Volvo penta timing cover oil leak

[Hagan]

I have a 1998 Volvo Penta 4.3 liter 6 cylendar engine. Last year the motor was taking on water. After checking everything it was the block so I bought a new motor(not remanufactured... new crate motor). Long story short, the water problem is fixed since practically everything is brand new. I took the boat out for a "test and tune" and after about a half and hour the pressure dropped. No damage to engine... turned it off immediatly and got towed back in with all the oil in the bottom of the boat. Hold on, there is more.. Yup u guessed it... after being fortunate enough to take the engine out again I found a temporary plug, that I missed, in the bilge. After looking around for a bit I found that it came from a hole in the front of the timing cover. My question is where can I get a plug for the hole. None of the local marinas seem to know what goes in there and the hole is not threaded. Any help at this point would be appreciated.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Volvo penta timing cover oil leak

None of the local marinas seem to know what goes in there and the hole is not threaded.

Ayuh,... Same here,... Got a Picture,..??

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo penta timing cover oil leak

After looking around for a bit I found that it came from a hole in the front of the timing cover

Guessing here, but was this a newer model engine and you have a carburated engine, not EFI.
In the bottom of the timing chain cover is a place for a crankshaft position sensor.

 

[Hagan]

Re: Volvo penta timing cover oil leak

I dont have a pic but will take one because I would love to ask everyone if a hole in the front of the timing cover makes any sense at all. I can't figure out why but anyways it is about as big around as a nickel and if you are facing the front of the motor it is on the lower left hand side of the timing cover at about 7:00. To make things better they originally dropped off the new motor about ten days ago and never took the old one. Unfortunatly for me, the day before the leak they sent a truck back out and picked up the old motor.

 

[Hagan]

Re: Volvo penta timing cover oil leak

Well that seems like a heck of a guess to me cuz that HAS to be it. Same position as the diagram and when I looked in there you could see the front of the crank. Yes on the carburated too. Not EFI. Now I guess the million dollar question is....how do I plug it and with what? And thanks for the help so far because this one confused me. I can't believe I missed a temporary bright red plug but I would have NEVER looked there in a million years.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo penta timing cover oil leak

You need a crankshaft position sensor to plug the hole, there are no plugs.
Go to any auto parts store and get the cheapest one you can find, or even find one that doesn't work from a Chevy dealer. All you want to do is plug the hole. Do get a new oring though.

 

[Hagan]

Re: Volvo penta timing cover oil leak

Thank you so much for your help. I can not believe how quick your response was. I am done scratching my head and off to get a crankshaft position sensor. I feel like I need to let you know how I make out after all your help so I will post it here. Thank you again.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo penta timing cover oil leak

Good call Don! Man, I gotta get me one of those crystal balls...

Don't waste your money, they don't always work ........

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Volvo penta timing cover oil leak

I don`t know about that Don, your seems like the Energizer Bunny.

 

[Hagan]

Re: Volvo penta timing cover oil leak

I know I said I would post a response but I forgot because I was so excited to actually take the boat out and have no, as in zero, problems that I didn't know what to do with myself...ahh the way boating should be. Thank you again Don. You da man.