Today I started fixing an oil leak on my car. I wasn't 100% sure where it was coming from, but usually, it’s the camshaft seals, the crankshaft seal, or the valve cover gasket getting brittle from the heat. So, I bought all the parts and started the tear down to pinpoint exactly where the leak was originating.
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Luckily, I had help from my good friend Angel, who’s always ready to lend a hand with stuff like this. I needed him more than ever this time because I’ve been sick and moving pretty slow. While I waited for him to bring over some tools we needed, I started by removing the intake manifold. It’s a bit of a pain because you have to undo 10 nuts just to get access to the valve cover.
To replace the seals on this car, the timing belt has to come off. First, you have to remove the accessory belts (alternator and pumps), take off the timing covers, loosen the tensioner, and pull the belt. That’s when we spotted exactly where the oil was coming from: one of the camshaft seals.
To get everything loose, you have to lock the camshafts in place using a metal locking tool at the back of the head so the engine doesn't lose its timing. You also have to lock the crankshaft by removing a plug at the bottom of the block and screwing in a threaded locking pin. Once the engine is secured, you can remove the belt and the sprocket to replace the seal.
As soon as we pulled the seal, we saw the reason for the leak. Months ago, I took the car to a mechanic to have this exact job done. The surprise? When I took the seal out, I realized it was old. It wasn't the new one I had bought. I had given him an OEM part that comes with a retention spring; this one didn't have it. To make it fit, they had jammed two little metal shims on the sides, as you can see in the photo.
The mechanic literally ripped me off. He probably used my new OEM part on another job. I also suspect he didn't change the crank seal either since it wasn't leaking there. He charged me for the repair and kept my spare parts. That’s why, whenever possible—getting advice if we don't know how—we should do repairs ourselves until we can find a mechanic who is actually trustworthy and honest.
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