Leaky Camshaft Seal Question

[slomove]

I have had some oil weeping for the last 2 years after using the car on track (a few spoonful trickling down the front of the engine for every track session) and I believe it started after I upgraded the cams. There is no oil spill when road driving. This engine is a Contour based Zetec ZX1 with Raceline cam shafts. It was enough to be annoying but so far not enough to make me do something about it.

Today I bit the bullet, took the belt and pulleys off and it actually confirmed the oil is coming from the intake cam shaft oil seal (see the oil droplet on the milled flange below the shaft).

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1969174425_CamDrooling.jpg

Question to the folks who know the Zetec:
Is it likely that the seal is just damaged? I re-used the old cam shaft seals when upgrading the cams.
Or is the seal just not seated properly? It looks like the seal is pushed in further on the top.

Since I have it now apart and need to do the cam adjustment anyway I guess I will replace the seals. Anything I should look out for so that this does not happen again?

Thanks,

Gert

[stevet]

Suggestions from a friend of mine who knows a bit about cams...

1. make sure the seal is seated properly
2. make sure you replace the sealant too (not just the seal)
3. be careful not to overtorque the cam covers as this can cause probs too.

Hope this helps!

[slomove]

Suggestions from a friend of mine who knows a bit about cams...

1. make sure the seal is seated properly
2. make sure you replace the sealant too (not just the seal)
3. be careful not to overtorque the cam covers as this can cause probs too.

Hope this helps!

Thanks.....sealant? Where should I use sealant? I can not remember I used sealant when I reassembled the camshafts.

Actually another thing I found is that I should plug all open threaded holes from the removed belt cover bolts. Does not look like they are leaking but I will do that also.

Gert

[JohnCh]

Gert, check out this cam install write up (http://www.focushacks.com/index.php?modid=56). It might be a good sanity check.

-John

[Birkin42]

I use ThreeBond silicone liquid gasket #1211 for sealing the joint around the seal. I don't have a Zetec but it looks simiple to a number of other engines. This sealant is intended for sealing cases together on motorcycles and works great. This sealant does not glue the parts together but seals great. You can source it from most motorcycle shops. The stuff I have is a few years old now so they may have superseded by a new grade.
Hope this is of some help.

Jack

[slomove]

Thanks guys, makes a lot of sense once I begin thinking about it :)

I am sure when I disassembled the head there was no sealant which is not surprising because the company who assembled my engine (out of business for a while) was known for bad workmanship. They also mixed up the cam bearing caps although it did not seem to have done any damage so far.

But (once again trying to think logically) the front set of bearing caps must leak (or weep) whithout sealant....doh.

I suppose then it was not the oil seal rings after all but since I ordered a new set I will install that one anyway.

Off to the garage!

Gert