New Crankshaft Seal Leaks -Pulley End

[mikedsilva]

My fresh 3.2 motor runs great!
But after the oil gets nice and warm I found a couple drips and it turns out it's from the crank pulley seal.

At first I thought it was the IMS cover plate but after removing the puley, I saw oil between the nose of the crankshaft and the inner lip of the seal.

The seal is an Elring seal. I've fitted heaps of these to new motors before so I don't know how I would have stuffed this up, but am hoping it was me.

I removed the seal, and to my eyes, it looks fine. I will order a replacement though.
I always install them with oil. If I managed to somehow damage it during installation, shouldn't I be able to see the damage on the seal lip?

I've had a good look at the crankshaft.. it is smooth, no burrs, no worn rings from old seals..

At this stage, I think my only course of action is to fit a new seal and cross my fingers...

[proporsche]

it is possible that the spring on the new seal is softer.What you do is take the spring off...untwist the connection ,each to opposite direction.Than cut the female side about 3mm and twist them both for a good fit .After put back on the seal.It makes it better grip and tension..

Just hope it is not your 8th bearing leaking.....

Ivan

[mikedsilva]

Originally Posted by proporsche

it is possible that the spring on the new seal is softer.What you do is take the spring off...untwist the connection ,each to opposite direction.Than cut the female side about 3mm and twist them both for a good fit .After put back on the seal.It makes it better grip and tension..

Just hope it is not your 8th bearing leaking.....

Ivan

Interesting.. never heard of that before.
Pretty certain it is not the bearing leaking. The seal removed nicely with one of those 2 legged seal pullers.. and it was dry all around. Also, the oil was easy to see pooling between lip of seal and crankshaft.. will take some pics tomorrow.

[proporsche]

yup those are old tricks i have learned....do not put any oil on the outside surface of the seal if any use curil T or 576 Loctite orange....the seal once installed should be easy to remove.....just adjust the spring that should solve the problem should i show you how?

Ivan

[dtxscott]

Originally Posted by proporsche

yup those are old tricks i have learned....do not put any oil on the outside surface of the seal if any use curil T or 576 Loctite orange....the seal once installed should be easy to remove.....just adjust the spring that should solve the problem should i show you how?

Ivan

I'd like to see this.

[dannobee]

"Adjusting" the garter spring is a trick that's been used for decades. The only down side is that if you go too far, the sealing edge will wear a groove in the crank.

If you remove any garter spring, look carefully and you can see where the factory twisted one end into the other end.

[proporsche]

working on it;-)..Now i know the correct name thanx dannobee..yup it is old trick which we used in Czechoslovakia where parts were hard come by..about 45 years ago;-)

ivan

[proporsche]

ok here we have it .. 1st https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYxcT40i700
2nd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q83YRYcSpDE

just change the speed when watching..

Ivan

[dtxscott]

Ivan, thanks for making and posting the video. Very simple solution.

[mikedsilva]

Originally Posted by proporsche

ok here we have it .. 1st https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYxcT40i700
2nd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q83YRYcSpDE

just change the speed when watching..

Ivan

nice!
is this something that can be done to the seal I removed? ie, can I reinstall a seal? or can it only be done to a new oil seal?

[proporsche]

it could be done to a seal you removed..but my Q was how did you remove it without damaging it ? Those seals if they are in the 8th bearing are tight as tight i could be and you removed it with a pick? Can i see the pic and the seal you are trying to re-use?
Ivan

[blue911rsr]

Might be your oil galley plug did you remove it or maybe machine shop
Have had this issue with a 930 a few shops replaced the seal but it still leaked

[yelcab1]

$20 seal. For god's sake, get a new one and cut the spring by 3mm.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

$20 seal. For god's sake, get a new one and cut the spring by 3mm.

Yea, it is just a few hours of work to get to the seal to replace it. I found that to be a real pain in the back.

[proporsche]

i would like to know-still- how was it that the seal was easy removed and with tools??If any use ne seal and let`s see the old one ,the side of it...really they are very snug fit..

Ivan

[yelcab1]

Originally Posted by proporsche

i would like to know-still- how was it that the seal was easy removed and with tools??If any use ne seal and let`s see the old one ,the side of it...really they are very snug fit..

Ivan

I am sure the sealing surface of the seal was destroyed in the process, even if it did not look it. Re-using it is a bad mistake.

[proporsche]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

I am sure the sealing surface of the seal was destroyed in the process, even if it did not look it. Re-using it is a bad mistake.

exactly;-)i have never ever had luck removing it without making it kaput..not worth it...
it is strange to see tool being used to remove it..

Ivan

[mikedsilva]

I wasn't planning to re-use the seal...
Even though it does look pretty good. Here are some pics of the seal.

I ended up installing another seal and so far, no more leaks. I've had a very good look at the Elring seal that I removed, and I cannot see any damage to the lip or cause for the leaking. The crankshaft is also in excellent condition with no grooves, or scores, etc...

[mikedsilva]

The tool I used is similar to the one in this youtube video.... https://youtu.be/M_VQHvqXaYU

[proporsche]

Mike, how about 1:05 on clock on the last picture of the seal???i see a difference..still..good you solved the oil leak;-)
on the video i do not believe that tool will not damage the seal......anyway problem solved...what is next?;-))))

Ivan