Rear main seal

[Scott]

Ok, I think the rear main seal is leaking and I am trying to find out just how hard it is to change. I have done this job on a Jeep Grand Cherokee 6 banger and was really not that hard, drop oil pan, reomve old lower seal, reomve old upper seal, replace oil pan gasket and re-install. Is it basically the same for the Rover 4.0? Yes, I did the search but did not find this info. Thanks as always. atriot:

 

[Scott]

BTT

Anyone????

 

[jmrivera]

I was told that the rear main can be done without pulling the block.... But you have to be good at it and have done it before...

Jonathan

 

[MUSKYMAN]

the rear main seal can not be changed without either pulling the engine or dropping the trans

pick your evil.

the crank seals are wiper style seals...they have very small spiraling edges molded into them so as the crank rotates it pumps the oil back into the block on a micro level.

when the little edges get worn down or contaminated they stop working like the should and some oil migrates out when the engine is running.

you can try and some times get away with a oil stop leak, these products are designed to clean and condition the seals. sometimes they actually work...but if there is a steady stream pouring down the truth be told it is going to take some work to swap the rear main seal....fronts are a snap maybe 20 min work all total.

 

[LRflip]

Musky....what is this oil stop leak you speak of....I feel like I may have this problem as well.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

Barrs leak makes one that people have had good luck with...like I said its not always going to work but before I decided to dive in for a 10 hour rear main seal replacement I would try a bottle if its only a trickle you are dealing with.

 

[daven5735]

I have only ever known the dealership to pull the tranny to do this job. I found this in my ALLDATA subscription for my '99 D1. It shows 7.8 hrs labor. I really like Musky's suggestion of using Barr's or a stop-leak additive.

Service and Repair
Crankshaft Main Bearing Seal

REMOVAL

1. Remove drive plate (automatic transmission) or flywheel (manual transmission).
2. Remove the oil pan.
3. Remove rear main bearing cap.
4. Remove cross seals from cap.
5. Remove crankshaft rear oil seal.

INSTALLATION

1. Clean main bearing cap and oil seal area of block.

1. Fit new cross seals [7] to bearing cap see Figure 1.
2. Apply Hylomar SQ32M [8] to block as illustrated in Figure 1.
3. Lubricate bearing shell and cross seals using clean engine oil.
4. Fit bearing cap, do not tighten bolts [10] see Figure 1.
5. Ensure cap is fully home and seated squarely on the block.

1. Ensure service tools LRT-12-010 and LRT-12-091 are clean. Coat each with clean engine oil. CAUTION: Do not handle oil seal lip, check it is not damaged. Ensure outside diameter remains clean and dry.
2. Position oil seal guide LRT-12-010 on crankshaft flange. NOTE: Lubricant coating must cover seal guide outer surface completely to ensure that oil seal lip is not turned back during assembly. Position oil seal, lipped side towards engine, on seal guide. Seal outside diameter MUST be clean and dry.
3. Install the oil seal [14] using tool LRT-12-091, see illustration in step 7. Remove seal guide.
4. Tighten rear main bearing cap to 90 Nm (66 ft. lbs.) .
5. Install the oil pan.
6. Install the flywheel or flexible drive plate and ring gear.

 

[draaronr]

Barrs leak makes one that people have had good luck with...like I said its not always going to work but before I decided to dive in for a 10 hour rear main seal replacement I would try a bottle if its only a trickle you are dealing with.

oil from the bellhousing right?

Don't forget to clean the pcv system.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

yes a trickle down from the rear crank seal inside the bell housing.

and yes cleaning the PCV can possibly relieve crank case pressure that will cause a leaky seal.

 

[04 Disco]

Can the pcv or I think the call ( oil seperator for a 04' i think) can this be cleaned from the outer side of valve cover? When I removed the hose there is a metal cylinder incasing the oil seperator. Thank you