Front Housing Cover Oil Leak

[kozakvod]

2013 ISX 15 CM2350

In January I had the Rod/Main bearings replaced (797,000 miles). Before I left the shop I asked him about what I had assumed the oil leak to have been my pan gasket. He said no it wasn't. He said that Cummins uses a metal gasket on the front housing cover of these engines and that over time the metal gasket wears on the housing itself (he showed me on that they had removed how it had formed a groove like indention. He basically stated to me that the only way to fix that leak is a new front housing cover.

Not wanting to take his word as truth or false I figured I'd ask here. Obviously if that's the only way to repair this leak that's not going to be an inexpensive fix so I thought I'd get some advise here before starting the hunt for such a project.

[Rawze]

Depends on if any grooves in it can be polished out. Personally, I have never had to replace the metal parts themselves (the actual cover or gear housing) .. but only ever needed to clean up the mating surfaces and replace just the gasket.

[SquareOne]

Has anyone experienced the gear housing front cover 'only' leak? Pulled down the front end to replace the crank seal. After a thorough cleaning and sitting overnight, I noticed some oil seepage on the ledge of the gear case just above the crank seal (see pic). If you zoom in to the ledge, you can see the oil sitting there.

Appears to be from bottom of the thin cover itself. There is minimal seepage (only see it because of dirt sticking to it ) between the gear cover housing and block on either side. Oil looks to be isolated to only this spot (although it has been seeping for awhile apparently). Oil has never actually hit the ground, but it did begin to sweat the front of the oil pan and was getting worse with the cold, which was the reason for the teardown. Really, after the cleanup, it appears this is most of the oil leak, although I will replace the front crank seal anyway since I'm here.

- Engine does have a maintenance-free filter and overhead ran about 50k miles ago which took minimal adjustment and all cam lobes looked great. I don't have the actual numbers on blow-by, but the oil loss between 15-17k oil changes is minimal (maybe 1/2 gallon based off the stick). Def don't have to add between changes. Engine does have around 850k miles now.

[Heavyhauler]

hello, Ive had a lot of oil leaks on the front of my ISX, ive fixed them all including replacing the front structure. Both of the front covers I have never had leak. tho I remember paying attention to the large O-rings that are on them have a gap. I always pointed them up at 12-oclock. to minimize a possible leak.

[SquareOne]

(12-18-2024 )Heavyhauler Wrote:  hello, Ive had a lot of oil leaks on the front of my ISX, ive fixed them all including replacing the front structure. Both of the front covers I have never had leak. tho I remember paying attention to the large O-rings that are on them have a gap. I always pointed them up at 12-oclock. to minimize a possible leak.

Knock on wood, this is the 1st one I've had. Been a really dry engine up to this point, aside from some minimal seepages. Just odd that it's there. I guess anything's possible with a high mileage mass produced piece of equipment. Really wanting to make sure I'm not missing anything before putting this all back together. Waiting for the crank seal and gear housing cover gasket now...

[3406E]

My engine had that same leak but when I replaced all the front structure gaskets didn’t see it again

[Mr Hagg]

Yes these isx's are known for the front structure gasket leaking.. That why when we do a over haul we pull it and reseal everything while we are there...

[SquareOne]

(12-18-2024 )Mr Hagg Wrote:  Yes these isx's are known for the front structure gasket leaking.. That why when we do a over haul we pull it and reseal everything while we are there...

Thats what I've been reading as well, and I thought I was fairly familiar with that leak. That leak would be between the gear housing and the block correct?

If that's the case, I'm actually not leaking there, it's only at the bottom of the gear cover (the thin cover with the Cummins logo).

Hopefully I can wait till an overhaul before dealing with the housing gasket when the time comes, since I don't see anything between the housing and block.

[SquareOne]

(12-18-2024 )3406E Wrote:  My engine had that same leak but when I replaced all the front structure gaskets didn’t see it again

Were you also leaking between the housing and block or just the cover like mine?