Can I seal this oil leak on a 6V92TA?

[bobk]

There is a small 'cap' on the aft inboard side of the starboard engine just above the exhaust manifold that is seeping oil. This cap is about 1"X2.5", with round ends, has two bolts through it and has the word 'out' stamped on it. There appear to be three on each side of the engine. What is this, and can I simply pull the bolts and put in a new gasket to stop the leak? I'm concerned I might onleash a new issue because I have no idea what this 'cap' covers. And if this fix is possible, can I simply cut a new gasket, or do I need to find a DD shop for parts.

Bob

[captddis]

Does it look like a football and it is on the side of the head? I think that is what you are talking about. If so just take it off and replace the gasket AND spray the threaded holes in the head with brakeclean then put sealant on the threads or use a copper seal washer. The leak is more than likely from the bolts.

[captddis]

On second thought, I think you are talking about the water outlet plates. They say out on them and they have two bolts that take a 9/16 socket. These are in the water jacket, if oil is on them it is coming from something up above. Dave

[Genesis]

Yep - if its on the cylinder head then its a port for the vacuum modulator line, and you can pull and reseal it. Seal the BOLTS with Permatex - that's probably what's leaking, not the actual gasket.

[bobk]

Yep - if its on the cylinder head then its a port for the vacuum modulator line, and you can pull and reseal it. Seal the BOLTS with Permatex - that's probably what's leaking, not the actual gasket.

Thanks Karl. Just to be sure I'm describing these properly, And nothing is attached to them. They seem to be cover plates for something and there are three of these on each side of the engines, they are 1 3/8" X 3 3/8", sort of foot ball shaped and are on top of the engine (head?) just above the exhaust ports. 'OUT' is stamped on each.

Can I cut new gaskets from ordinary gasket paper?

Bob

Bob

[Genesis]

No, those are not the ports I was talking about! The ones I was referring to are on either end of the head.

I know which ports you're talking about - those aren't what you think they are. Are you sure the oil is coming from there and not leaking somewhere else and dripping down there? I've never seen THOSE cover plates leak.

[bobk]

No, those are not the ports I was talking about! The ones I was referring to are on either end of the head.

I know which ports you're talking about - those aren't what you think they are. Are you sure the oil is coming from there and not leaking somewhere else and dripping down there? I've never seen THOSE cover plates leak.

Karl, I'm pretty sure this is the leak source. I had a good mech on board last month to clean the after coolers per your earlier suggestion and he thought the leak was related to the injector in that corner. Engine seems a bit smoother with a rebuilt injector, but leak continues. The only thing above the cover plate is the valve cover and I can't see any trace of oil from it. We are on the hard now (spray rail repair) and the bow tilts down a bit, so for the first time, I found oil fore and aft of this cover plate. Only one of the six is leaking. Suggestions?

Bob

[Genesis]

I am reasonably certain that these covers are attachment points for a water manifold that is used on 16V and some 12V engines - they are directly above each exhaust port, correct?

There's no oil behind those, so I'm not at all sure how you can be getting an oil leak there.

(This assumes we're talking about the same place.....)

[Nonchalant1]

Have you got a digital camera? Take a picture of the leaking plate so Karl and others will know exactly what you're talking about.

Doug

[Genesis]

It can't be the plates on the side of the cylinder head casting - there are only two to a side, not three. The three with the "out" stamped on them are directly above each exhaust connection to the manifold, and are connections to the water jacket. They are not used on 6s and 8s but ARE on 12s and all 16s to provide a water jacket interconnection point.

A 12 or 16 (V92s) are really two 6 or 8 blocks bolted together - they use the same cylinder hreads as the 6s and 8s but there are four of them instead of two, and the water jackets have to be interconnected in order to cool them. There's a "top pipe" that mounts on these ports (with the plates removed of course!) to provide that function.

You can see it clearly here in this image....