Camshaft Seal Replacement in Your Car
Posted on | 14 Apr 2019 By Anita Gaal
The purpose of the camshaft seal is to seal the end of the camshaft. Seals are round and made from durable rubber. This rubber can harden over time and cause the camshaft to leak oil. The seals can also fail from excess pressure from the crankcase. If your seal has failed, you will experience oil loss and this oil can contaminate the timing belt. causing even more damage. If your camshaft seal has failed it is important to have it replaced to prevent any further damage.
Common Symptoms That Your Camshaft Seal Needs To Be Replaced
- There is oil leaking behind the timing cover
- The engine runs rough
- You have a loss of power
- The engine overheats
- Your car stalls
- You experience backfiring which can damage other components
- There is smoke coming out of the exhaust
What is the Camshaft?
The camshaft is an essential part of your car. It is responsible for activating the valve movement that regulates the air to fuel mixture. The camshaft works directly with the timing belt, so if the belt breaks, the camshaft stops spinning. This, in turn, can cause the pistons to hit a valve, resulting in engine damage.
To work properly, the camshaft needs to be well lubricated. Without the camshaft seal, the oil would leak out. The seal also keeps dirt and other contaminants from entering.
Things to Consider
It is important to note that seals don’t usually fail and typically only need to be replaced when other components are replaced, such as the camshaft. If you are replacing the camshaft or the timing belt you should always replace the seal too.
If you think that your seal is leaking it could also be the valve cover gasket leaking. This gasket is in the same area as the camshaft seal.
We Can Replace Your Seal
Your camshaft seal was designed to withstand pressure and extreme temperatures. It is made from a durable material that was made to last for a long time. If the camshaft seal in your car would happen to fail it must be replaced promptly. Replacing the seal is a labor-intensive process, but the seal is inexpensive.
Our mechanics are experts at what they do, and they are more than capable of taking care of this time-consuming job. We recommend that you let a professional handle your camshaft seal replacement. It takes a lot of time and patience to replace the seal. If it isn’t done correctly, the timing belt or cam gear could get damaged in the process.
Steps that need to be taken to replace the camshaft seal
- Disconnect the battery
- Remove the timing belt and the camshaft gear
- Replace the camshaft seal
- Reinstall the camshaft gear and the timing belt
- Reconnect the battery
- Check for any leaks
Let Us Help You
If your camshaft seal is leaking oil, you need to get it replaced right away. The leak can lead to a fire, and your engine could seize up. It can also damage your timing belt which can cause bent valves, cylinder head damage or camshaft damage. Leaving this issue go unfixed can lead to major damage and higher service bills.
You don’t have to take your European auto to a dealership to have maintenance performed. We can offer you that dealership quality service without the high prices. We are family owned and we do not have the immense overhead that these large commercial companies have. We strive to provide you with the best service around and our diagnosis is free. You only have to pay for the repair.
Here at Euro Automotive, we are certified experts that can take care of all of your European auto needs. We know that you take pride in your car, and we will treat it as if it was our own. We want you to be happy with the way your car runs and we want you to be able to drive it for a lifetime.
Call Us Today
We service the Dallas, Garland, Arlington and Fort Worth, TX areas. Give our Euro Automotive office a call to schedule your appointment. You can reach us on 214-935-5634. Or, come see us at 3421 West Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75220.