Sump gasket

[Des N]

Got the crankshaft bolt off without too much problem and loosened all the timing chain cover bolts. Slide a feeler strip along the sump gasket and wondered if it's possible to fit a new sump gasket without dropping the steering rack? Some bolts look tight to reach.

Just waiting to borrow a puller to get the pulley's off and remove to timing cover...the saga continues!

Many thanks to Vmad, Marshman and others on here for your tips so far. I'm getting there

[Guest]

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Des N wrote:

Got the crankshaft bolt off without too much problem and loosened all the timing chain cover bolts. Slide a feeler strip along the sump gasket and wondered if it's possible to fit a new sump gasket without dropping the steering rack? Some bolts look tight to reach.

Just waiting to borrow a puller to get the pulley's off and remove to timing cover...the saga continues!

Many thanks to Vmad, Marshman and others on here for your tips so far. I'm getting there

Good on you Des. It's not difficult to drop the sump, it only needs to come down a quarter to half an inch, then a thin blade will slide in where you need it. Martin.

[dogsnadgers]

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No it's not as you need to drop the sump enough to not only clean off the old gasket but get the new gasket betweem teh sump and the crank. It's not too bad a job if you get the car high enough. Think I did it in three or so hours. If you can avoid changing it and still keep oil tight then all the better!

Dave

[marshman]

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Des N wrote:

Just waiting to borrow a puller to get the pulley's off and remove to timing cover...the saga continues!

Des,

Glad you got the bolt out OK

Be careful if using a puller on the pulley. The outer part is joined to the inner by rubber - I think its supposed to act as a damper on the crankshaft. If you pull too hard you may damage it. I managed to gently teese mine off by a combination of levering with a crowbar, and gently (ish) taps with a hammer. If you are lucky it won't be as tight as you think. Also when you remove it watchout for the woodruff key - somtines they are stuck tight - other times they fall out as youremove the pulley. If you leave the woodruff key in place then take care not to damage the lip of the cover oil seal as you remove the cover. As a precaution wrap some insulation tape around it to cover the edges.

With regard tothe sump gasket I would leave it. Even if you damage the front part, which you shouldn't if you do as suggested and slide a thin blade on top I would prefer to make a "repair" section and use some instant gasket at the joint. It may sound like a bodge but its not a pressure joint and minedoesnt leak after doing this. If you do try to change the sump gasket then to my mind its a lot of work as you will have to cleanboth mating surfaces all round - not easy underneath a car

Good luck

Roger

[NickA]

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Sump gasket's a pig to do with the engine in place; the front subframe needs moving forward to get the sump out. I've done mine twice now trying to stop leaks. In the end I source Unipart gaskets which are way way thicker than the aftermaket jobs. The ROM then makes sense as the Unipart gaskets are just greased before fitting so you can loosed the sump to give clearance to fit the timing cover which destroying the gasket.

If your sump gasket is glued in place, it's probably easier as Roger suggest to cut and fit just the front bit of the gasket and use instant goo.

[NickA]

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dogsnadgers wrote:

No it's not as you need to drop the sump enough to not only clean off the old gasket but get the new gasket betweem teh sump and the crank. It's not too bad a job if you get the car high enough. Think I did it in three or so hours. If you can avoid changing it and still keep oil tight then all the better!

Dave

But how do you get the gasket past the oil pick up? or are you cutting it at one end?

[dogsnadgers]

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No I didn't cut it -I dropped the sump completely, like you say to get it past the oil pick up which I forgot about! I definately moved the steering rack but can't remember moving the subframe but that's not to say I didn't as it was three years ago and I'm not getting any younger!

Dave

[Des N]

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Success so far! Timing chain cover off without damaging the sump gasket (plenty of fiddling with a feeler guage). One tensioner reset and camshaft sprocket back on. After spending ages cutting up a washer as described in the manual to hold the tensioner and then trying to make it fit,I found I could lock it in, re-fit and then jiggle about to release.

The crankshaft oil seal and three gaskets for the timing chain cover all look rough so probably worthwhile replacing by the amount of congealed oil on the cover.


Oh, and as you said Roger, managed to get the pulley off with a bit of levering!