Question : Have you changed the timing cover gasket? Advice?

[tkjackson02]

Hey just bought a 95 Beretta Z26 with the 3100v6 130k. Got car home and noticed it was leaking coolant pretty fast, thought it was LIM gasket so swapped that out with the new metal ones and its still leaking, looks like the timing cover bolt right below rear head? what pressureized it flows right out. Has anyone else had this problem and fixed it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Superdave]

It's not too bad but you do have to drain the coolant, then remove the crank pulley, PS pump, Lower rad hose and the upper coolant T.


Once you get the cover off clean both surfaces really well and RTV the gasket to the block first, also the kit will have a new front seal for the cover, make sure to replace that.


Good luck!

[bob442]

Dont you have to drop the pan a bit to clear the bottom of the timing cover


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[Superdave]

I never have, a little oil or grease on the pan gasket on reassembly makes that go easy.

[tkjackson02]

also is the belt tensioner reverse thread? Thanks!

[pocket-rocket]

I don't know of any reverse threaded fasteners on any of the 3x00's, but I could be wrong.

[Superdave]

It's normal thread.

[tkjackson02]

im down to removing the Harmonic balancer and having trouble breaking nut loose. dont have and impact or torch any ideas?

[pocket-rocket]

If it's a 5 speed, put it in gear and have someone stand on the brakes while you use a long breaker bar on it. If not, someone has to go under the car and hold the crank still with a screwdriver on the starter teeth while you honk donw on a long breaker bar.

A torch wouldn't be a good idea on a balancer with a rubber ring, the crankshaft probably wouldn't like it either.

[bob442]

An electric impact will make it come loose eventually. On assembally, of you don't have A ballancer install tool, lube the threads and both side of the washer when you use the bolt to suck in the ballancer, also put a dab of rtv on the keyway. I was wrong, the pan doesn't need to be dropped I pull the cover, I was thinking about a 2.2 I guess


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[tkjackson02]

thanks for the help so far guys! Borrowed an electric impact and got that stubborn bolt out. Now to gey this gasket changed finally

[tkjackson02]

Found leak!

[3400-95-Modified]

looks like it was changed in the past and very poorly... Now when going back in just put a thin layer of silicone around the coolant ports and be sure to put pipe sealant on the bolts that go in right next to the ports since they are open to water on at least one of them, I can't remember which one.

You shouldn't need to put a bead of sealant anywhere else but on the corners were the timing cover gasket meets the oil pan. The rest of the surface if clean should seal perfectly fine. I've never had problems with that leaking after doing what I described.

[tkjackson02]

would black RTV work for the bolts too?

[Superdave]

Yes but you really should use a good thread sealer instead. RTV gums up pretty bad and it's a pain to dig out of the holes for the next guy.