Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:42 am Post subject: Oil Leak at Distributor? O-ring?
I have an oil leak on my 88.5 LX. It appears that it is coming from the distributor.
Are distributor o-rings a common failure on a 1.9L CVH? I've searched around and can't find a souce for a replacement o-ring. I thought about trying to match one up at the hardware store but not sure it that type will withstand the oil and heat exposure.
Any ideas where to find a suitable replacement?
Thanks.
crusher
Joined: Nov 16, 2009 Posts: 84 Location: Campbell,Ca.
Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:16 am Post subject:
This was quite a problem to solve. After buying some at Graingers, I was dissapointed because the o ring was too thick. I bought a Harbor Freight Salvage Metric Ring Assortment kit #91512 and the correct o ring in that kit is #222...(G40...3.1 wide...39.4 I.D.) I haven't installed it yet, but it is very close to the right size. Don't know how durable it might be either.
crusher
Joined: Nov 16, 2009 Posts: 84 Location: Campbell,Ca.
Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:46 am Post subject:
The O ring is also in the gasket rebuild kit. I put that o ring on the engine, and the o ring started to leak after a few months because it couldn't withstand the heat. I had a rebuilt distributor that I bought on ebay, so I took the o ring off of it and installed it. It hasn't leaked in a year. So it seems that the gasket kit o rings aren't to good. When mine starts to leak again I'll try the Harbor Freight o ring, and if it leaks after a short while, I will have to find a G40 o ring that is higher quality...
UnexplodedCow
Joined: Mar 27, 2005 Posts: 5948 Location: Cross Lanes, WV
Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 12:29 pm Post subject:
If that harbor freight one is nitrile it will be fine. Their nitrile stuff (gloves and other O-rings I've used) seem to be as good as anything else.
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I started to the process of pulling the distributor to examine the o-ring and discovered the oil is coming from inside the body if the distributor itself. When I removed the dist cap it was full of oil.
At this point I'm not sure a replacement o-ring on the shaft would fix the problem. Is there some other internal seal that can be replaced to stop the leak?
crusher
Joined: Nov 16, 2009 Posts: 84 Location: Campbell,Ca.
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:14 pm Post subject:
There is a small shaft seal that keeps the oil from going into the distributor. It would be another time consuming effort to find the correct o ring for it. If I remember, it was difficult to take the distributor apart. You have to knock out the pin in the keyway that goes into the camshaft.And it must be re-assembled exactly as it came apart. The keyway has an offset on it and the shaft must be in the same relationship to the keyway when you put it back together. If the keyway is put on randomly, it may not start. It is a lot easier to get a rebuilt one, or go the the junkyard to get a "new" one.
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When I removed the dist cap it was full of oil. 