Front main seal
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Front main seal
I am starting my winter projects. Front suspension rebuild (just ordered shocks ! ) and my rear main seal.
I have noticed oil in places where there shouldn't be oil. It has shown up on the hood insulation, frame, Underside of the water pump (dripping from somewhere?) and on the radiator hose (lower). can this all be coming from the rear seal?
How can you tell if your front main seal leaks? I have a feeling thats maybe where its coming from, but it could jsut be from the oil pan.
How hard is it to replace? Doest he timing chain need to come off?
I have noticed oil in places where there shouldn't be oil. It has shown up on the hood insulation, frame, Underside of the water pump (dripping from somewhere?) and on the radiator hose (lower). can this all be coming from the rear seal?
How can you tell if your front main seal leaks? I have a feeling thats maybe where its coming from, but it could jsut be from the oil pan.
How hard is it to replace? Doest he timing chain need to come off?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
It sounds like your oil pan or the timing chain cover is leaking and the fan is blowing it everywhere....
Before you start tearing stuff apart:
Clean the engine, spray dry deodorant in the areas you suspect to leak (I'm not kidding) - the dry spray turns white on your engine ... start the engine and watch....you can easily see where the oil is leaking from. The deodorant is very easy to remove afterwards.... cheap, quick and easy...
If your timing chain cover leaks you will have to pull the balancer, you'll need a 'special tool' - AutoZone offers free loaner tools....
You may want to upgrade to a two piece timing chain cover....
Before you start tearing stuff apart:
Clean the engine, spray dry deodorant in the areas you suspect to leak (I'm not kidding) - the dry spray turns white on your engine ... start the engine and watch....you can easily see where the oil is leaking from. The deodorant is very easy to remove afterwards.... cheap, quick and easy...
If your timing chain cover leaks you will have to pull the balancer, you'll need a 'special tool' - AutoZone offers free loaner tools....
You may want to upgrade to a two piece timing chain cover....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
Most likely the front seal. If it's original, then the timing chain is stock and should be replaced (if so use Cyloes True Double Roller). Then drop the pan and replace the pump (melling 55 or 55A(high pressure). Then replace with the one piece fel-pro gasket. Paint everything...
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
Those are classic front seal leak signs. Passenger side gets oiled up underneath due to engine rotation. If you still have the "y" exhaust pipe it has to be dropped to get the pan off. Drop the steering by removing the idler arm to frame bolts-this is the simplest way. Check the damper snout for a groove and install a "speedy sleeve" repair for about $10. If you change the timing set make sure to have your timing mark on zero before pulling gears/chain. Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
you dont even have to pull the oil pan, but its so easy on a vette why not pull it and relace pump, and all new seals. replace timing chain too whille your there. edelbrock makes an excellent double roller timing chain
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 844
Likes: 0
From: Central KY
One other idea?
Front seal is likely it - but is this an a/c car? Sometimes the compressors also leak - spewing oil all up under the hood. That's why MA sells that chrome "deflector" looking flange that you bolt over the compressor pulley. No, I don't have one!
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
No AC on my car (thank god).
I crawled under the car last night to get a better look at it. The oil may be coming from the bottom of the timing chain cover.
How much oil is supposed to be in the timing chain area anyway?
If a front main seal is leaking where would it leak to? Wouldn't it leak into the timing chain area?
I pulled the bolts that hold the Y-pipe to the exhaust manifolds. I wonder if that will be enough to get the oil pan out or if I will need to cut it off (the y pipe)
I hope I dont have to, but If I do I suppose I will just need to get it re-welded back together? 
Stupid 2-1-2 exhaust I hate you!
I crawled under the car last night to get a better look at it. The oil may be coming from the bottom of the timing chain cover.
How much oil is supposed to be in the timing chain area anyway?
If a front main seal is leaking where would it leak to? Wouldn't it leak into the timing chain area?
I pulled the bolts that hold the Y-pipe to the exhaust manifolds. I wonder if that will be enough to get the oil pan out or if I will need to cut it off (the y pipe)
I hope I dont have to, but If I do I suppose I will just need to get it re-welded back together? Stupid 2-1-2 exhaust I hate you!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
If you get a small inspection/dental mirror and a flashlight you can angle them enough(from under the car) to see behind the damper and actually see the edge of the front crank seal in the timing cover. If that leaks it runs down the outside to the bottom of the timing cover when the engine runs and then blows back and mainly to the left side-onto the starter,floor pan,lower hose and waterpump bottom. Paul67 had a post on dropping the y-pipe to get the oil pan off and it seems like that was enough clearance. I've got duals so I don't know for sure. Check the archives. I "hoped" for a couple of summers that my very slight leak was just the front of the oil pan but I knew better-then it suddenly got worse. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
This area where the timing chain cover meets the oil pan is a pain.... you'll have to take the balancer off and the cover. The two piece cover is a good idea....
It may be the front seal in the timing chain cover... you may be able to replace this without removing the cover...
It may be the front seal in the timing chain cover... you may be able to replace this without removing the cover...
