Oil leak passenger side 4 cyllinder

[vuedriver]

I have a 2002 Saturn Vue with 140k miles, 4 cylinder, 5speed fwd.

Yesterday out of nowhere, my engine started profusely leaking oil from the passenger side. The oil hits the crankshaft pulley and gets flung everywhere, so it's hard to tell where it's originally coming from. It's somewhere on the side of the engine because there's no oil on the top or the bottom except where it gets flung off of the pulley.

Is this a known issue that someone can tell me where it's coming from?

I tried searching but the search function seems to be not working.

[waiter21]

Sounds like a crankshaft seal,

with 140k miles on a 2002, IMHO, you are on borrowed time for a timing chain and tensioner.

If you are a DIYer, you will need to pull the timing cover and chain to replace the crank seal. So this is a good time to install new chain, tensioner, and guides.

Fairly easy Saturday afternoon job, get a timing chain set and a new timing cover gasket.

Heres a link when I replaced mine:

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=218942

If the chain breaks or jumps timing, you're screwed, it usually destroys the engine

[oldmanina2005vu]

FYI you will also have to pull the valve cover so might as well replace the valve cover gaskets too. Might consider a new water pump. Timing chain kits are available on Ebay and Amazon that include the timing chain and sprockets, chain guides, tensioner, balance shaft chain and sprockets, balance shaft guides, balance shaft chain tensioner, water pump, and front cover gaskets. It includes the crankshaft seal as well. I believe it actually seals against the flywheel pulley so be sure to check that for any wear or nicks when you get it off. I find that Cloyes makes the best chain sets. The valve cover gasket set would be bought separately. There are a couple of videos on Youtube that show how it is done. almost any 4 cyl. ecotec is the same procedure. One is actually a Cloyes technician walking you through the process. Good luck!!

[SylenThunder]

Just chiming in to agree 100% with both of the responses here. When I saw the thread title I immediately thought of the crankshaft seal as the most likely cause.

You can DIY most of this pretty easily, and save a ton of money on not paying overpriced parts and labor at a shop.

[Srjs28]

I just did the timing set on mine and don’t forget to replace the cam shaft sproket bolts as they are torque specific and will stretch out. Sometimes they come with the kit, mine did not. They are about $8 a piece, you will need 2

[Srjs28]

And I also agree as it is the crankshaft seal that is leaking

[waiter21]

The front crank seal is located on the timing chain cover. With your mileage, change the timing set, oiler, tensioner, and you should be good for another 150k.

If I had 150k miles and was into it that far, I'd probably also do the water pump and balance chain.

I did a Rescue Vue. The previous owner did an engine tranny swap but couldn't get it running so it sat for 6 years in their drive. I literally intercepted the Vue on its way to the junk yard. I didn't know any history, so replaced the timing components. Its not to big of a deal, you just need to be very careful with setting the timing. (NOTE - The PO had the throttle body and Fuel Injector connectors reversed. This nuked the ECM and a couple sensors. Fixed the connectors, replaced the ECM and sensors and it started right up.)

Do yourself a favor, before putting the timing cover back on, take a bunch of photos of the timing chain, cam, crank, guides, gears, etc.. This way if you have any problems you can look at the photos to re-verify the timing was correct when you put it back together...