FD sump removal

[ianelvar]

Rebuilt block is back in and purring nicely! Just one little problem that oil is leaking out through the sump seal like it\'s going out of fashion. Guess I wasn\'t liberal enough with the sealer Can it be taken out without removing the engine/sub-frame? And if so, how?
Please tell me it can, I really don\'t want to take the engine out again :o

[Jit]

Its easier with the engine out dude! Where is it leaking from on the sump? When you assembled the engine and put the sump on, did you attach and tighten the engine mount legs? cos it seals from there too

[ianelvar]

DOH :Hammer DOH :Hammer DOH :Hammer DOH :Hammer
Thanks mate. Might it easier to support the engine and lower the sub frame?
No, actually I didn\'t. It\'s leaking round the sides though!

[Jim_rx7]

Just go mad with the sealant.. you can\'t have too much. Better than it leaking!

[ianelvar]

UUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHH. I\'d best fetch my spanners and some pennies for the swear jar.

[isijappanisi]

know the feeling mate, I had to pull out the engine after a small oil leak as well, yesterday actually. but didnt take to long compared to other cars!

[ianelvar]

Having looked at it I think I\'ll support the engine and unbolt the subframe from the chassis. I\'ll leave all the suspension connected, but should give me enough room to whip the sump out and go mental with the sealer, then get it back in without making a mess. I was worried it might be leaking down the housing legs, but I can see sealant that\'s squeezed out on every single joint, so it can\'t be that. Lesson learned = Use more sealant! Thanks guys

[danny_m94]

put a jack under the gearbox and remove subframe its miles easier that way ive done it with the subfrma on and off waste of time with it on. Ill have some sump braces ready in a week or so ifoure ineterested these stop the chance of oil leaks from the sump premanently there £60 and the same as this http://www.banzai-racing.com/products/OPB/fd3s_opb_kit.jpg

[ianelvar]

Lowered the sub frame down and whipped the sump out. Much easier than pulling the block out again. Re-sealed, but there\'s still a leak. I eventually worked out that it\'s tracking down the right hand edge of the front cover gasket, but I can\'t see where it\'s coming from! I assume it probably is the front cover gasket leaking, but I can\'t see how! I\'m meticulous about cleaning up gasket surfaces and used a new gasket. My build sheet shows that I torqued the bolts up to spec. Quite confused now, as I can\'t think of where else it could possibly be coming from. I\'ll pull the air pump off and have a quick look later though.

[danny_m94]

Omp lines or front cover gasket

[ianelvar]

I thought that too, but I can\'t find a trace of oil tracking down the lines themselves, so it must be the cover gasket. Maybe I missed a bolt..

[ianelvar]

The problem for anyone that\'s interested was a schoolboy error by me. I put a new gasket on, but put the wrong front cover on. I\'ve got one sitting in the garage with a nicely cleaned gasket face and the one one the motor had a large pecentage of old gaket on it. So, having removed the water pump, omp, turbo oil return, alternator, air pump, power steering, aircon and supporting brackets I got the cover off, put the right one on with a new gasket, and she\'s no longer leaking. YAY! What a load of hassle for such a stupid thing!

[nuki]

dont go too hardcore with the sealer.. i know a guy who did and a bit of sealer came off the inside and blocked up the oil pickup or somthing similar.

[ianelvar]

Thanks bud. I went with the 6mm bead that Mazda and no problems so far.