Engine hole? patch job? leak

[rderenzy]

I have oil in my bilge
I don't know much about engines, but this is very strange to me.
This is the front of the engine, right under/next to the largest circle gear of the belt

The silver looks like a cheap glue/weld job - but also, it looks like a seam is fully exposed, almost like it doesn't overlay or match up properly?

thoughts?

 

[Bt Doctur]

guessing a cracked timing cover,common problem or someone tried replacing the cover with out lower the oil pan

 

[rderenzy]

Interesting
Could u speak on common problem? How come?

How costly is this to fix

 

[Bt Doctur]

A had a 5.7 dump its oil in the bilge, the bottom of the front cover was cracked from 3:00 to 9:00 To properly fix it the pan should be removed first, install the new cover and then replace the pan.On some boats you can drop the pan, on others the motor has to come out.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Interesting
Could u speak on common problem? How come?

How costly is this to fix

its a common problem with the plastic timing covers used by GM within the past 10-15 years. the 4.3's for some reason leak more than the 5.0 and 5.7 motors

cost is a relative term based on your abilities. As Bt Doctur indicated, on some boats you can drop the pan and work on it in-situ, on other boats, you must pull the motor. If your looking for an estimate from the marina, it will be between a 3 and 5 hour job.

 

[rderenzy]

this is all really good info, thank you

I'm not seeing any plastic, everything in the picture is metal

 

[Rick Stephens]

The pan is aluminum. Your arrows are pointing at a plastic timing cover with paint on it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

there are aftermarket cast aluminum timing covers to replace the problematic plastic ones.

 

[Rick Stephens]

there are aftermarket cast aluminum timing covers to replace the problematic plastic ones.

what he said

 

[rderenzy]

ah, so, you guys quite sure that is where the oil is leaking from? and only when the engine is on right?
I'm assuming that GAP should NOT be there, so a new one would cover that gap?

 

[rderenzy]

so...comparing the replacement covers....it doesn't look like mine has a crack - looks like it just isn't installed correctly and is offset (or I'm guessing)

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... What yer callin' a gap is the joinin' gasket surfaces of the 2 castin's,.....

 

[rderenzy]

so...perhaps I don't have a crack, its just installed incorrectly or somehow shifted.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... My fellow Mod, Achris has written extensively 'bout the problem with those parts on that motor,.....

Do a search, 'n/ or pm him,.....

 

[Grub54891]

Them plastic covers are a one use item. Once removed for any reason, it needs to be replaced. As in you boat, sometimes the just leak when they are not removed before.

 

[rderenzy]

After further review, it still looks like someone previously had the crack and tried to replace w/o taking the oil pan out and couldn't get it to line up
I don't see any cracks or damages, but just doesn't line up

i'll look to get a metal one and be done with it

I just dropped it off to a mechanic - hes going to take out the main seat, which will hopefully give him enough room to take out the harmonic balancer and then hopefully drop the pan, then replace it with a metal one - hoping he has enough room so the engine doesn't have to be lifted

AND hopefully that is the leak and the only one

I'm a little worried.

 

[Rick Stephens]

If I had the equipment to pull the engine, I'd do it as it takes less time than wrangling an oil pan in the boat. Last time I pulled mine took half hour to pull and an hour and a half to reinstall. Not a big deal for most boats.

 

[rderenzy]

hmm....that is good to know. i'll have to wait for him to call after his "diagnosis and quote"

 

[rderenzy]

so would all agree to find a metal timing cover?

 

[rderenzy]

there are aftermarket cast aluminum timing covers to replace the problematic plastic ones.

and where would one find this aluminum cover?