Bongo Fury

UPDATE

CAMBELT was indeed found broken under the cover, also loads of oil there. He couldn't really say if this was clean oil (since my post breakdown top-up) or dirty/mixed.

He wants to first just put a new belt on, spin the camshaft by hand whereby ?check pistons have compression? He says this will rule out damaged/bent valves.

I had sent him http://designrocket.wpengine.com/wp-con ... g-belt.pdf wherein we read "this engine has been identified as an INTERFERENCE engine in which the possibility of valve-to-piston damage in the event of a timing belt failure is most likely to occur"
So not a CLEARENCE engine after all?

Even if compression seems ok, he says if will definitely need a new CAMSHAFT SEAL, besides the Pulleys/Seals in the Belt kit. He wonders if oil leak caused timing belt to fail, but belt seems to me the "cause" not the "effect" given it was low on oil.

Any more thoughts, advice appreciated!

No its a non-interference engine - J5-DE - Only if the head has been skimmed or otherwise altered could there be a problem as the clearance is minimal. If you search on here you will find other references to it not being a problem. However if a valve should drop because of a broken stem then every engine can suffer damage!

"He wants to first just put a new belt on, spin the camshaft by hand whereby ?check pistons have compression? He says this will rule out damaged/bent valves."
Yes it will.

That explains the oil leak was most likely from the cam seals and/or crank seal.
Change all 5 seals, hydraulic adjuster, 2 guide wheels, water pump and belt.
And change the thermostat while its dismantled.
It's a small extra cost that can save a lot of labour if changed on it's own.