Harmonic Balancer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 809
From: West coast CA
They're referring to the crankshaft main seal, which is installed in the front cover. They are generally not referring to the front cover gasket.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 197
Likes: 99
From: Eastern NC
I don't think this is correct ^ info. The crank main seal is in the rear of the engine. When replacing the harmonic balancer, the seal that needs to be replaced is in the timing chain cover. See the picture below...
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 252
Likes: 32
From: S/W Illinois
The crankshaft exits the engine both in the back and in the front and requires a seal on each end. The seal normally replaced when the damper is replaced is the prominent black round seal in the above picture. The holes around the outside use a gasket which is not normally replaced when the damper is replaced. Torquetube is correct.
Last edited by Geno94; Sep 7, 2023 at 01:17 PM. Reason: clarity
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 809
From: West coast CA
I don't think this is correct ^ info. The crank main seal is in the rear of the engine. When replacing the harmonic balancer, the seal that needs to be replaced is in the timing chain cover. See the picture below...
The purpose of my post was to differentiate between the front seal and the front cover gasket. The OP asked about the "timing chain cover seal," which could be read either way.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Does replacing the timing chain cover seal require removal of the cover so the seal can be installed from the rear or is the seal replaced from the front when replacing the harmonic balancer? If you have to remove the cover you would also need a new gasket right?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 809
From: West coast CA
If you call a parts store and order a "timing chain cover seal," you have better than even odds of receiving a front cover gasket, which isn't what you want.
The crank seal is installed into the timing chain cover from the front. You don't need to remove the cover.
If for some reason you removed the cover, you would want to use an alignment tool during reinstallation to keep the crank seal opening centered on the crank. You would also want to apply dabs of RTV to the two T-intersections where the cover gasket contacts the pan gasket. You could probably get away with re-using the gasket itself, but I wouldn't.
If for some reason you removed the cover, you would want to use an alignment tool during reinstallation to keep the crank seal opening centered on the crank. You would also want to apply dabs of RTV to the two T-intersections where the cover gasket contacts the pan gasket. You could probably get away with re-using the gasket itself, but I wouldn't.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 95
Likes: 21
From: Colorado Springs CO
When I did mine just a bit ago I just pried out the old front main seal and tapped in a new one, was a pretty easy part of the whole thing, my old seal was pretty hard and leaking a little.
Another thing I did while the cradle was lowered was replace the engine mounts, mine were quite bad.
Another thing I did while the cradle was lowered was replace the engine mounts, mine were quite bad.