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Clogged oil seperator - blew rear cam seal 900

Drove to JPG exhuast in Oakville on sat morning to have them look at what sounded like an exhaust leak. Guy drives in my car and calls me "looks like you got other problems you have to deal with before your exhuast issue". Shows me a thick line of oil my car spilled from where it was parked to the hoist. (he's not happy btw regarding the mess) Lift the car but can't tell if it's the rear seal at tranny etc. worried at this point.
Did some investigating and removed the rear cover at back of cam, found the cam cover seal drowning in it in oil. Checked vacuum lines from oil seperator and found little flow. Recently replaced flame trap but decided to leave the oil seperator investigation for better days like spring. It decided not to wait. Removed oil cap with engine running and got alot of splash up due to pressure.
Decide to clean oil seperator. Went about getting to it by removing long bracket behind alternator. Universal socket comes in handy here btw. Removed oil seperator to find poor air flow. Soaked it in degreaser and blew a can of brake cleaner through it. Found thick oil, coke and soot clogging it. Reinstalled it and so far so good.

N.B. found the hard way that removing the bolt on the bracket instead of just loosening it and moving it out of the way was the wrong approach. Apparently these two bolts also hold the engine mount to the block. Had to lift the engine up from the front and line that up again to get it to thread. Live and learn. Seems like I have a weekly issue with this car but at least it waits for the weekend. Rob







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