My mechanic says................

Submitted: Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 18:49

ThreadID: 24969 Views:2513 Replies:7 FollowUps:10

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Willem

Well he is not really the mechanic but the mechanic's boss.

Before I left on the Big Trip I had a new Rear Main Engine Oil Seal fitted. In less than 10,000km it started leaking again. Not by much but quite noticeable when I am parked nose down in a parking bay....then the oil runs out of the bellhousing making the leak look bad. The seal seems to leak more when I do faster runs. When I plod along a bush track or over dunes the leak almost seems to dry up. I rang the fella from WA and told his secretary to tell him to start worrying..

Today while talkng about this and that and other work in prgress he casually remarks that one can never guarantee that a seal will not leak. Now I can accept that to a point, but I get the distinct feeling that the seal provided last time was of inferior quality even at $38 retail cost. It should not start leaking so soon.

Can any knowledgable forumites enlighten me, please.

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Reply By: Exploder - Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 19:11

Reply By: Member - Bill S (NSW) - Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 19:32

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 20:04

Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 20:04

Hi Willem,

I tend to go kindly on mechanics in this situation, unless you are absolutely sure that workmanship is at fault.

If you told me that the replacement seal was not-genuine I guess I wouldn't be surprised. Stuff like that I'd always use genuine.

The other issue is whether theres a groove wearing in the crank.

Cheers
Phil

AnswerID: 121655

Follow Up By: 120scruiser - Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 20:26

Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 20:26

In my workshop we always use genuine seals in 99% of jobs. Especially rear engine seals. For some reason we had a bad run of after market ones.
As Phil states there could be a groove in the crank where the old seal ran and did he clean the varnish off the crank. There could also be a slight build up of sludge around the sealing area.
We have had seals pop the spring out on installation but once its in you have no way of knowing if this has happened. It is also very easy to fold a section of the sealing lip over on install.
Still my workshop would cover it under warranty whether it be faulty seal or installation fault.

FollowupID: 376821

Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 20:42

Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 20:42

Phil and 120scruiser

I was wondering about the groove in the crank.

I must add something to this which may be of value.
The flywheel has a wobble of about 2mm as we discovered that the previous owner had burnt the clutch severely and the flywheel had heat marks on it. I took the flywheel to an engineering shop early in the morning and the bloke was unenthusiastic about shaving it and said 'to bleep me off I guess' it would cost $250 to shave it. So I left. The old flywheel went back in($600 new one from Nissan was unaffordable at that point) and we have just done 16000km since then. Reckon the flywheel had been wobbled for around 40,000km before that.

FollowupID: 376826

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 21:28

Friday, Jul 22, 2005 at 21:28

Willem,

I've had flywheels machined at Adelaide Clutch at Torrensville. These days, probably about $40-50 for a single surface reface on their flash machine. Cost $25 for a LandCruiser flywheel in 1998. But I guess up north, its a bigger deal to send these bits away to town.

But 2mm wobble sounds like a lot to me. I wouldn't expect any, but I would doubt that its related to your leaking seal.

Cheers
Phil

FollowupID: 376839

Follow Up By: 120scruiser - Monday, Jul 25, 2005 at 08:36

Monday, Jul 25, 2005 at 08:36

Willem our flywheel machines retail for $37.75, all vehicles except dual mass flywheels.
With 2 mm run out you would think the clutch would be undriveable due to the shudder.
If the crank has a groove there is the option of speedy sleeves. I hate using them but they work. About $65.00 for the kit.
Best of luck

FollowupID: 377035

Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Jul 25, 2005 at 17:07

Monday, Jul 25, 2005 at 17:07

Thanks Phil and 120scruiser for your feedback and comments. When I have procured a new flywheel and clutch kit I will make sure that the next seal fitment is done properly and at a reduced cost.