Oil leaking from the black timing plate on the head

[Voltronrbz]

My 2 years project finally started up the other day. While the car idles, I have a little oil leaking underneath the black plate that holds the top timing cover,  leaking by the tip of the black plate by looking at exhaust cams black plate. 
(((Leaking not at the part where it has a threaded hole, but the bottom part tip before that.)))

 I was thinking could it be the cam-shaft oil ring gasket by the cams that is not sealing completely? I tried moving the ring and troque the cam-shaft towers n place and still doesn't work. But, before I even decide to go head and order a new ring seal are their any other part that you guys should recommend me to check first? I don't want to make a mistake by purchasing a new ring, then reinstalling it and have the same problem.

[Darius]

Could it be leaking at the front of the valve cover and running down the front of the head to where you see it in the pic? If that's not it, oil could be leaking from the head gasket and seeping across. Have you replaced the head gasket?

[Voltronrbz]

I dont think it would be the valve cover gasket, or the headgasket. I did changed the head gasket to a metal one, torque and tighten that up. If it's the headgasket would the coolent be already mix with the oil? Oil is freshly gold. Plus that plate is mounted on the head, so if it's the head gasket then I think oil should not had reach the plate. Is their any other oil spot beside the cams o ring seals, headgasket, and valve cover gasket. Today I'm try to switch valve cover gasket n see if that slove anything.

[Darius]

I always put a dab of silicone sealant in the corner of the valve cover gasket where the cam retainer caps are. The 90-degree bends are tough for a rubber gasket to seal tightly to.

When you installed the head gasket, did you have the block milled?

[Voltronrbz]

I didn't have the block milled when I had my head gasket install. I used a bottle of Cooper spray, and resurface the head. Been doing that with my Honda, n it never gave me any problems. I'll go your route if swapping valve cover gasket doesn't work.

[Darius]

Did you install a metal head gasket?

[Voltronrbz]

Yes, i install a Metal headgasket.

[Darius]

I hate to be negative, but I will almost guarantee that it is seeping from the head gasket especially if it is a Cometic. It may not be leaking into the cylinders, but it will continue to seep until you either replace it with an OEM gasket or take the block apart to get milled like it should have been in the first installation. Copper spray doesn't do $hit.

Trust me, I have done all those things this is why I now have a built block. I broke a valve on reassembly and that is why I now have a built head

[Voltronrbz]

I'll post a video up, from startup and show where is the leaking is coming from. From what i see, i doubt its the head gasket. But after this video we should figure out whats really the problem. Valve cover gasket is sealing good at the moment. 2 problem that I suspect. Headgasket or cams o ring seals.

[robbie2883]

I hate to be negative, but I will almost guarantee that it is seeping from the head gasket especially if it is a Cometic. It may not be leaking into the cylinders, but it will continue to seep until you either replace it with an OEM gasket or take the block apart to get milled like it should have been in the first installation. Copper spray doesn't do $hit.

Trust me, I have done all those things this is why I now have a built block. I broke a valve on reassembly and that is why I now have a built head

i have a cometic and it's not leaking...are you just saying if you're using a cometic and don't have a fresh surface? just curious

[s14_sport]

i have a cometic and it's not leaking...are you just saying if you're using a cometic and don't have a fresh surface? just curious

yes, thats what he's saying. i went with the cometic HG a while back and since I did not have the block surfaced prefectly it did not seal.

[Darius]

I hate to be negative, but I will almost guarantee that it is seeping from the head gasket especially if it is a Cometic. It may not be leaking into the cylinders, but it will continue to seep until you either replace it with an OEM gasket or take the block apart to get milled like it should have been in the first installation. Copper spray doesn't do $hit.

Trust me, I have done all those things this is why I now have a built block. I broke a valve on reassembly and that is why I now have a built head

i have a cometic and it's not leaking...are you just saying if you're using a cometic and don't have a fresh surface? just curious

Yeah, I'm saying if it didn't have a milled surface it would not likely seal with any metal head gasket. Cometic is tougher to seal than others because of its viton coating. And Cometic technically requires it to be a polished finish if you want them to take any responsibility for it not sealing (50 roughness average). Other metal head gasket manufacturers use EPDM coatings and they tend to have a more forgiving seal.

[Voltronrbz]

Ah hah, here is what I found. Could this be the case, instead?



I'm in the middle of reinstalling everything back on, and hope that is the reason why, because I'll hate to redo everything again just to get that metal-head gasket out of that head and replacing it with a oem one which I don't want at all. So figure crossed

[Darius]

Yep that definitely looks like it is the culprit. Good thing it is a relatively cheap and easy fix. Whew!