leaks.
the oil leak could be a bad valve cover gasket needing replacement, a head gasket leaking oil, a leaking intake gasket and oil running down along the engine block and dripping. it could be an oil pressure switch that is leaking. it is near the starter while driving or engine running can spray oil onto the starter. unless the oil leak is very bad and has been leaking a long time onto the starter will not cause it to act like a dead battery even then not likely. have a starter draw test down to check condition of the starter.
The cylinder head is located on the center of the engine. Yes it can be a worn out head gasket or piston rings. If the piston rings are worn out the oil is burnt that's why it emits white smoke. You will need to replace the head gasket and piston rings.
Hope this helps and thank you for using FixYa! Have a good one!
possibly oil pressure switch which has one wire going to it near oil filter or split oil pump gasket or crank seal, might have to remove timming belt cover and crank while cover is off to locate leak
Bet it's either a bad head gasket or intake gasket.
Is there any wetness around the area where the engine head meets the block? Pooling around or near the intake plenum/manifold?
is it overheating? this will cause it to preasurise excessively, causing loss of steam through the preasure cap.
otherwise if there is definately no leakage externaly when preasure tested, then it is probably leaking internaly. some cars now have EGR (exhaust gas recurculation) coolers, where coolant cools the exhaust gasses . This can leak, letting coolant into the exhaust system as steam. The only other passage for coolant leakage internally is through a leaking head gasket, or worse still a cracked cylinder head. check your oil on the dipstick, if it is creamy coloured then coolant is leaking into the oil. A headgasket/cracked head may also leak coolant straight into the combustion chamber, the only way to check this is to test for hydrocarbons in the cooling system (specialist test kit)
If the heater matrix is leaking, you would probably notice the front carpets getting damp. .
That vehicle has the transmission cooler built into the radiator. You may not be leaking oil into the coolant, but transmission fluid, they both make the same mess. Replacing the radiator will probably fix your problem. Let me know if this helped.
It is quite possible you have a leaking head gasket or intake manifold gasket... allowing both an oil leak and a pressure leak from the cooling system. The alternative may even be as severe as a cracked block. Get it checked before you drive too much farther!!
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