Timing Chain Tensioner Leaking Oil Bad

[thekitkos]

I had a small oil leak in a 1990 Nissan Sentra I bought for a beater until I get back on my feet. Someone had worked on the car before and it appears they replaced the timing chain cover. I tracked the leak doen to the tensioner. The top bolt had been striped (in the head, not the block) and it seemed to tighten all right. The plunger kept sticking so I took it all apart and cleaned it. I used RTV red hi-temp gasket maker and when puting it back together, the bottom bolt began to strip in the head. I went to the local nut and bolt company and picked up a tapered, fluted, self thread cutting bolt slightky bigger than what was in there. It seemed to tighten all right but I used the blue RTV instead of the red. If I make a gasket for the tensioner, coat both sides with red rtv, and tighten it down with the new bolts, do you think this will stop the leak? It must be ubder oressure because it is a 4 mile drive from my sister house from home and I leaked out 3 quarts of oil. Will the gasket make the difference? Please help. My wife just passed away and I need to keep this beater dependable until I get back on my feet. Also, does anyone know what color the wires are for the two front speakers that come out of the factory radio. It's been a bad last month or so and I appreciate any advice. Please note that my wife did not have life insurance so I have to fix this as cheap as possible. I am on disability but SSA said they will let me work full time for nine months so it's important to get this thing dependable so I can go to work.

Thanks

Frank

[tiger]

Hello, sorry to hear about your wife. I believe some RTV will do the trick.. yes if the tensioner is not tight against the head it's probably going to leak oil like crazy... I guess all you can do is try it out! Let me know how it goes.