oil leak

[td55]

95 esteem with oil leak between distributer and thermostat housing,can't tell were it's leaking from.Any suggestion with what could be leaking would be appreciated.

[jim_naisium]

Wipe off what you can with rags then spray that area down with brake cleaner, start the engine and watch, if it doesn't show up right away drive and it check it everytime before you turn the engine off.

[td55]

I have cleaned the area under the distributer and started the car.The oil leaks out at a slow drizzle under the distributer close to the vavle cover.

[jim_naisium]

Is it leaking from where the distributor shaft goes into it's mounting hole, or from between the mounting bracket that the distributor bolts to and the head?

[td55]

It's leaking from were the mounting bracket bolts to the head.

[jim_naisium]

- Take the distributor cap off but leave all the wires attached.

- Take a piece of tape and mark where the rotor is pointing to.

- On both sides of the distributor there should be two mounting flanges that hold it down, take a permanent marker and mark a line on the sides of the flanges and down into what they bolt to so that you can remount them in the same place.

- Undo the two nuts and then pull the distributor out, while you have it out replace the O ring on the shaft.

- The mounting bracket should be held down by three bolts, stick a rag under it to catch any oil that comes out then undo the three bolts and pull it off. It is probably a bad gasket but check for cracks or physical damage.

- Assuming that it is the gasket... scrape all the old gasket off and remount it with a new gasket and sealer, let it dry for a few hours before you put the distributor back in.

- Remount the distributor, it should mate up with the camshaft's female slot, make sure the rotor is pointing to the piece of tape and the lines on the flanges are where they should be then bolt it down and put the cap back on.

- If things went well it shouldn't be leaking anymore.

[td55]

I will try that.The o ring and gasket is a dealer part or can i get them from an auto part store? Thank you I'll let you know the outcome.

[danfab]

i have the same problem with my Suzuki esteem 97 model. I have already replace the O ring of the distributor shaft and also the O ring at the cover where the distributor is monted but still the leak is there.

Is there another oil seal somewhere between the distributor and the camshaft?

[jim_naisium]

There should be, see my directions above.

[danfab]

do you have a picture of how that part of the engine look like?