I helping Rosevillesister, Cindy, tracing an oil leak. It looks to me like it is coming from the VVT. On the 97 it is in the timing cover. It is not the same as the AJ27 engines, 99+. It is an oring and appears to be the plastic type, or the one from my 97 donor car became rock hard over time,. Need the part # so I can order the correct part. I ordered one that they said was for a 97 but turned out to be the one for the AJ27.

 

Cked the SNG Barrett online Cat. Shows up to 1999 AJ82856 # Later year thru 2002 AJ82856 Thru 2006 W/VVT AJ82856 Appears same parts fit the 4.0L and 4.2L according to Catalogue.
Above is for the VVT seal not T/C cover, Sorry.
BR, the large looking o-ring at front of shows to be KSC145624 located in the T/C It was item #3 in my Paper Catalogue. Best I can do. :-)

 

^^
This one?

 

That's the one I quoted the # on. WET here is in Tn.

 

Thanks Kelly and Michael. That is the correct part. Placed order and should be here sometime next week. I will get it installed and see if that was the leak. It is wet with oil under the VVT so it is the VVT or the cam cover gasket. I have the cam cover gaskets on hand but not the oring. I will try the VVT oring first.

 

Had the same leak on my '97. Be careful when installing- I pinched one of the o-rings and had to order another set.

 

I carefully tamp the new VVT O-ring seals into place using the flat end of a small wooden dowel. No damage done like using a screwdriver would do....

Be sure to wipe the entire area squeaky clean before installing the new pair of seals. Leaving oil or grime residue on those surfaces can cause leaks to occur in short order....

 

Thanks. That is why I bought 4 of them.


Jon-
I carefully tamp the new VVT O-ring seals into place using the flat end of a small wooden dowel. No damage done like using a screwdriver would do...

Jon I think you are thinking about the seal that is in the cam cover on the AJ27. The seal we are talking about is an oring that is in the timing cover on the AJ26.

 

pro tip: on AJ27 and later use the V6 VVT seals

impossible to install improperly and provide a good seal