yeah I know this is a stupid question. Ive never had this happen before.
WTF!..I cant seem to get the block off plate to stop leaking. It leaks oil from the seams and goes ALL over my starter and down the side of the block. What is everyone using to seal this? I dont have a gasket on it im just using RTV
WOuld a gaskets make that big a difference? I under stand why oil pumps thur there, it lubes for use with the machanical pump. Is there anything I can stuff in there to sorta block it?

 

I've always used a gasket with RTV, but I don't know why RTV alone wouldn't be enough to seal it. That's no pressure behind that area by any means.

 

hmm? yeah and I put alot of RTV and it still finds it way thru it. SO your saying theres no pressure behind that plate? well then I dont know. Oil doesnt circulate thru there?

Ill stop by the parts store and see if I can buy a gasket.

 

i dont know if you know this, but i will still through it out there. When you use RTV you need to only partially tighten the bolts, and let the RTV cure before fully tightening them. If you dont it will all squeeze out and leak.
If you knew this, just ignore me.

 

nah I didnt think of that. That does make sense tho and not having a gasket just squeezes ALL of it out. Should I still use a gasket?

 

A gasket is only about $2, not a whole lot of reason not to use one.

 

Probably not the blockoff plate... silicone by itself is totally fine for that. No, I take that back: leave out the "probably". It's NOT the blockoff plate.



Rather, it's probably this bolt hole right here. As you can see in that pic, it goes RIGHT DIRECTLY INTO the fuel pump push rod passage. Put a short bolt in it with a drop of silicone on the threads.

 

{edit: the King of Sofa's beat my post to the punch!}

When you pulled the AIR pump did you seal the upper bolt location in the block?

RBob.

 

ive got a bolt in that hole and right under it is my ground cable. I dunno about silicone or not I cant remember if I put some on that bolt. Surely its not cause theres no silicone on the threads that is causing that?

 

Clean the whole area in question off good, then, start the motor and SEE where the oil is actually coming from. Jacking it up so you can get a good view, (and also give the oil an opportunity to drip in your face.... which you KNOW it will....) would prolly help to0.

 

and that is suppose to tell me what? Im gonna have to wait til tomorrow cause the car is so freakin loud.
The car is jacked up and I removed the plate and there was oil all over the back of it and I cleaned all the RTV off the plate and the block. I did stick my finger up in there and there was a puddle of oil so I cleaned all that out with a rag.

Im 99% sure that is where its coming from cause there was a drip of oil on the bottom of the plate and I checked and checked of where else it could be coming from. I can see oil all over the side of the block and covered my starter.


Ill see what I find tomorrow. Im gonna get a gasket and RTV it again but yeah Ill fire it up and watch and see if oil starts to come out of the pump cavity.

 

If you clean it off good, and THEN run it, you will be able to SEE where the oil is coming from, and be 100% sure that you are indeed fixing the leak. Oil blows around down there. It may be coming from the flippin intake, and the block off plate is just where you eventually see it. Better to KNOW you are fixing the problem, then fixing it half a dozen times, and still not getting it.

 

If or when you remove the block off plate, make sure the surfaces are true also. I always put RTV on the plate and place the gasket on it and let in sit for awhile then RTV the other side and just snug into place. Then later tighten it down all the way. Wire wheel the block and plate with a hand drill and use a degreaser to clean the surfaces, clean the degreaser off. That's about as **** as it can get. Then if you still have a leak it must be some where else. Always look at the last thing you have done before the leak started. Hope it helps.