[deep-six]

Hi all

Hope someone can help. Recently replaced the rocker cover gasket on my 89 1.6 Vitara hoping to fix an oil leak that finds its way down the back of the engine and over the bell housing.
As mentioned, chucked in a new rocker cover gasket and rubber stud seal things, wiped the oil off my hands and stepped back. Now that'll stop those pesky leaks I think to myself.
Damn thing still leaks, seems worse if thats possible.
Only other thing I can think of is the distributor thats mounted at the back of the engine. Is it common for oil to leak here, is it a hard fix. One guy I spoke to said "O"Ring, another said Seal. Not sure whats in there but just fishing for tips.

Cheers

Ric

[Scrawny]

There's an o-ring where the distributor sits in the housing and a seal (gasket/sealant?) where the housing bolts to the back of the head. Both are common places for leaks

[deep-six]

Hmmm, Just went out to chuck some more oil in the old girl. Dip stick showed nothing, must be a bit low. Now the weird thing is I topped up the oil, stuck my head around the back of the engine and noticed oil dripping from the fuel pump. Looks like its coming out between where the upper and lower body fit together.
Really strange that it started dripping out after I topped up the oil, didn't fire up the engine and it has been sitting for a few hours.

[Scrawny]

There's a gasket where the fuel pump mates onto the head too. Can you get a pic up?

[deep-six]

Yep, I see the gasket between the pump and the cylinder head. Will have a closer look in the daylight, that gasket is an easy fix but I suspect the fuel pump is rooted.

[2stubs]

it will be the fuelpump itself, not the gasket.
only thing you can do is replace it as it can't be fixed.

[deep-six]

Yep. I reckon its fuel pump replacement time.
Hmmm, I wonder if ethanol is my enemy here...... Or probably old age I suppose, its been doing a lot of pumping in its lifetime

[Ausuki]

ethanol is hard on the rubber and alloy components in you fuel system, but so is old age

[Scrawny]

Ethanol is the enemy of all old fuel systems!

[deep-six]

Just to follow up in case anyone has this problem in the future.
Replaced the fuel pump and all is good.
Looks like the fuel pump has a relief hole, similar to whats in a water pump. this is where the oil was leaking from and not from between the top housing and casting as I first thought.

Cheers all and thanks for your input