Oil Pump Leak Questions, Normal wear, or....? Options

[BeatNavy]

I've had a couple of oil leaks on my fresh 2270, the most annoying of which seemed to come from the area of the oil pump and gradually got worse. Oil would drip on the underside of the engine mount cross bar in the center and air flow would then scatter it around (on engine, gearbox, exhaust, etc.). I bit the bullet this weekend and pulled the engine.

I then pulled off just the oil pump cover. I gather it's best to leave the pump housing itself in place if that's not the issue. I've got pics below showing where the lower oil pump gear has really ground against the cover, and a closeup of the gear itself showing wear on the gear. That edge on the inside lip of the gear is actually sharp to the touch. I would be guessing that metal on metal contact is not awesome right in the heart of the lubrication system, but I have also heard that those pumps do press against the cover.

Not sure if this is the cause of, or contributor to, my oil leak, but how does this look to the braintrust? Assuming this is considered "acceptable," any tips for sealing this bad boy up so it doesn't leak? I've seen McMark's video....

Here's a shot of the pump with the cover on. Oil can be seen collecting at the bottom on the lip. If I had to guess it looks like it actually came out around the studs, as the nuts were pretty oily on the inside.



Cover showing wear...



Oil pump gears....



Closeup of the bottom gear. It's actually worn a sharp lip on that lower gear.

[VaccaRabite]

That pin seems like its in there a good bit. I don't recall the spec on it but I do recall that if the pin drifts backwards too much it will impact the cam gear and that will cost you the engine.

When you built this engine, do you recall if the idle pin was that deep on the idle gear?

Zach

[BeatNavy]

That pin seems like its in there a good bit. I don't recall the spec on it but I do recall that if the pin drifts backwards too much it will impact the cam gear and that will cost you the engine.

When you built this engine, do you recall if the idle pin was that deep on the idle gear?

Zach

Hey Zach, I didn't build this engine, so I can't answer that question, but that did kind of jump out at me as well (how deep the pin was). I do have the 2056 I built sitting the floor of my garage, and it used the same cover and pump as this engine (IIRC). I guess I could pull the cover on that one and check, but then that one might be going back in the car soon if I have major work to do on this one.

What would cause the pin to drift?

Mark, those nuts are interesting. The nuts on this one do have a shoulder but do not have that seal on the threads. When I put mine together I'm pretty sure I used that white thread sealant on the studs. This one didn't have anything except a very thin coating on the cover, and it didn't go completely around the studs.

[VaccaRabite]

What would cause the pin to drift?

The pin drifts when the pump is failing.

Between the pin depth and the galling on the idler gear I'd say that one is failing.

On the old Club site Jake had a thread that showed what a normal, failing and failed oil pump looked like. I can't find it now, but my (admittedly foggy) memory is throwing red flags looking at your pump.

Zach

[930cabman]

What would cause the pin to drift?

The pin drifts when the pump is failing.

Between the pin depth and the galling on the idler gear I'd say that one is failing.

On the old Club site Jake had a thread that showed what a normal, failing and failed oil pump looked like. I can't find it now, but my (admittedly foggy) memory is throwing red flags looking at your pump.

Zach

Agreed, I would also say the pump is failing. What is causing the gears to be wearing against the cover? There must be metal shavings in the oil. Good thing you caught it now.

[bkrantz]

What would cause the pin to drift?

The pin drifts when the pump is failing.

Between the pin depth and the galling on the idler gear I'd say that one is failing.

On the old Club site Jake had a thread that showed what a normal, failing and failed oil pump looked like. I can't find it now, but my (admittedly foggy) memory is throwing red flags looking at your pump.

Zach

Agreed, I would also say the pump is failing. What is causing the gears to be wearing against the cover? There must be metal shavings in the oil. Good thing you caught it now.

Is that because the cover to gear clearance is too tight? And does that depend on gasket thickness?