Rear Main engine oil seal?

Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:02 pm

Can anyone tell me what is involved in changeing this? I've been told mine is causing my oil leak.
What cost should I be paying at a garage?

Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:26 pm

sounds like the rear crank seal to me, is it right underneith? if so its a gearbox out jobby, replace seal and back up she goes, just to help you out the seal is Ãƒ”šÃ‚£12

Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:28 pm

M20 engine iirc dude ?

change the sump gasket, the leak will vanish, never had a failed rear crank seal on an M20, only ever changed them as part of a complete engine build

HTH

Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:30 pm

Cheers Twiggy, I've been quoted Ãƒ”šÃ‚£220 for the job. Does that sound right?

Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:34 pm

To replace this you need to remove the gearbox, clutch and flywheel.

It's a pain in the botty!

Like twi66y said though, the part is cheap.

Garage labour costs will vary so phone around if you don't do it yourself.

Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:38 pm

Sump gasket 100%

leak from between engine and box is always the sump gasket, remove the lower part of the sump, look up and I guarantee the sump gasket is pushed out and visible

sump gskt is an easy DIY job, no special tools other than a trolley jack to rasie the engine so the sump can be removed.

Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:45 pm

Ant I've had the sump gasket changed and now he's telling me its the seal?

Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:55 pm

how much oil is being lost dude ??

Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:06 pm

Its getting steadily worse, my drive is getting more spots by the day. Crossmember is dripping with oil

Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:40 pm

Ant wrote:M20 engine iirc dude ?

change the sump gasket, the leak will vanish, never had a failed rear crank seal on an M20, only ever changed them as part of a complete engine build

HTH

must just be me then, ive done 2 in 4 weeks

Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:49 pm

graham_cab wrote:Its getting steadily worse, my drive is getting more spots by the day. Crossmember is dripping with oil

and it will get worse and worse. my mate came to me and said, ive a little leak mate, i checked it out and i too thought it maybe the sump gasket, couldnt really tell without getting right underneath, he was loosing a couple of drops a day then it became a little patch, then a big patch.... He eventually got to the point where his car was loosing a full load of oil in 4 weeks! I got it on the ramps... bottom of the box was hanging with oil, he wanted a clutch in too, so i changed the seal while doing the clutch and guess what, problem solved.

You may notice that your clutch may begin to slip too. only slightly but it just might. if it does happen then its a new clutch because its pretty much fahooked once oil gets on there!

just my 2p mate, may help, may not but Ãƒ”šÃ‚£220 sounds rather extorsionate to me dude, where do you live, nextdoor to the Queen?

If you can find someone to change your clutch mate, get a quote for that as its basically the same job... be crafty and see if thats any cheeper. always be on the hunt for bacstreet garages mate because there are still some old skool machanics about how dont like to rip people off

Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:04 pm

Cheers Twiggy, my cars an Auto though so shouldn't bother the box, I hope!
I'll shop around

Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:11 pm

hi when i used to jack my car up high it used to drip out like a tap when i was underneth it.

i replaced the rear oil seal, and luckily it stopped, i might have to do the sump gasket to be safe

Ãƒ”šÃ‚£220.00 sounds good i have been quoted Ãƒ”šÃ‚£400.00 labour

Sat Oct 28, 2006 8:57 pm

i also have this problem. last week i parked my car on a mates driveway which has a steep incline, went in for a brew and we realised we were out of ciggies so i said i'd nip to the offy. we must have only been inside for 5mins and when i came out i was greeted with a lake of oil showing from both the off side an near side of the car!

looked under n it was like a tap that had been left on. rolled it of driveway (not running of course) and it stoped instantly. i dipped it then toped it up and it has been o.k although i have made a point not to park facing uphill. i think its the crank oil seal on the rear of the engine as the oil only leaked when facing uphill. would sump gasket leak all the time or only on a hill? im gona check sump first then ill have to drop the box next weekend if its not that. one or other. ill let you know. is this a common fault?

Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:41 pm

Hi Guys, I had the same problem,the mechanic had a look and said he thought it was the rear engine oil seal too.He took out the gearbox and replaced the seal,he also put a new clutch disc,plate,and bearing in while he was at it.When I collected the car I noticed a drop of oil on the ground in the usual place.He couldn't believe it. It was the sump gasket all the time.Since then I've had to have the sump gasket replaced again due to a rock busting the sump.I went to a BMW dealership this time and they relieved me of a substantial amount of wonga for the privilege. BUT some time later I was working under the car and found all the sump bolts loose ! To the rear of the sump a small removable gearbox cover conceals the sump bolts (4 of them if I remember correctly) this cover is mounted to the gearbox with Torx head bolts (male),and these have to be removed to get at the rear of the sump.Hence sumps leaking from the rear.. Phew.