Hitachi digger oil leak

[Driver]

I have an old Hitachi ex100 digger here not used much. It has an Isuzu 4db1 turbo engine in it. It has an oil leak that I'm trying to diagnose. Its dripping oil at about a drop per 5 seconds.

Its either coming out the sump gasket at the back of the engine or at the bottom of the timing cover. I power washed it down today to dry and determine better and need to leave it dry out better. The top off The sump gasket is more or less the same level as the bottom of the timing cover.

Its in an awkward spot to diagnose. Would any gasket be more likely than the other to be leaking?

 

[Flatlander]

The most likely one is the hardest to fix. I’ve had sump gasket split on a c9 cat motor. Cheap fix but made a hell of a mess. Timing cover would be the most time consuming I’d imagine. Might be a tube of instant gasket smeared around the effected/suspected area.

 

[Driver]

The most likely one is the hardest to fix. I’ve had sump gasket split on a c9 cat motor. Cheap fix but made a hell of a mess. Timing cover would be the most time consuming I’d imagine. Might be a tube of instant gasket smeared around the effected/suspected area.

Yes some gasket maker might be worth a try alright.

 

[Driver]

Just thinking on this matter again. Could there be an oil seal inside the timing cover that could be leaking? Would the timing cover gasket not keep this oil in though if working correctly?

 

[shumungus]

Spend more time cleaning and looking for the leak instead of guessing on here might be a start.

 

[Driver]

Spend more time cleaning and looking for the leak instead of guessing on here might be a start.

I have power washed it all but it's just really hard to see as I can't get in close enough to see due to the frame of the machine. Here is a photo zoomed in. As you can see the gasket of the timing cover seems to have a 99 degree bend on it. The leak seems to be in this area. The bend of that gasket seems to sit into the sump gasket too?

 

[agrimax]

I think you need to have another go at washing it however difficult it is to get at ...

 

[Simon Chiles]

I have power washed it all but it's just really hard to see as I can't get in close enough to see due to the frame of the machine. Here is a photo zoomed in. As you can see the gasket of the timing cover seems to have a 99 degree bend on it. The leak seems to be in this area. The bend of that gasket seems to sit into the sump gasket too?

Wash it again, dry it and spray it with developer. Then you’ll know where it’s coming from.

 

[shumungus]

I have power washed it all but it's just really hard to see as I can't get in close enough to see due to the frame of the machine. Here is a photo zoomed in. As you can see the gasket of the timing cover seems to have a 99 degree bend on it. The leak seems to be in this area. The bend of that gasket seems to sit into the sump gasket too?

Spray on a good degreaser wash and repeat till its clean wait till its dry / use a developer. Seen us getting an area well cleaned and dry and blowing a bit of talcum powder / flour on it with an airline can help too before you start it.
As the old saying goes roll her in flour and go for the wet bit.

 

[Driver]

Talcum powder is a good idea actually thanks. Will go out with the steam washer again

 

[Driver]

Never even heard of a fault finder developer can until I googled it. You learn something new every day. Have one ordered from eBay now.