front seal does this make sense?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 353
Likes: 1
From: Sugar Land, TX
front seal does this make sense?
My harmonic balancer went bad during a road trip. Due to the circumstance I had to drive approximately 800 miles with the outer ring of the balancer spinning seperate of the inner part. This, I assume, caused an engine out of balance situation and vibration. It also used a lot of oil. I had the balancer replaced and on most of my trip home there was much oil leakage. The entire undercarriage looks like I struck an oil well. I was very vigulent and added oil every 100-150 miles. During the last stage of the trip, maybe the last 150 miles, the leakage significantly reduced and I didn't add any oil.
Now, here is the question. Could the front seal have become deformed when the balancer was shot and then after a period of time and heat reformed and sealed around the shaft?
Now, here is the question. Could the front seal have become deformed when the balancer was shot and then after a period of time and heat reformed and sealed around the shaft?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
My guess is that the leak path was so large that all the built-up crud in the engine flowed that direction and helped to plug up the leak. You will have to replace that seal anyway, so you'll know the answer when you do.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 353
Likes: 1
From: Sugar Land, TX
Oops, I forgot to mention that the balancer did not wear a hole in the front cover. Just sprayed the engine and underbody off with high pressure soap and water. Drove it several places and no oil on the ground or in the engine compartment.
Recently, I rebuilt the front suspension. Before doing so, I sprayed the engine and front suspension. There wasn't much if any sludge.
I'm going to drive it out to Raceway Park for the drag races this weekend where I will have it at highway speeds for a sustained time. I'll see what happens then.
As always, thanks for the input.
Recently, I rebuilt the front suspension. Before doing so, I sprayed the engine and front suspension. There wasn't much if any sludge.
I'm going to drive it out to Raceway Park for the drag races this weekend where I will have it at highway speeds for a sustained time. I'll see what happens then.
As always, thanks for the input.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The odds of that seal lasting very much longer are pretty slim. It would have been a "no-brainer" to install another $3 seal before the damper was installed. I still wish you luck that it will hold up...but I'm not going to 'hold my breath'.
