3S-GTE guru needed!

[TurboRA28]

Hi all, had a bit of a shocker today.. 3S-GTE was looking all ready to fire up, so took out the spark plugs and cranked it over to build up some oil pressure before starting it.

I got a nice supprise, a few litres of oil all over the driveway.

It was coming from the back of the engine, so out came the gearbox, clutch & flywheel.

Anyhows... dopey me left out a grub screw that goes into the back of the block, looks like it goes directly into an oil galley.

So thats all good... but problem is.. when I was rumaging through my left over bits n pieces, I found 2 of these grub screws, which means i've left another one out somewhere, but I cant find where it goes.

The manual doesn't seem to show these grub screws at all.. I got a bad feeling if 1 was at the back of the block, the other is probably at the front.. Which means taking water pump etc off dammit!

Anyway, here is a picture of the grub screw in question.. If anyone can point me to where it might go that'd be great.

Cheers
Joel

[Andrew162]

Umm, exactly what size is this grub screw? What gen# is the 3S-GTE?

[Cool1]

I think theres one on the exhaust side of the head.

[Celica RA45]

1 at the back and 1 where the oil pump bolts onto ,so you will have to take oil pump off and drop the sump ,doesnt that just suck ,cause the guys that did your block should have put them back in ,now you have to strip and clean and reasemble any way merry xmas everyone hope you get it going

[-==L=a=N=c=E==-]

1 at the back and 1 where the oil pump bolts onto ,so you will have to take oil pump off and drop the sump ,doesnt that just suck ,cause the guys that did your block should have put them back in ,now you have to strip and clean and reasemble any way merry xmas everyone hope you get it going

Right on the money.

I remember pulling those screws out when i rebuilt my engine. I coudln't find any reference to them at all (for torque settings).

[oldcorollas]

Right on the money.

I remember pulling those screws out when i rebuilt my engine. I coudln't find any reference to them at all (for torque settings).

being grub screws and parallel thread, they will not have torque settings?
is loctite suitable for oil/petrol solvents? or do you need some of that white fuel sealing loctite goo (number 567??)

[-==L=a=N=c=E==-]

being grub screws and parallel thread, they will not have torque settings?
is loctite suitable for oil/petrol solvents? or do you need some of that white fuel sealing loctite goo (number 567??)

Yeah i just put normal loctite on them and torqued em up to 20ft.lb

Either way, i havn't had any leaks since the rebuild. And that was well over 9 months ago now.

[TurboRA28]

damn! out comes the engine again, off with the sump, oil pump etc
i'm very over this right now...

[gianttomato]

M series blocks have these at each end of the main oil gallery. Great idea but, yes, the source of grief for young players!

Hope you get it all off, cleaned, finshed and running. Great project , and this is such a tiny set back.

[Andrew162]

damn! out comes the engine again, off with the sump, oil pump etc
i'm very over this right now...

Just be glad it's not in a RAV4 mate. I can't tell you how much of a headache that is to take the engine out! Dropping the engine mounts and the crossmember is the ONLY way... not even removing the manifolds is possible.

[TurboRA28]

I was having a chat with the engine machiner today about the problem.

He pulled out a few gaskets and oil pumps, and by looking at it, even with the grub screw missing from the front, it shouldn't cause any dramas. The oil will go into a small recesed area at the back of the oil pump housing, and will be contained there by the gasket. It doesn't connect to any other areas, it is totally sealed off.

Whats everyone think?

[RONA]

Take your car to an area you can contain the oil if it spills, crank it over and see what happens.

(I assumed he'd already replaced the rear grub screw in making this comment) ie testing to see if the theory of the front one not needing to be installed.

[The Witzl]

Corona - that's a stupid idea! Reassemble the engine, and then "give it a go" and possibly have to reassemble and clean it again!?!?

Joel - i think that even though it's sealed by the gasket, i would still install the bung. I know its a massive PITA, but at around 80-100psi of oil pressure, a gasket would more than likely leak. Maybe not immediately, but eventually.

Save the "wotif" factor and just put it in there

[love ke70]

agreed, you've spent so much time building this beauty up, its not worth taking a short cut and possibly compromising the reliability just to save a little bit of work, it might seem like an absolute downer, but at least you will know that there wont be a possibility of somethin goin wrong in that department.
great ride mate and g/l gettin her up and goin

[oldcorollas]

Corona - that's a stupid idea! Reassemble the engine, and then "give it a go" and possibly have to reassemble and clean it again!?!?

Joel - i think that even though it's sealed by the gasket, i would still install the bung. I know its a massive PITA, but at around 80-100psi of oil pressure, a gasket would more than likely leak. Maybe not immediately, but eventually.

Save the "wotif" factor and just put it in there

agreed on all points

it may just leak a little bit, but it might break the gasket out and leak more... sucks arse, but better than spun bearings from strange low oil pressure problem