Oil leak help

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2012Lamarie

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So I had a drivers side exhaust manifold bolt break. Had a guy replace it, new gasket all new studs, bolts etc. Now it appears to be leaking oil from the rear most bolt. How is that possible? I thought maybe it was the valve cover but it literally looks like it's coming from that bolt.

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ThunderMug95

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Id say do a thorough tracing of where all the possibilities could be. If you eliminate them you are prob left with a major problem and in need of a replacement head.
How much of an oil leak are we talking about? Drops on the driveway or slight seeping around the bolt? For the oil to travel between the threads and the bolt is a bit of a stretch, but if he overtorqued and split the head at the bolt hole....jeez
 
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2012Lamarie

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Id say do a thorough tracing of where all the possibilities could be. If you eliminate them you are prob left with a major problem and in need of a replacement head.
How much of an oil leak are we talking about? Drops on the driveway or slight seeping around the bolt? For the oil to travel between the threads and the bolt is a bit of a stretch, but if he overtorqued and split the head at the bolt hole....jeez
That's hard to explain. It's enough that you can see it coming from the bolt and it's making it's way to the bottom of the ball housing and dripping there. When I drive it it smokes under the Hood.

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ThunderMug95

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Thats a significant leak then....jeez. Next question, you said you had “a guy replace it” was it done by a mechanic at an actual shop or was it by a buddy at his house or something. If it was a shop, Id take it right back ASAP. Have him look over what he couldve hit by accident or leverage out of the way to cause a significant leak. Hoping its just something like breather tube etc.
yes tgere are water jackets in tgere but there are skso oil channels. The chances of oil coming down the threads and all the way out are nil unless it cracked the head to allow it to escape.
 
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2012Lamarie

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He's a mechanic so does know what he's doing. Lol I think... I was thinking it's the valve cover. I ran my hand everywhere I could and a big *** of red silicone was under there. No wet stuff though.

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Burla

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he drilled too far, bad deal right there. That's why most guys dont drill out those holes. Just from as many times that has happened here, I would never let anyone drill those studs, weld it that's it. It is amazing how brave some guys are, drilling into engine w/o any thought.

Now, how to fix it. He's gonna have to maybe stuff a bolt in there and weld around it, break off the top and weld the exhaust there, I dunno. If he messes with you at all, go straight to small claims, and sue for the max claim new engine.
 

Burla

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Maybe he will get lucky, take out bolt, use high temp sealant, and put back, maybe that will solve it. Hopefully you don't have issues in the oil galley. Shavings and or blockage, I would make sure he uses a short bolt on the put back.
 

HammerHead

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So I had a drivers side exhaust manifold bolt break. Had a guy replace it, new gasket all new studs, bolts etc. Now it appears to be leaking oil from the rear most bolt. How is that possible? I thought maybe it was the valve cover but it literally looks like it's coming from that bolt.

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If you could get us some pictures that would be great. Sounds like the mechanic effed up on taking that broken bolt out. I’d get it back to him ASAP, but take videos and pictures to document just to protect yourself.
 
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2012Lamarie

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Thanks I'll get pics later. He didn't drill out the whole bolt just enough to get an extractor on it.

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ThunderMug95

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See, that is what is odd. So is this coincidence oilis coming from elsewhere now? Red silicone? Did you/he pull the valve covers?
 

Burla

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I think maybe he used bolts that were too long then? If it wasn't the extraction, something caused this. It is rare, but it also has happened enough to know it does happen.

Was it leaking before? As in maybe? It is smelling burnt now? Dripping on exhaust? You would have known if that was prior to this bolt issue.
 

Burla

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Maybe take off valve cover and reseal new gasket, replace pcv as well, usually the culprit in most valve cover leaks. Then if it leaks after that, it is the bolt.
 
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2012Lamarie

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See, that is what is odd. So is this coincidence oilis coming from elsewhere now? Red silicone? Did you/he pull the valve covers?
No we didnt

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2012Lamarie

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I think maybe he used bolts that were too long then? If it wasn't the extraction, something caused this. It is rare, but it also has happened enough to know it does happen.

Was it leaking before? As in maybe? It is smelling burnt now? Dripping on exhaust? You would have known if that was prior to this bolt issue.
They were factory replacements same exact length. Thanks

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2012Lamarie

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I think maybe he used bolts that were too long then? If it wasn't the extraction, something caused this. It is rare, but it also has happened enough to know it does happen.

Was it leaking before? As in maybe? It is smelling burnt now? Dripping on exhaust? You would have known if that was prior to this bolt issue.
N
And not leaking before.

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ThunderMug95

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Was hoping and still hoping “the gob of sealant” is the source...still hoping for you that it is.
I had a phantom oil leak on one of my ZJ’s...couldnt reproduce or source. Turned out is was a pinhole on the plastic oil pressure sending guage spraying up under the valve cover area....it appeared after I installed an aftermarket cover thought I had overtorque and screwed up he head. Only squirted above 1/2 throttle, just happened see it when reving...
 
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2012Lamarie

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Was hoping and still hoping “the gob of sealant” is the source...still hoping for you that it is.
I had a phantom oil leak on one of my ZJ’s...couldnt reproduce or source. Turned out is was a pinhole on the plastic oil pressure sending guage spraying up under the valve cover area....it appeared after I installed an aftermarket cover thought I had overtorque and screwed up he head. Only squirted above 1/2 throttle, just happened see it when reving...
God I hope it's something easy.

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