Front Main Seal Seaping...

[rashwor]

My '05 appears to have the front main seal seeping as there is engine oil all over the front of the engine. Looking up from the bottom, the area of the main appears to be the most wet area. Any oil I can wipe off anywhere is definitely black engine oil.



Volume wise, it is not amounting to any as there is no visible drop on the dipstick between oil changes (4k miles between), but with the BHA Fan it sure is making a mess! I don't think I am going to sweat it until it amounts to a bigger leak.



My question is, what does it take and how expensive is it to R&R the Front Main? What is involved? I have never had a Front Main leak before on anything... always been the rear.

 

[cerberusiam]

To get the front main you have to remove the fan, shroud, fan support, loosen the power steering pump, then pull the front cover. Not too bad a job, if it is the front main.

These trucks have a habit of breaking the gasket on the accessory mount and leaking between the block and mount. To fix it right means you have to pull the cam. What you can do is RTV the leak and a lot of times that will seal it. They like to leak directly under the fan mount, the oil runs down the slant to under the water pump then down the front cover and off the AC pump. Looks just like a front crank seal leak. If pull the belt and check under the fan mount as clase as you see for any oil contamination that should tell you if it is leaking there.

 

[rashwor]

That really stinks. I don't have any local shops I trust enough for this. Suggestions?

 

[cerberusiam]

Do some investigation and see if that is where it is coming from. It is pretty easy to pull the fan, shroud, and fan support. Then you can clean up the leaking area and a heavy bead or RTV will usually seal it.

 

[ZBrooks]

Thanks for the info. I have the same issue, but it sounds like my leak is worse.

 

[Tinman]

My seal leaked after I didn't my cam. I didn't put in a new one. Should have. The seal is not expensive but there is a special tool to seat it in the cover. It's not a hard job. I when ahead and took everything off (bumper, rad, IC) for full access. It's a tedious job but not hard. My brother's 06 is pretty much bone stock and it is leaking a little also. We'll do it when it gets worse.

 

[JohnsonG]

so to replace the front crank seal, you have to pull the front cover off... . ??



2003 5. 9