Front case oil leak

[zachdeagle16]

I just finished rebuilding my engine i have noticed that my front case is leaking, it's not that bad maybe four or five drops everytime i stop. Should i try an fix it or let it ride, I really want to just let it ride, i just wanted to get some other opinions.

 

[pneumo]

Mine leaks a little, too. I wish it didn't, but I'm not going to tear apart the whole thing to fix a minor annoyance. If it's not dripping on anything important, just let it ride.

 

[DSMcrazy3]

If it's as small as your describing, get the car on jack stands, crawl under, wipe everything down, take a drive, at least until the car is warm, go home, turn it off and get under it again and see if you can pinpoint where the leak is coming from.

You really shouldn't let any leak just leak. It could be something major, on it's way out. If you let it go, you could be sorry.

In other words, STOP BEING A LAZY BUM

 

[99gst_racer]

It might just be the front cover gasket. If it's only a few dropd here and there, I wouldn't worry about it yet. But if it progressivily gets worse, then you might need to replace a few things.

 

[wolf20043]

Take a look as said above, ands try just tightining the screws to make sure everything is tight after the engine warmed up the gaskets. If it is just a small leak it may just go away as the gaskets set.
Mike

 

[zachdeagle16]

When I put my front case on my engine today I used spray tac gasket sealant on the seal, Im starting to worry that it's gonna leak. Has anybody else ever used a type of sealant on the front case? just wanted to check and be sure before i put the engine back in the car.

 

[Julia]

When I put my front case on my engine today I used spray tac gasket sealant on the seal, Im starting to worry that it's gonna leak. Has anybody else ever used a type of sealant on the front case? just wanted to check and be sure before i put the engine back in the car.

We always use some sort of sealant just because the front case has a tendency to leak by the oil filter housing. As long as it is a good sealant you sould be fine.
Julia

 

[bigjdog84]

When you refer to a "seal" do you mean the actual front crank seal or oil pump sproket seal? Those are seals, they do not need any sort of spray, its usually a good idea to use a light coating of RTV around the contact points that it makes with the side of the case.

The front case gasket on the other hand can be sprayed to promote adhesion. If this is the case, then you are fine.

 

[project_tsi]

I have always put a light coating of gasket sealant (copper spray) on all paper gaskets. I.E. front cover, oil filter housing, etc. Some will dissagree and say copper spray is not the correct item to use for paper gaskets. Some will say to use Hylomar (machinists blue), but I have never had any problems result from using the copper spray.

On a rubber seal, I.E. Rear main seal, etc, I always use a light coating of oil or RTV on the inside of the seal where the seal meets the rotating item, and I have never had a leak result because of it. Using a spray sealer like copper spray or hylomar is a bad idea on this because it dries and with the rotation it would flake off.

 

[bigjdog84]

On a rubber seal, I.E. Rear main seal, etc, I always use a light coating of oil or RTV on the inside of the seal where the seal meets the rotating item

why would you do this? Any RTV that is put on the seal will just ball up and come off while the crank is spinning. The only thing I could see that doing is decreasing the life of the seal. Pretty much a waste of time.
RTV should be used on the outer edges of the seal. When the seal is carefully pressed in, the RTV will create a bond between the stationary metal and the outer edge of the seal.

 

[project_tsi]

I use the oil or RTV to create some lubrication in the seal. Don't want to have a dry start, and the RTV will be quickly pushed out by the crank, but like I said, its just so there is no dry starts. A dry start on even a rear main seal can cause seal damage.

 

[bigjdog84]

I use the oil or RTV to create some lubrication in the seal. Don't want to have a dry start, and the RTV will be quickly pushed out by the crank, but like I said, its just so there is no dry starts. A dry start on even a rear main seal can cause seal damage.

RTV shouldn't be used as a lubricant unless you enjoy peices of RTV in your oil. Any RTV that is "pushed" out (of the motor) is not even making contact with the seal. Any RTV that is making contact with the seal will ball up and drop into the oil.
I'm not trying to get on your case or anything, but you may want to take a really close look @ a seal and see how it actually works.

 

[project_tsi]

Enlighten me on how RTV from the rear main seal is going to get in my oil when the forces push out.

 

[bigjdog84]

Enlighten me on how RTV from the rear main seal is going to get in my oil when the forces push out.

Enlightenment class begins:

On a new seal oil will not make its way past the seal (why? Its obviously doing its job) Therefore its not going to let the RTV past it and drop behind the flywheel. Where does it go? It'll break up and fall down into the oil pan, or maybe get slung around by the crank.

Now what are these magical forces you speak of? Oil pressure in an area where oil pressure doesn't exist? Or perhaps a clutch pressure from the FRONT side of the block?

Its not just like pressure builds up and decides to push RTV out while keeping oil in.
Be thankful that you haven't compromised the seals on your motor.

 

[Scrymerr]

First off I don't understand what you guys are talkin about the RTV. The rear main seal isn't going to move, so put some oil around the inside where it contacts the crank as lube, and then some RTV around the outside of the seal where it contacts the block.

Also, I was planning on spraying my paper gasket with copper spray also, for those out there who say this is incorrect, what is the reasoning behind it?

Dan

 

[Kewltalon]

I use grease on my seals inside edge and have nevered had a problem. As for paper gaskits, copper spray has never let me down.

 

[zachdeagle16]

The sealant that I used was not copper sealant, It was just some generic spary tac from ayutozone.