Crank Oil Seal

[Phart]

Just been told off for all the oil stains I leave in the work car park! As far as I can see its the front crankshaft oil seal, can anyone give me an outline on how to change it? Thanks.

[adam quantrill]

Might not need it - clean out the oil breather first. (That's the can that screws into the rocker cover.) You can usually pull out the gauze and wash it in petrol. Also make sure that the pipe isn't blocked, nor the tube that goes into the throttle body, which is nasty to clean out as it goes through a 90 degree bend.

Edited by adam quantrill on Tuesday 25th July 11:21

[PHart]

I wish it was that simple! They weren't blocked up, so I guess its not them. Still, it always pays to start with the simple option, you never know.
Any other ideas would be much appreciated.

[adam quantrill]

I think you'll have to take off the front cover. I would advise trying to crack all the bolts around the front cover before you start to make sure they all move - sometimes they get stuck in the block. When you're happy then the front pulley, maybe the alternator will have to come off. Also you'll have to drain off the cooling water as I recall.

You'll need a new front cover gasket as well. I can't remember what else, I did this when I replaced my camshaft.

[firefox1712]

why not park in a different place every day?

[campbell]

Taking the front cover off isnt much fun, you could lake a drip try to work and put in under the car where you park...

If you are going to take the front cover off, first make sure you cranck the car over to cylinder 1 TDC and mark the side of the dizy before you take it out, this will allow you to get the timming correct first time and not end up with the spark on the wrong cylinder.
The bolts the hold on the front cover a rather long and twist a lot when they are taken out for the first time and the worst ones are where the water flows, i would also recomend droping the oil and water and taking the suml off and the gasget gets torne at the front and its a pain to get a good seal when it all gose back togeather and for the cost of a few quid extra its worth it, ive have the front off 3 times and the last time i did the sump gasget, the sump came off very easy and also remember the botls for the sump are only hand tight, the front cover are about 20 pounds or so, also cover the bolts with copper slip incase you have to take it off again also if the cover is off check the remote oil pick up for grit and debries and you can clean it and make it look good for your bosses to look at when its no longer you droping oil in the carpark
I would say its a good two days work by your self unless you start a 08:00 and work until late
Good luck

Cambelt

[FrenchTVR]

I think that you should be able to change the seal in situ. It will be a bit of a bugger, but far easier than taking off the front cover. I would definitely advise removing the bonnet, access is then quite good to that area.

[wedg1e]

It'd certainly be easier on a non-PAS car. My oil takeoff had dribbled for ages as I could never seem to get in to tighten it for the rack. A day or so before Wedgefest I decided to sort it once and for all.
First I visited Gary Glitter and got him to show me a few deft hand moves. Then I went to Halfords and bought their latest rubber-drive socket set (guaranteed to reach the parts others can't) and finally dislocated both shoulders, both wrists and one elbow before crawling underneath and setting-to.

I think I got it to turn one flat; the bast@rd still leaks...

[FrenchTVR]

PMSL @ Wedg1e "First I visited Gary Glitter and got him to show me a few deft hand moves. "

[vauxste]

Hi Paul

Thought my crank seal was leaking, got underneath and found it is the oil pipe from the external filter to engine weeping and running down engine. Just priced one to be made at Pirtek £35. Doing it this week.

[Boosted LS1]

Just check the pcv inlet at the back of the rocker cover isn't blocked. Remove the filter from the top and check the pinhole in the breather itself isn't blocked. If the pcv system isn't working you could get oil leaks but if it's fine then it's back to the crank seal.

Boosted.