Is this normal? (flywheel seal)

[ohecht]

I am definitely going to replace the flywheel seal and the oil cooler seals, but I need to know if this is excessive and looks like enough to get onto the bottom of the case. I have always had an incredibly slow seep below the oil cooler, and it remained after the last time I changed the cooler o-rings. I am hoping this is the source, otherwise I need to keep looking...



Thanks,

Olivier

[KTL]

I'd certainly replace that seal. That leak is bad enough to get the bottom of the case wet. There's an updated seal out there that's supposed to be better than the black one that you (and I) have in there right now. I think if you were to leave it alone and just wipe the crud off? The leak would present itself soon after running the engine. Seems to me that getting the dirt out of the way would let the leak travel easier.

Maybe Brian K./SoCal911SC could be so kind as to give us the part number of that updated seal? Scroll down to his post in this topic and see what he says

3.6 Install - It's Alive!

The seal is not hard to replace. Patience is best. Go around the crank with a seal puller and it should come right out. You can jag it with a screwdriver at the slot in the case too, deforming the seal enough to grab it with some vise grips to yank it out But sometimes the screwdrivercan slip and make things worse for you. Another way is to drill a couple holes in the flat, outer part of the seal and thread some self-tapping screws partway into the holes. Grab the screw heads with something like a pair of pliers and use a hammer to draw the seal out by alternately tapping back and forth on the head of the pliers.

I'm curious what would cause the center of the crank, where the pilot bearing goes, to look like it does. Is the crank corroded there? The crank is a seriously hard piece of metal and shouldn't corrode all that easily?

[ohecht]

I am definitely replacing the seal, and it poped out without any problems. I hope this is the source of that very slow seepage.

The seal is actually light tan under all that dirt. Is that the updated part?

I will definitely look for the newer part, thanks.

I think what looks like corrosion is actually grease. It is a very hard consistency, which I assumed was called for here.

Olivier

[ohecht]

oops

[marcesq]

Olivier:

Brown inside is the newer seal. Clean it up real good in there, taking care not to score the crank to seal sealing surface in any way.

To install new seal apply a small amout of wheel bearing grease to both sides of the lip of the new seal that touches the crankshaft.

Carefully inspect the crank sealing face for a faint groove (should not be able to feel it) where the old seal was, and upon intall try and have the new seal lip sit in a different place, making sure that the seal is at least flush with the engine case.

Are we having fun yet

[ohecht]

Thanks for the advice, Marc, I will try all that.

Olivier

[HawgRyder]

Chicago-Rawhide make all sorts and sizes of seals and have several models that have more than one lip.
We used to put them in VW's to seal them up for dirt racing.
The on we used was 2 lips facing in and one lip facing out (to keep dirt out).
You might want to investigate them.
Bob

[KTL]

Good info. about Chicago Rawhide Bob. Thanks!

If the seal pictured is entirely tan colored? It is an older, possibly original seal. The new standard seal is all black and some say it's not that good. Why I don't know. The combination black and tan one that Marc described should be used instead. I don't know the part # for this (PET doesn't give colors......... )

Good to hear that weird look of the crank where the pilot bearing goes is grease and not pitting!

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by ohecht
I have always had an incredibly slow seep below the oil cooler, and it remained after the last time I changed the cooler o-rings. I am hoping this is the source, otherwise I need to keep looking...

if you think a leak is from the cooler seals you might want to test the oil cooler.. I believe it has to be in a hot bath and psi to 100.. I was told by a big name to not trust the oil cooler after 100k miles. Sometimes a cooler can be repaired, and sometimes it can't.

[ohecht]

That is a good idea, Ronin. I will take it somewhere just to be sure.

Olivier