Woohoo - Its alive, BUT...

[Bergerac]

I'm not sure about the Microsquirt but on the MS3 the injector firing order is fixed in the code ie output 1 then 2. Id try it in simultaneous and see if it improves.

[Drscottsmith]

I will go back and look at that Bergerac - thanks!

So I am now trying to diagnose my oil leak…any thoughts as to the source before I start taking the front end apart (again)?

[Tom]

That's a pretty epic oil leak -- think you need to pull it apart to see what's going on there. The normal advice is to clean everything up and look to see where the leak originates, but with such a fast leak, that may or may not be helpful. Motor does look likes its running lumpy, exhaust leak aside. What does the J boot do in your set-up -- the big worm clamp looks like it's about to fall off...

[Drscottsmith]

I am using a straight pipe in between the factory air box and the j-boot (just not installed yet). deleted the MAF in favor of MAP.

I THINK the leak may be from the lower balance shaft (seal maybe crooked or something). Just trying to narrow down before I pull it all apart again. I don't think it is front main seal as that area looks dry when running.

[Drscottsmith]

Ok regarding the oil leak and thinking through the plan…

I have pulled everything off enough to see that the seal on the balance shaft is a) the correct one and b)apparently is not the source of the leak as I hoped.

I have tried to put a little air in the system through the dipstick (as you would prime) in the hopes that the pressure would force oil out somewhere but it is not doing that - no leaks at all and I am concerned about putting too much air pressure in the crankcase.

My next step I suppose is to pull the rest of the front off all the way to the rear timing cover. Once that is done, should I be able to see the leak with air pressure? How much is too much? Not sure how else to get oil to flow with everything off.

Everything else seems dry as you move up except for the droplets that have been sprayed about by the belts.

[Drscottsmith]

Update -

See video below.

[four0four]

It's tough to see in your video, but the inside face where the o-ring mates up with the balance shaft cover/engine block (the face faces -in- toward the balance shaft)..run your finger along that, maybe?

Hopefully this isn't the case, but I could see how an incompletely sealed balance shaft housing would leak like that too (not under pressure, but just pooled oil leaking out). If the front is still off, might be worth taking a syringe with oil and filling the housing a bit to spot leaks. Hopefully it doesn't need to be at operating temp!

[Drscottsmith]

I can definitely feel the “seam” where the cover meets the block on that inside surface. I put a dab of 574 on there just to add a bit of seal.

I don’t feel any other areas of concern there, and I guess would have thought the nature of the o-ring would “fill” any unevenness in somewhat?

There was some oil that dripped out of the front of the balance cover when I got it loose - not sure that is normal or not.

I’m not sure where you mean to put oil to check for leaks with the syringe….

[four0four]

I can definitely feel the “seam” where the cover meets the block on that inside surface. I put a dab of 574 on there just to add a bit of seal.

I think 574 won't really help there - Pretty sure it requires metal on both sides to cure (ie: won't cure pressed up against rubber).

I don’t feel any other areas of concern there, and I guess would have thought the nature of the o-ring would “fill” any unevenness in somewhat?

Likewise, but I'm sure it can only do so much! Sounds like not the problem though.

There was some oil that dripped out of the front of the balance cover when I got it loose - not sure that is normal or not.

I’m not sure where you mean to put oil to check for leaks with the syringe….

I think that's normal. And I just mean to inject some oil past the first couple bosses (shown below) to prevent it just coming right out the front:

s-l1600.jpg (769.04 KiB) Viewed 650 times

Basically all that's intended to do is disambiguate between leaks between the housing/block and leaks involving the big o ring. Hopefully..!

[Drscottsmith]

Ok I think I understand now. Think you are right about the 574. I may put a dab of rtv at that seam on reassembly. I did replace the o-ring with a new one but I could not find any issue with the other one.

When it was altogether and running, I could not see any leakage along the seam of the balance shaft cover and block (e.g. there was no leak towards the back of the cover).

I have another Mylar seal as well, but I can’t find any issue with the one on there so don’t think that is a problem.