FG front timing cover leak repair bolt shortening

[euniqe]

Hello everyone

 

Recently acquired an FG Mk1, it of course has a front timing cover oil leak. I've searched the forum for this issue and whilst I have seen it mentioned off-hand that the root cause is the timing cover bolts being too long, I haven't been able to pinpoint an exact, precise fix. Before I go chopping bolts and potentially mess something up, I'd thought it diligent to reach out and confirm the correct procedure.

 

In the engine service manual, you can see the following:

 

Are these the bolts that should be shortened? If so, by how much? would 5mm do it? Do all of them need to be shortened?

[k31th]

I doubt ford's engineering department stuffing up the length of so many critical bolts...

[El Andrew]

I reckon there was something years ago about the long top ones but not sure that extended to FG.

Where is the leak from? I imagine it's just a reseal needed, which will be the rocker cover seal. Front cover goo and makes sense to do the half moon and crank seal while it is apart (and because they could be the cause of the leak)

[euniqe]

I'ts quite high up, around head gasket level I'd say, the top idler pulley bearing has copped it (squeaking heaps) and the compressor is soaked in oily residue. Both sides have residue, but there's none at head-level (doesn't appear like a rocker cover leak) and there's little to none towards the rear of the engine. Car has done 250,000 km's so probably never been cleaned. I guess if it leaks again it will likely be a small, slow leak like it is now and likely not a critical issue so I can just keep an eye on it and where it's leaking from precisely.

 

20 hours ago, k31th said:

I doubt ford's engineering department stuffing up the length of so many critical bolts...

As do I, frankly I don't understand how the bolt length makes it leak but this is the prevailing theory..

Edited 04/10/24 11:18 PM by euniqe