kaptnjack Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I rescued a vert from under a tarp about six months ago…I am slowly restoring or repairing everything and this oil leak at the oil pump cover was on the list. I have read every post and article on the Internet about this oil pump cover leak issue. Mine would pump about 1/4 cup of oil out every cold start...after it warmed up it seemed to stop. I assume the aluminum plug expanded to a seal. I needed to be fixed...I realized the perfect way was to remove the head. This is expensive, time consuming and a little scary. Also...my engine is in perfect condition, runs well, no other leaks and needs no other maintenence or repairs at this time. I decided to try the method that many on the web discuss as an alternative to the proper fix. The method of pulling the plenum/intake, lift up the cover/plug, clean it, add Hi-temp sealer, 24hr cure, bolt it down and see what happened. Well...I recently went through the process of trying to get the tranny rebuilt, while it was out I noticed the shop had disconnected the crossover pipe to get the tranny out. I was looking under the hood while it was at the shop...tranny out, crossover kinda laying there and from the drivers fender...you could see pretty well all the way to the oil pump cover with a reasonable amount of space to work with. It was tight but there was a little room to get a wrench in there. I got the rescue/car home a couple weeks ago and have been working on a list of things to do.. Taking the info from the net...especially here and 60degree....and the eureka moment I had at the tranny shop....I dropped the six screws that held the crossover pipe... Several extensions or even better ..a long extension helps with the rear crossover bolts. I wrestled the pipe out of the way the best I could. I used spray carb cleaner and spray brake cleaner to clean the area completely before loosening the cover hold down...You will need the extension spray tubes. I use a toothbrush to clean it and then blew it dry with the compressor. I had read to use vise grips or similar too rotate and lift the plug...mine was so loose you could lift it and drop it repeatedly with a finger tip, apparently the oil ring was already "gone"...I cant believe it wasn’t leaking worse that it was. Any way...I lifted it up and slid a small screw driver under the lip to hold it up as high as possible. About 1/8 inch before it topped out on the head flange. I lightly spritzed it again with the brake cleaner, used a shop towel and kinda worked it around in the 1/8 opening and blew it dry with the compressor. I used a permatex black hi-temp silicone RTV sealer and the extension nozzle that came with it to apply a healthy bead to the accessible areas around and under the plug...maybe a little better than half way around. I pulled the screwdriver out and let the plug drop….I reached in and spun it clockwise about three turns. I lifted it again with the mini screwdriver and propped it open. I added another bead of sealer, dropped it...gave it a couple more spins without pushing down and walked away for 30 hours. I wanted a good cure for the sealer and wanted to allow a thick gasket to set before bolting it down. Couple days later....I put it all back together. It seemed to be more tedious going back together but it was 97 degrees that day. So far....dry as bone. I hope she holds. Cheap, neat and quick. Only six nuts……not counting the air box. A $5 tube of sealer and a few cut knuckles. Thanks to all those that went down this road before and shared their experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRONDOG442 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I think you should retitle this thread to: Re: A new way to half-ass the "Oil Pump Leak" /end thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutty Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I think you should retitle this thread to: Re: A new way to half-ass the "Oil Pump Leak" /end thread x2!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaptnjack Posted June 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Just trying to offer a suggestion to those that may need it in a constructive...glass half-full kinda way. Thanks for taking the time to read the thread and enter a post.....half-empty as it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venom Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Nice job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patgizz Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I think you should retitle this thread to: Re: A new way to half-ass the "Oil Pump Leak" /end thread hell of alot better method than pulling the rear head and never getting the car to run again for people who do not understand the timing on a 3.4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meltboy1 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRONDOG442 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I think you should retitle this thread to: Re: A new way to half-ass the "Oil Pump Leak" /end thread hell of alot better method than pulling the rear head and never getting the car to run again for people who do not understand the timing on a 3.4 We will see how long it works, secondly if you don't know how to time a 3.4 properly, don't buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I read about someone taking a SBC distributor gasket, make one cut, slip it on with sealant on both sides, and tighten back down. That may work well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 I think you should retitle this thread to: Re: A new way to half-ass the "Oil Pump Leak" /end thread hell of alot better method than pulling the rear head and never getting the car to run again for people who do not understand the timing on a 3.4 Which is not that hard in the first place... for the life of me I'll never understand why people make such a huge deal about it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfewtrail Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 That RTV should hold up for a long time if it got all the way around the oil pump drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 I read about someone taking a SBC distributor gasket, make one cut, slip it on with sealant on both sides, and tighten back down. That may work well!! I've been using both rubber and paper ones on on 3.1 and 3100s... soon I need to do one of my 3.4 dohcs... so I will be trying exactly that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych0matt Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 I just deal with having a slight oil leak I don't have time or patience right now to try fixing it, so half a quart of oil or so a month I can deal with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaptnjack Posted June 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 When I rescued this vert it was soupy underneath and leaking everywhere. New tranny rebuild solved the trans fluid. While the trans was out I installed a new rear cam cover gasket and new oil pan gasket too. The only leak left was the oil pump. Now she is dry as a bone, I can start degreasing the underchassis and engine, undercoat and black it out etc. Also...all my friends and family have concrete drives and it was impossible in good conscience to go visit someone and leave an oily puddle in their driveway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych0matt Posted June 16, 2008 Report Share Posted June 16, 2008 I don't mind my oily undercoating, prevents rust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EviLette Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 I don't mind my oily undercoating, prevents rust That's my line, LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drummer Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 my car doesn't leak oil but it uses a quart to a quart and a half every 1500 miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadz34 Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 my car doesn't leak oil but it uses a quart to a quart and a half every 1500 miles. If it was that bad, I would assume you can smell burnt oil in your exhuast? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drummer Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 my car doesn't leak oil but it uses a quart to a quart and a half every 1500 miles. If it was that bad, I would assume you can smell burnt oil in your exhuast? nope no burnt oil, no smoke or anything, the motor was even re sealed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asonofabeach69 Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 I just bought a 98 sunfire for a daily driver, so I will be attempting to do the oil pump leak repair on my car real soon. And hopefully some other modification goodies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Guy Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 The correct thing to do is replace the O Ring and not silicone it as the oil is presurized there which is why you can dump a quart in a few minutes or less. It may work for a while but eventually it will leak. Don't bother cutting a new O Ring and silicone either. The way you replace it on the 3.4 DOHC w/o removing the head is to remove the intake and shave off a small amount of the mounting tab for the intake manifold directly above it that way you have enough room to lift the distributor plug and with some patience you can stretch it over the top and get it into place. Been there, done this, still no leaks 7 years later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRONDOG442 Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 We all know this NOOB, go away homo!!! USER HAS BEEN BANNED FOR THIS POST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 I half-assed mine in a similar way in 2002, but instead of only RTV, I stretched a thin 1/16" O-ring over the head of the oil pump drive AND added RTV. It seems to have started leaking a little this year, not sure if it's from the oil pump drive, but it's motor oil so most likely that's where it's coming from. Anyway, the half-assed method lasted me 6-years. Most people don't even keep their cars that long so why the hell not save hours of work and suffering! Let the next owner worry about re-doing it! It just sucks for me that I keep cars a really, really long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaptnjack Posted June 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 I keep cars a while too. I have a Bonneville SSE in the garage that was bought in 95. So far...the oil pump cover repair is holding nicely but I have driven it less than 200 miles. When I started this post it was to simply share my experience and to give back in a way.... I have gained a lot of knowledge on this site that I am using to restore my first CS vert...it's been a blast but a lot of hard work to rescue this lil gem. It seems I appreciate what I have gotten more than some appreciate what I give...oh well. My little discovery of sideways access to save time and money is acknowledged not to be the "correct" fix but may be satisfactory for an indeterminate period. The vert is not a daily driver and I plan on keeping it....with a little luck the "half-assed" approach may work just fine in this situation or at least hold until I really have to do some serious work on the motor at which time a real solution may be applied. Of course the possibility exists that this shortcut may be "real" too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Don't feel bad, kaptnjack, I appreciate your contribution! Many of us have fixed the oil pump drive in a similar fashion. Mine lasted 6-years half-assed, many things on these cars don't last that long even if repaired properly! Besides, these are aging cars of very little monetary or collector value, not priceless ancient Egyptian antiquities. Who really cares if a few things are half-assed here and there, so long as it works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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