While doing the timing belt I thought I'd look into where some of my leaks are coming from. I've purchased cam seals and plugs. I've now taken the front cams off and found more info.
For one, the front exhaust cam plug was covered in grease. Its seat is the least clean/most cruddy. It was cruddy with a little glue-looking gunk while the others looked to be bare metal. Both cam seals looked fine.
But, the engine is much more oily/dirty on the passenger side (cam gear/seal side). Immediately it is obvious that the crank/cylinder sensor has had some "changes". This thing looks to have melted and oozed think black glue or lacquer of some sort. The heavy black stream made its way to the oil pan and below. Does this sensor need to be replaced? It must still be working, no? Won't a new one just leak again? Any long term strategy for crank/cylinder sensor?
While looking at the passenger side of the engine, I saw more and more oily dirty areas that can't be seen when the timing belt covers are on. One of the oiliest/dirtiest spots is where the front head connects to the block. Two pictures are attached, one with flash, one without. This is looking at the front head, from the passenger side, with cams and inside belt cover removed.
Does this indicate a blown head gasket?
I also got under the car with my drop light and mirror-on-a-stick and tried to see if any where else the head gasket looks blown. It is hard to see up the front side of the engine with aftermarket headers that do a great job of blocking the view. From what I can tell, it is all dry from the bottom view and towards the driver's side. When I put on the headers last summer, it was dry and the leaking has been going on for years. If it is blown, it is right here, in that corner, as far as I can tell.
The oil/grease is on the rear passenger side of the engine as well. All around the oil pan (passenger side) is pretty thick with oily crud. But, I can see around the header and to the driver's side and no leaks. But, I can't really see well directly on the passenger side where the heat meets the block. I haven't yet taken the interior engine cover off on that side.
With my mirror and finger wipes, it seems that the valve covers have not leaked much, except maybe near the front exhaust cam plug. I can't detect any valve cover leaks on either valve cover.
Knowing that the car doesn't burn or leak enough oil to need any added between changes, nor does it have any other problems I'm aware of, could this still be a head gasket problem? Would a head gasket problem between the head and block leak oil or coolant? This is clearly oil.
For one, the front exhaust cam plug was covered in grease. Its seat is the least clean/most cruddy. It was cruddy with a little glue-looking gunk while the others looked to be bare metal. Both cam seals looked fine.
But, the engine is much more oily/dirty on the passenger side (cam gear/seal side). Immediately it is obvious that the crank/cylinder sensor has had some "changes". This thing looks to have melted and oozed think black glue or lacquer of some sort. The heavy black stream made its way to the oil pan and below. Does this sensor need to be replaced? It must still be working, no? Won't a new one just leak again? Any long term strategy for crank/cylinder sensor?
While looking at the passenger side of the engine, I saw more and more oily dirty areas that can't be seen when the timing belt covers are on. One of the oiliest/dirtiest spots is where the front head connects to the block. Two pictures are attached, one with flash, one without. This is looking at the front head, from the passenger side, with cams and inside belt cover removed.
Does this indicate a blown head gasket?
I also got under the car with my drop light and mirror-on-a-stick and tried to see if any where else the head gasket looks blown. It is hard to see up the front side of the engine with aftermarket headers that do a great job of blocking the view. From what I can tell, it is all dry from the bottom view and towards the driver's side. When I put on the headers last summer, it was dry and the leaking has been going on for years. If it is blown, it is right here, in that corner, as far as I can tell.
The oil/grease is on the rear passenger side of the engine as well. All around the oil pan (passenger side) is pretty thick with oily crud. But, I can see around the header and to the driver's side and no leaks. But, I can't really see well directly on the passenger side where the heat meets the block. I haven't yet taken the interior engine cover off on that side.
With my mirror and finger wipes, it seems that the valve covers have not leaked much, except maybe near the front exhaust cam plug. I can't detect any valve cover leaks on either valve cover.
Knowing that the car doesn't burn or leak enough oil to need any added between changes, nor does it have any other problems I'm aware of, could this still be a head gasket problem? Would a head gasket problem between the head and block leak oil or coolant? This is clearly oil.
