I’ve noticed I have a very small leak on my timing cover. I thought it was the crank seal but after cleaning the area and letting my car idle it shows it’s by one of the screw holes.

My question is. Do I need a crank seal also when changing my timing cover gasket/seal? Also is there oil pressure behind the cover? Will I have to drain the oil to so this procedure?

 

I have only helped a buddy replace his timing cover, because it was cracked from the crank pulley falling apart, so he was replacing the crank seal as well. With the car off there should be no oil pressure behind there, and most of it will have run down in to the oil pan. As far as draining the oil first I'm not sure, but I don't believe you should have too. I'm going to say it probably best to at least change the oil afterward.

 

I would recommend to go ahead and replace your front main seal while you have the cover off simply because it's cheap and that is a good time to do it. No oil pressure behind cover unless you are building crankcase pressure. Might be worth checking if the fastener is loose and potentially just needs tightened before diving all in. Depending on your mileage and if it has never been done I would also strongly consider replacing your timing chain and guides also inspect water pump chain and guides. Doing all the stuff to remove the timing cover is really the most labor intensive part of a timing chain job.

 

Timing chain & tensioner was done already when I bought the car. I think they either didn’t replace the gasket or damaged it when putting it back together. I will change the crank seal also with timing cover gasket.

You said check the fastener? I guess I’m not sure what you’re referring too. It’s leaking at the bolt hole to the left of the crank pulley on the bottom. It isn’t leaking behind the pulley. I tried snugging the bolts but didn’t help as they were at torq specs already.

 

You say bolt hole do you mean around a bolt or is the bolt missing? I assuming you were referring to a timing cover bolt

 

Bolt is there and it is one that secures the tok’ing cover. This pic is not my car. I just used it as a reference because I can’t get under my car right now since I’m not at home. This shows where the leak is and it’s leaking at this bolt location between the mating surface of the timing cover and block.