Front main seal replacement

[knochgoon24]

So, I'm almost 100% sure that my front mail seal is leaking. I'm going to order a new one, but before I do, is this the correct part? (see pic at bottom)

And where are these other seals for in this kit?

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I know small blue one is the dipstick gasket, and the thick black ring in the middle is the main seal, but I don't recognize the others off hand. I see where the big blue one goes using CAPS.

Thanks.

 

[MilwaukeeGSX]

Oil filter housing, Oil catch in oil pan, front case gasket and misc front case orings. You have the right gasket on caps for the REAR main, A front case gasket set should have all the things you need to repair a leaking front main..

 

[knochgoon24]

Ok, I picked up that set from Advance Auto Parts today. They actually had it in stock. I'll have to see how the install goes. The CAPS pic confused me because I couldn't find the front seal's part number anywhere. I thought it might have been that ring they had off on it's lonesome.

Thanks for the help. I'll have to get started on working on this once the weather clears up.

 

[Rob10_99]

Thats the rear main seal you have in red.

 

[knochgoon24]

Yeah, I found that out. The set I got had the correct part though. As soon as it stops raining, I plan on installing it.

 

[eclipsetuner_21]

Did you have oil on your timing belt on the outer edges? How do you know its that seal, what areas is it leaking in? I think I have the same prob...

 

[99gst_racer]

Did you have oil on your timing belt on the outer edges? How do you know its that seal, what areas is it leaking in? I think I have the same prob...

The rear main seal (circled in red in post #1) is on the tranny-side of the crank, not the t-belt side. A leaky rear main seal would leak oil into the transmission bell housing.

 

[knochgoon24]

Ok, i know have the wrong part circled, but I ordered a front seal replacement set from Advance Auto Parts that came the correct seals. I just couldn't find the correct picture in CAPS. I'll remove the picture so people stop commenting on that.

My rear main seal isn't the one that's leaking.

I am pretty sure it is my front main seal because I have oil all over the timing belt, all through the covers. I also have oil all over the side splash guard. The oil doesn't leak unless I drive it around and build up pressure.

When I took the lower cover off, I was greeted with a oily sludge of dirt and oil, along with a puddle of oil.

 

[99gst_racer]

The large, round, black seal in post #1 is your front main seal. It presses into the front cover.

 

[RyanR79]

IF u replace the front main seal do u have to pull the motor? -sorry noob question

 

[slacker83]

No you don't need to pull the engine, just remove everything on that side of the engine.

Steve

 

[knochgoon24]

I didn't have to, but I pulled the engine and replaced every gasket on it since I had the time.

You could drop the motor down a little by removing the driver's side motor mount and supporting the engine with a jack. You then pull the timing belt and stuff off to get to the front main seal from there.


And talk about a nostalgia thread... this thread is the start of my DSM modding. Wow I've learned a lot in just a few years.

 

[DSM1G90]

Now, it's time for me to add another newbie question:

Say, if you're doing a belt job on a motor that has high mileage, would it be smart to go ahead and do a front main seal even though it's not leaking or any sign of leakage since you already have thefront of the motor all torn off to be ready to add the new belts..?

Why I'm asking is that I'm gonna do a belt job on a 4G37 (1.8L) coming this summer along with WP and this little motor runs just fantastic, uses little oil and has over 200k miles on the motor. It already had the rear main, lifters and cam seal replaced last year, so wonder if I'd just as well do the front while I got all of the stuff off on the front - kill two birds with one stone so to say...

thx - DSM

 

[19Eclipse90]

Replacing the front main seal is one of the many items I replace every 60K with the timing belt and components/water pump/etc. I prefer the peace of mind. For ~$20 from the dealer (cheaper elsewhere if that's your thing), it's cheap and easy enough to take care of while you are in there.

 

[Rscharnakau]

Just finally started doing work on my 98 eclipse, it ran fine before today but i did an oil change and started it, then something popped and i looked and oil was everywhere, i shut it of quickly but theres too much oil to pinpoint a leak right now. anyone that could help me? Was told it was the rear main seal then told the front main seal so i dont know.

 

[buddahboost]

Fill it up with oil and lift the front end up then have someone start the car. Possibly buy some oil dye to help figure out where it's seeping from

Is this a turbo or non turbo?

 

[Rscharnakau]

Fill it up with oil and lift the front end up then have someone start the car. Possibly buy some oil dye to help figure out where it's seeping from

Is this a turbo or non turbo?

It's DOHC, no turbo that i know of and it didnt seep it dumped/sprayed all in like 30 seconds

 

[CiscoBite1Time]

What general area is it leaking from? Your rear main would leak from between your block and tranny. My front main seal was leaking and leaked a good amount only after driving. At idle it was not noticeable. Thought it was my oil pain. re sealed it. Finally cleaned it off really good, took the timing cover off, ran it and realized it was coming from the front main. That leak soaked my timing belt. Had to take everything off to get to the seal though.

 

[IHeartMyHonda]

If you just did an oil change, there's a possibility that the oil filter is leaking. Take it off and make sure the old gasket didn't stay stuck to the housing, causing a double gasket.

 

[buddahboost]

If you just did an oil change, there's a possibility that the oil filter is leaking. Take it off and make sure the old gasket didn't stay stuck to the housing, causing a double gasket.

you would think it's obvious but this actually happened to me. Changed my wife's oil in her civic. Let it cool off went inside and then we went somewhere. I started the car and within seconds the oil light came on

Shut it off and stepped out the car to a puddle of fresh oil. Had a double gasket/seal. Remove,Retighten and done