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Thread: 240SX Oil Leak

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    Exclamation 240SX Oil Leak

    I have a 1990 Nissan 240SX SE / SOHC / 5 SPD
    I have a major oil leak
    The oil seems to be leaking around where the pullies are
    I thought it was the oil pan, but the oil is coming from above that
    It only leaks while its running and 5 mins after it runs, and it leaks quite a bit

    I thought it was the head gasket or valve cover gasket but while the engine is on, no oil leaks from there, from what I can see

    I MIGHT be able to get pics of the area of where it leaks, but im not sure if my phone will take a well enough pic for you to see

    Help is greatly appreciated
    Thanks guys
    Last edited by NcTurnL; 06-20-2006 at 10:15 AM.

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    that's not very descriptive . WHAT pullies does it seem to leak near? the only pulley that could really leak engine oil would be the crank pulley, which would be a front main seal replacement. pretty cheap and easy to do.

    if it's the timing chain cover gasket then get ready for lots of cursing.

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    I think its the front main seal replacement
    how exactly do I do this?

    and sorry for not being to descriptive, didnt really know to to explain it to well

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    Quote Originally Posted by NcTurnL
    I think its the front main seal replacement
    how exactly do I do this?

    and sorry for not being to descriptive, didnt really know to to explain it to well

    front main seal is pretty simple. remove the bolt that holds the crank pulley on and remove the pulley (might need a pulling tool for it if you don't have one around). after the pulley is off you remove the seal using a seal puller (some like screwdrivers, but the seal puller works great and is a cheap tool to pick up). after pulling the old seal out spread some grease or oil on the new one and tap it in gently using a soft object like a plastic hammer or block of wood with a nice flat end on it. tap gently around the outside edge until the seal face is flush with the cover all the way around and then fit the pulley and tighten it.

    if you find space is tight to work in then you can pull out the radiator to give extra room .

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    Thank you so much

    hopefully this solves my leaking problem

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    Quote Originally Posted by HiPSI
    that's not very descriptive . WHAT pullies does it seem to leak near? the only pulley that could really leak engine oil would be the crank pulley, which would be a front main seal replacement. pretty cheap and easy to do.

    if it's the timing chain cover gasket then get ready for lots of cursing.

    im not to sure of the nissan but ya hes right most likely front seal and or chain cover. should be relatively easy to find once u get int here

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    Thanks man
    If it isnt the front seal, how do you check if its the timing chain cover gasket?

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    Quote Originally Posted by NcTurnL
    Thanks man
    If it isnt the front seal, how do you check if its the timing chain cover gasket?
    i think i have a service manual let me look for it i had a nissan WAY back int he day . wether i find it or not i'll post uplater

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    Greatly apprecaited
    Thanks man

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    Senior Member SLow_POke's Avatar
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    sory bro i cant find it i dont hink i have it with me any more . but if i find one on the net ill give you the link

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    Aight
    Thanks either way man

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    Alright, I took a look at my car this morning and tried to see where exactly the leaks are comming from

    Well,right under the pully that controls the fan, theres abother pully, one oil leak is comming from around that area

    The other leak, is comming from either the head gasket or the valve cover gasket, I notced when I was looking at the side of the valve cover that there was oil slowly comming out and that oil was hitting the headers which caused some smoke :-(

    Can you guys help me out with this?
    where could the first leak be, and also, would it be the valve cover or head gaskets?

    Thanks guys
    any help will be greatly appreciated
    ...I really need to get this car running

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    To change the front main seal, I know I have to take out the pully, Do I also losen the belts that it connects to to take the pully all the way off?

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    yes you will need to remove all of the belts from the car to get the crank pulley off. then remove the pulley completely and you'll see the black round seal in the cover around the crank.

    the oil falling on the exhaust manifold is likely from the valve cover gasket, another easy swap. the headgasket leaking oil in that area is mildly unlikely. the easy way to find the origin of a leak is to clean the hell out of everything, get all the oil off you possibly can, then run the motor and just watch for leakage. if the car is just sitting and running then the oil will run down the motor from wherever it's coming from so it's easier to trace than if you've been driving the car around and airflow in the engine bay has pushed crap around.

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    Alright
    Thanks man

    If I take all the belts off, is it going to effect the timing on my engine, or will everything be fine?

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    Quote Originally Posted by NcTurnL
    Alright
    Thanks man

    If I take all the belts off, is it going to effect the timing on my engine, or will everything be fine?
    Timing shouldnt be effected . your jsut removing the accesory belts.alternator, PS, maybe AC compressor belt . ect ect.

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    alright cool cool
    Thanks man

    now what do I do about that damn tight as hell bold on the pully?
    lol

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    Quote Originally Posted by NcTurnL
    alright cool cool
    Thanks man

    now what do I do about that damn tight as hell bold on the pully?
    lol
    use a impact. =D. or if nissan has a specialty tool liek honda get ahold of it .to hold the puley will u brake it loose

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    Quote Originally Posted by smoke_Em
    use a impact. =D. or if nissan has a specialty tool liek honda get ahold of it .to hold the puley will u brake it loose
    I need to get ahold of an impact
    Now I got a perfect reason to get a air compressor and an impact

    hahahaha, im not sure if im ready to brake it just yet

    Thanks alot for the info though

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    alright guys
    I got the front seal replaced and that leak is fixed

    Now I found another leak, next to the leak from the cover gasket
    I have no idea where exactly this leak is comming from, I know that its leaking somewhere to the left of the crank pully if you where looking at the car from the front
    It isnt a major leak, but tis annoying as hell, I was guessing the oil filter?
    Can ya'll head me in a certain direction here?

    Thanks alot guys

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    This is a quick random question about my valve cover
    I didnt want to start another thread

    are ALL the bolts used to attack the valve cover to the head the exact same?
    for some reason, after I put the new cover gasket in, and tried to put the cover back on, one side ALMOST all the bolts tighten, the other NONE of the bolts tighten
    can you guys help me out with this one?

    SORRY TO ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS
    but ya'll are truly VERY helpful

    THANK YOU

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    Quote Originally Posted by NcTurnL
    This is a quick random question about my valve cover
    I didnt want to start another thread

    are ALL the bolts used to attack the valve cover to the head the exact same?
    for some reason, after I put the new cover gasket in, and tried to put the cover back on, one side ALMOST all the bolts tighten, the other NONE of the bolts tighten
    can you guys help me out with this one?

    SORRY TO ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS
    but ya'll are truly VERY helpful

    THANK YOU
    i ready dont know since i never touched a nissan . but take them off and put them side by side it will tell you which are longer then the rest and go from there

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    I think the owner before me stripped the area where the cover bolt goes into the head, I think that why the bolts go in, but dont screw in.
    I really dont want to helicoil this beacuse I dont know how, but I dont think i'll have a choice
    Dammit, can someone help me out?

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  24. #24
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    sounds like a front main seal...

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    that was one of the leaks but I already replaced that

    This othr leak is coming from teh left of that

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  26. #26
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    it's a 240. its made to leak stuff.

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    lol
    naw

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  28. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by PSINXS
    it's a 240. its made to leak stuff.
    yup... nissans SucK balls....


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    I dont think so, but its all on the persons own personal opinion

    I still need help with this leak though

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  30. #30
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    from left of that? hmmmm My guess, the timing chain cover. take it off, check the gaket, replace if needed, it might even be cracked, cause My last 240 was like that. people often crack them when doing a timing chain job cause there are a couple of bolts that are hard to find and most people end up cracking the cover around them.

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    Alright I'll check that and see how it goes

    Thanks man

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  32. #32
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    let me know what you find, oh buy a can of brake parts cleaner and spray the fuck out the area, clean it very well, and then run the engine, the leak should be immediatelly visible that way.

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    I havent checked the timeing cover gasket yet, trying to figure out where it is

    but, I was wondering if it could be the oil pump?

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  34. #34
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    possible as that is where the oil pump is located, but if its above the crank pully, then ummmm

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    Hmmm

    Im just going to part out my engine
    save me some moeny for my new one :-)

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  36. #36
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    ok

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