BA Exhaust Manifold gasket change

Trev323 · 21-01-2009, 07:51 PM

Hi there. I seem to be losing alot of oil of late and only recently had the rocker cover and dizzy gaskets changed. I had a look and it appears the exhaust manifold gasket is leaking some oil which is going onto the head shield then down onto the ground / sump area.

What is involved in changing this particular gasket? Is it as simple as heat shield off, headers off and replace gasket? Will I need to drain the oil out first?

Cheers.
Trev

Cosmo Dude · 21-01-2009, 08:04 PM

There is no oil in or around the exhaust manifold. Give the area a thorough scrubbing and hopefully the leak will show its self.
Look for blue smoke in the exhaust or oil leaking from the bottom of the bell housing.

Trev323 · 21-01-2009, 09:05 PM

Pretty sure there's no smoke coming from the exhaust but will keep an eye out. Where is the bell housing?

Dogo · 22-01-2009, 09:17 AM

between the gearbox and the engine.

looking down the gap in front of the radiator, look down and to the right and you should see a black metal support holding the engine onto the car.
The bit that it bolts to is the bell housing.

Also look from underneath, there should be a row of bolts along the join

DavoAust · 22-01-2009, 12:01 PM

exhaust manifold doesnt have any oil, but it may be seeping from the cam cover, down the block to the manifold. wash it then watch for the source

Trev323 · 22-01-2009, 12:24 PM

Thanks I will check it out tonight. I didn't realise what I said until I reread it - of course the exhaust manifold has no oil in it!

I know the rocker cover gasket leaking is very common. I've had it changed 2 times in about 2 years and it still leaks. First time I did it myself without gasket sealant then I took it to a mech the second time. Is there something we're both doing wrong or would I just need to use a bit more sealant this time around? Is it also possible something is warped, preventing the gasket to sit evenly?

70NYD · 22-01-2009, 04:27 PM

your head might be warped.. or your rocker cover.. or both. if its tensioned down properly it should not leak at all

Cosmo Dude · 22-01-2009, 04:35 PM

What model and year is your car?

Trev323 · 22-01-2009, 09:42 PM

Its a 95 BA hatch. I dunno about the mechanic but I tightened my by hand then a bit more with a socket. Didn't want to overtighten and snap them. It seems to leak more on both front corners (water pump corner and dizzy corner).

Cosmo Dude · 22-01-2009, 09:48 PM

If you've replaced the rubber seal and it's still leaking then there is probably another problem.
On the distributor end of the valve cover there is a pipe (about 1/2") where does that go on your car?

Trev323 · 22-01-2009, 10:28 PM

You mean the PCV valve? I need to replace it. I have a feeling its the major cause. I've attached some pics. The oil stains out the front aren't new I think but i'll give it a clean over the w/e to get a better idea.

project.r.racing · 23-01-2009, 07:38 AM

um dude, its you rocker cover gasket that is leaking bad. i understand you've had it replaced recently, but thats what i can see.

off topic// on your intake pipe, what is the pipe coming from it closest to the afm? the other if the pcv.

Dogo · 23-01-2009, 09:21 AM

looks like the oil cap is leaking too.

is ur oil too thin ?

OZY-323 · 23-01-2009, 09:23 AM

yeah but what about this spot here thats alot of oil inthe one spot???

project.r.racing · 23-01-2009, 09:27 AM

thats just oil dripping down the inside of the heat shield, from the area on the top right of the pic near the dissy...

Dogo · 23-01-2009, 09:56 AM

If you haven't already - remove the heat shield from the manifold and see if that gives u a better look at whats going on

Cosmo Dude · 23-01-2009, 11:01 AM

I'll share my though process.
If you have replaced the rubber seal on the valve cover and oil is still leeking then one of two things come to mind.
1. You havn't tightened the bolts down enough.
or
2. For some reason your engine is building enough preasure inside the valve cover to force oil through.
Let's start by assuming the bolts are tight enough. The breather hose with the yellow tape should be a straight through pipe. Disconnect it from the intake and check that you can blow through it into the engine and suck air out of the engine.
Also do this with the PCV but you should only be able to suck air out.

Dogo · 23-01-2009, 11:18 AM

it may be obvious, but take off the oil cap to make sure u can actually suck the air from somewhere ( and not oil )

project.r.racing · 23-01-2009, 11:30 AM

mmm tasty...

OZY-323 · 23-01-2009, 12:16 PM

oh and if its not tight enought, careful with tightening it as they snap when you do it really really tight

trust me.

21-01-2009, 07:51 PM	#1
Trev323 Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: At Home Car: Car Posts: 89	BA Exhaust Manifold gasket change Hi there. I seem to be losing alot of oil of late and only recently had the rocker cover and dizzy gaskets changed. I had a look and it appears the exhaust manifold gasket is leaking some oil which is going onto the head shield then down onto the ground / sump area. What is involved in changing this particular gasket? Is it as simple as heat shield off, headers off and replace gasket? Will I need to drain the oil out first? Cheers. Trev

21-01-2009, 08:04 PM	#2
Cosmo Dude コスモ Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Location: Vic Car: Mazda '95 Astina I4, '86 B2K and '10 3 MZR-CD Posts: 7,888 View Photos By: Cosmo Dude	There is no oil in or around the exhaust manifold. Give the area a thorough scrubbing and hopefully the leak will show its self. Look for blue smoke in the exhaust or oil leaking from the bottom of the bell housing. __________________ My 'stina Hatch

22-01-2009, 09:17 AM	#4
Dogo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Melb, Aus Car: Mazda 323 BA BPT transplant Posts: 3,459 View Photos By: Dogo	between the gearbox and the engine. looking down the gap in front of the radiator, look down and to the right and you should see a black metal support holding the engine onto the car. The bit that it bolts to is the bell housing. Also look from underneath, there should be a row of bolts along the join __________________ [ Turbo BA ] see my readers ride

22-01-2009, 12:01 PM	#5
DavoAust Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brisbane Car: Red '93 3000GT / Black '08 Ninja 250R Posts: 2,930 View Photos By: DavoAust	exhaust manifold doesnt have any oil, but it may be seeping from the cam cover, down the block to the manifold. wash it then watch for the source __________________ Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you. '97 1.8L Hardtop '93 3.0L TT 3000GT

22-01-2009, 04:27 PM	#7
70NYD Veni, vidi, vici Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Brisbane Car: 1996 BA Hatch & 2005 RX8 Posts: 4,911 View Photos By: 70NYD	your head might be warped.. or your rocker cover.. or both. if its tensioned down properly it should not leak at all __________________

21-01-2009, 09:05 PM	#3
Trev323 Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: At Home Car: Car Posts: 89	Pretty sure there's no smoke coming from the exhaust but will keep an eye out. Where is the bell housing?

22-01-2009, 12:24 PM	#6
Trev323 Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: At Home Car: Car Posts: 89	Thanks I will check it out tonight. I didn't realise what I said until I reread it - of course the exhaust manifold has no oil in it! I know the rocker cover gasket leaking is very common. I've had it changed 2 times in about 2 years and it still leaks. First time I did it myself without gasket sealant then I took it to a mech the second time. Is there something we're both doing wrong or would I just need to use a bit more sealant this time around? Is it also possible something is warped, preventing the gasket to sit evenly?

22-01-2009, 04:35 PM	#8
Cosmo Dude コスモ Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Location: Vic Car: Mazda '95 Astina I4, '86 B2K and '10 3 MZR-CD Posts: 7,888 View Photos By: Cosmo Dude	What model and year is your car? __________________ My 'stina Hatch

22-01-2009, 09:42 PM	#9
Trev323 Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: At Home Car: Car Posts: 89	Its a 95 BA hatch. I dunno about the mechanic but I tightened my by hand then a bit more with a socket. Didn't want to overtighten and snap them. It seems to leak more on both front corners (water pump corner and dizzy corner).

22-01-2009, 09:48 PM	#10
Cosmo Dude コスモ Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Location: Vic Car: Mazda '95 Astina I4, '86 B2K and '10 3 MZR-CD Posts: 7,888 View Photos By: Cosmo Dude	If you've replaced the rubber seal and it's still leaking then there is probably another problem. On the distributor end of the valve cover there is a pipe (about 1/2") where does that go on your car? __________________ My 'stina Hatch

22-01-2009, 10:28 PM	#11
Trev323 Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: At Home Car: Car Posts: 89	You mean the PCV valve? I need to replace it. I have a feeling its the major cause. I've attached some pics. The oil stains out the front aren't new I think but i'll give it a clean over the w/e to get a better idea.

23-01-2009, 07:38 AM	#12
project.r.racing Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: n/a Car: n/a Posts: 10,929	um dude, its you rocker cover gasket that is leaking bad. i understand you've had it replaced recently, but thats what i can see. off topic// on your intake pipe, what is the pipe coming from it closest to the afm? the other if the pcv.

23-01-2009, 09:21 AM	#13
Dogo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Melb, Aus Car: Mazda 323 BA BPT transplant Posts: 3,459 View Photos By: Dogo	looks like the oil cap is leaking too. is ur oil too thin ? __________________ [ Turbo BA ] see my readers ride

23-01-2009, 09:23 AM	#14
OZY-323 AstinaGT Regular Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sydney Car: mazda Astina 323 '95' Posts: 264 View Photos By: OZY-323	yeah but what about this spot here thats alot of oil inthe one spot??? __________________

23-01-2009, 09:27 AM	#15
project.r.racing Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: n/a Car: n/a Posts: 10,929	thats just oil dripping down the inside of the heat shield, from the area on the top right of the pic near the dissy...

23-01-2009, 09:56 AM	#16
Dogo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Melb, Aus Car: Mazda 323 BA BPT transplant Posts: 3,459 View Photos By: Dogo	If you haven't already - remove the heat shield from the manifold and see if that gives u a better look at whats going on __________________ [ Turbo BA ] see my readers ride

23-01-2009, 11:01 AM	#17
Cosmo Dude コスモ Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Location: Vic Car: Mazda '95 Astina I4, '86 B2K and '10 3 MZR-CD Posts: 7,888 View Photos By: Cosmo Dude	I'll share my though process. If you have replaced the rubber seal on the valve cover and oil is still leeking then one of two things come to mind. 1. You havn't tightened the bolts down enough. or 2. For some reason your engine is building enough preasure inside the valve cover to force oil through. Let's start by assuming the bolts are tight enough. The breather hose with the yellow tape should be a straight through pipe. Disconnect it from the intake and check that you can blow through it into the engine and suck air out of the engine. Also do this with the PCV but you should only be able to suck air out. __________________ My 'stina Hatch

23-01-2009, 11:18 AM	#18
Dogo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Melb, Aus Car: Mazda 323 BA BPT transplant Posts: 3,459 View Photos By: Dogo	it may be obvious, but take off the oil cap to make sure u can actually suck the air from somewhere ( and not oil ) __________________ [ Turbo BA ] see my readers ride

23-01-2009, 11:30 AM	#19
project.r.racing Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: n/a Car: n/a Posts: 10,929	mmm tasty...

23-01-2009, 12:16 PM	#20
OZY-323 AstinaGT Regular Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sydney Car: mazda Astina 323 '95' Posts: 264 View Photos By: OZY-323	oh and if its not tight enought, careful with tightening it as they snap when you do it really really tight trust me. __________________

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