3.0 pissing oil on ground when running

[87turbodance]

My 3.0 just began pissing oil all over the ground whenever it is running. The oil is basically pouring on the ground under the crank damper. I figure is loses about a quart every 3 or 4 minutes when running. This only began today after I was doing some high RPM / high load tuning on MS. I was reviewing my log with the engine idling and when I went to back up out of the driveway there was a big black puddle on the passenger side of where my car was.

Any thoughts? I haven't taken anything apart yet but I don't know what would cause such as oil leak. Front crank seal that's in the oil pump? Broken oil pump?

I'm not looking forward to taking the front of the motor apart this weekend.

[turbovanman²]

Front crank seal is leaking.

[slasky]

front crank seal is leaking.

+1 .

[Ondonti]

how is the oil pressure and how high in the rpms did you go?

We 3.0 owners are not known for replacing our oil pumps, ever.
Our pump is a set of gears attached to the crankshaft with the seal located right there ON the oil pump so an oil pump gear failure could push out the seal.
I would correlate high rpm testing with worn out oil pump failure from the experiences in the 3/S world. They find that when the inner gear fits too loosely on the crankshaft from either poor manufacturing or age, that higher rpm vibratiosn cause the gears to crack and destroy one or both gears.

Or just a freak problem?


Oil pumps really should be regular maintenence but on low rpm low hp engines, who cares?
The turbo crowd always changes them at 120k.

In some instances new OEM pumps have failed, possibly from bad machine work on the gears to have them fit too loosely on the snout of the crankshaft. Nobody is sure if that was a bad batch of pumps or a general problem. That was 2-3 years ago now though and those in the know have gotten more interested in billet pump gears then figuring out that past problem.

When the gears fail they should pretty much be junk so if you still have good oil pressure then either its something else or your gears are about to completely frag?
Also, rebuild kits are cheaper if your case still has proper clearances between the gears. Could just be a weird leak but I am guessing your motor is in the oil pump replacement age. the one on my current motor probably is too with 190,000 miles.

[thefitisgay]

Front crank seal is leaking.

+2 had one of these at the garage

at least you dont have to pull the crank

[87turbodance]

It just seems strange that all of the sudden the motor is leaking profusely from the front crank seal area. I only reved to 7200 according to the logs. Motor doesn't make much power up there with stock cams but I was just seeing what it'd feel like up there.

The oil pump was replaced last year but it was replaced with a ebay unit. Perhaps the tolerances on it weren't quite what they needed to be. It's been raining all day here and like 35 degrees F so I haven't touched it yet.

Oil pressure is normal

[thefitisgay]

slam dunk a new oil seal on the front should only take a couple hours

[87turbodance]

slam dunk a new oil seal on the front should only take a couple hours

Well... depends.. when doing it in the rain in a apartment parking lot when it is just above freezing outside it can take a little longer

[thefitisgay]

seems like that would make me wanna do it quicker

[87turbodance]

haha. true! I been procrastinating. Making up excuses not to do it. Parts store has to order the damn seals in too.

[thefitisgay]

they try to talk you into the kit to? i dont htink you have to drop the pan but i cant remember i think i just used the oil seal out of the kit

[87turbodance]

no. They just told me the front seal was 8 bucks but they had to order it

[Ondonti]

Very glad your oil pressure is still good

[87turbodance]

Very glad your oil pressure is still good

Me too. That was the firs thing I checked when I saw the huge puddle on the ground

[87turbodance]

well I ended up buying a whole kit today. Comes with the oil pump gaskets and the front seal for 13 bucks.

[Ondonti]

where did you buy that? special order? ive always had to wait a week at the dealer for the oil pump gasket.

[87turbodance]

I just picked up the Fel-Pro set that my local parts store had in stock. It's a Canadian company called Part Source. Kinda based upon Autozone. I'll grab the set out of my car later and list the contents and part numbers. I used to work at this part store so I am allowed to use the computer and find parts myself - plus I get commercial pricing.

[87turbodance]

I spent an hour taking my time time tearing the front of the motor apart and removing that stupid bracket and that went fairly well. But, when I went to take the crank sprocket off I noticed there was a ton of play in the key and when I went to pull the sprocket off it would move 1/8th of an inch and then get stuck. No I got the handy dandy two jaw puller and proceeded to get the sprocket 3/4 of the way off before breaking the back of the sprocket off. What a piss off. So now the sprocket is broken and wont come off. I'll try again tomorrow.

[thefitisgay]

I spent an hour taking my time time tearing the front of the motor apart and removing that stupid bracket and that went fairly well. But, when I went to take the crank sprocket off I noticed there was a ton of play in the key and when I went to pull the sprocket off it would move 1/8th of an inch and then get stuck. No I got the handy dandy two jaw puller and proceeded to get the sprocket 3/4 of the way off before breaking the back of the sprocket off. What a piss off. So now the sprocket is broken and wont come off. I'll try again tomorrow.

uh oh... i didnt use a puller i just wiggled it until it was perfect and slid it off if that makes sense

[87turbodance]

I wouldn't normally use a puller but the key and keyway were boogered and the pulley WONT come off easily. I tried for over an hour being gentle before I got the puller out because I was getting pissed off with it...

I've done this before and the sprocket just slid off easily