Modern Automotive Performance

[Goat Blower]

That front cover was way too tight if it was over 30 ft/lbs, unless your torque wrench is way off. That could possibly cause your problem with the oil pump gears eating into the case.

And I'm a bit stumped on the lower tensioner bolt, that sure shouldn't have any oil coming out of it.

[Mwolf83]

Originally Posted by Goat Blower

That front cover was way too tight if it was over 30 ft/lbs, unless your torque wrench is way off. That could possibly cause your problem with the oil pump gears eating into the case.

And I'm a bit stumped on the lower tensioner bolt, that sure shouldn't have any oil coming out of it.

Yes you are totally right that it shouldn't have been tightened that much, which is why I took it off and got a brand new gasket and redid it myself to spec. I guess I forgot to mention that part in my initial ramblings.
Also I still have yet to understand the part about the oil in the bolt hole as well, since the new gasket I put on didn't have any spots in it showing where oil would've went past it into the through hole for the bolt and I also considered the possibility that the block may have been cracked through that hole but that doesn't seem to be the case either.
If I can't solve that mystery then the copper crush washers may just be the fix. We shall see when it goes back together again in a few days.

[blackrosenova400]

I dont believe tightening the front cover too tight would cause your oil pump to wear like it did. It would literally have to bend the front cover to be able to cause abnormal wear.

On the other hand tightening the back gear over where the balance shaft came out, too tight, could cause gear endplay too be too tight on the gear and it would chew up as it did.

Show us a pic of the front cover assembly, I want to see if its a legit Mitsu pump.