Rear main seal

[michigandon]

OK first genners, riddle me this one...



I am getting ready to tab the KDP on my '93 6BT engine. I am also going to be turning the oil pan around and installing the updated flexplate before attempting to install it in the coach. The guys at the Cummins dealer also recommended replacing the rear main seal while everything else was apart, but then in the next breath he tells me that I can get one at NAPA

(I'm going to assume that the one sold at NAPA is either better, cheaper, or both). Anyways, I go to the local NAPA and ask for a rear main seal for a '93 Dodge D250, Cummins Turbo Diesel. Their book listing for a '93 says "all except intercooled" Knowing that my '93 engine IS intercooled, I said "gimme one for a '94". Will I be able to use this one? I have a hard time believing that the ass end of these engines is all that radically different throughout the years. I also suspect that whoever put that parts book together had to be smoking something good.



Don

 

[dslcummins]

First of all, I would stay with Cummins parts. Anytime you tear something apart, I would think seriously about replacing seals. I have seen several times where someone removed the transmission and never replaced the rear main. The next thing you know the rear main is leaking.

Seals in the transmission and transfer case, if a 4x4, I would do the same.

 

[DKasper]

I agree with going to Cummins for the seal -- it's very reassuring to walk in with my engine CPL and know I am getting the right part from the guys who know.



I had my rear main done when the transmission was dropped and it only cost me $40 + the cost of the seal. My old seal was in 4 pieces! Definitely worth it.



Good Luck!

Dave

 

[michigandon]

Originally posted by dslcummins

First of all, I would stay with Cummins parts. Anytime you tear something apart, I would think seriously about replacing seals. I have seen several times where someone removed the transmission and never replaced the rear main. The next thing you know the rear main is leaking.

Seals in the transmission and transfer case, if a 4x4, I would do the same.

OK, I agree. But why on earth did the guy at the Cummins counter recommend going to NAPA for the rear main seal? And why does their books show a '93 as being non-intercooled when it's definitely NOT? Can I use the seal that I did get, or should I take it back and go get one somewhere else?



I can't believe that the rear main seal can be all that radically different on the intercooled and non-intercooled engines. Then again, I've seen crazier things.

 

[dpuckett]

Good luck getting parts from Cummins in Sikeston MO with just your CPL. I tell them there is no engine number on my engine, because the front gear housing has been replaced at sometime down the line, and the data plate was not transferred. They then proceed to tell me about the little tag on the engine just in front of the injector pump. I just give them the number off Mom's pickup. Try a Case IH dealer. THe one around here seems more helpful than Cummins, plus they are in town as opposed to 50 mi away. It seems that when you tell the guy at CUmmins that it is on a Dodge, they go into "oh, the pickup owner who thinks he has a semi truck" mode, and get real p!ssy and rude. I'd almost deal with DC or NAPA than Cummins here in 1/2T Gasserville.



Cummins Rocky Mountain in Denver, OTOH, is more than willing to take my money and help me out with parts.



Daniel

 

[michigandon]

I've been going to a Navistar truck dealership that is also a Cummins dealer. While the guys there have been very helpful, I do kinda get the feeling that they would much rather sell stuff to OTR drivers and large fleet owners. There prices also seem to be slighly higher than what I see quoted by others on these forums too.



This still has not answered my question yet though. Are the rear main seals different on the inetercooled vs non-intercooled engines and/or the rotary vs inline pump engines?

 

[JLEONARD]

My guess is that there is a missprunt in the NAPA book.

Jay