Hey all.

I have a 02 MCs with 205000 miles on it. Crank pulley replaced at 135000 with updated part.

Crank pulley just recently failed.

I R&R pulley and did belt and tensioner at same time. Seal looked fine with no obvious leaks.

Front crank seal failed within a few miles after finishing job but within a few hundred yards of home. You can see my oil trail.

After the exxon valdez imitation was over I pull the new parts off to find the front crank seal pulley completely out of its hole!

I ordered a new seal from a local foreign car place. Cleaned the old hole and the seal and went to test fit it to see how it would line up and it just slid into place with nearly no effort.

No way to pull it out without destroying it.

Started it with no belt or pulley and it holds oil but no idea what will happen at speed/ temp/ pressure.

I put it all back together and drove it around with no leaks but absolutely do not trust it now and wont drive it more than around the neighbor hood.

Anyone know if the oil seal on the front cover operates under pressure? Is the seal slipping into place normal?

I think I am going to pull it out and buy another one and install with some rtv on the exterior. Also may spring for the OEM part.

Thanks in advance for any insight!!!!

 

Go with an OE equivalent component, we only use the OE seal or OE equivalent with zero issues.

You will want to clean the mating surfaces really well prior to install, and make sure you don't pop the spring out of the seal on install, otherwise you'll have a leak.

I highly advise against trying to RTV the seal as it is dynamic, the seal itself should require you to tap it in with a hammer and brass punch to seat it, once in there is no problems.

But that said; if the seal you installed is not leaking don't mess with it.

 

Tapping home was what I expected....this seal literally bottomed out with test fit finger pressure.

I need to pull it.


Will order another....and take apart again.

I am getting very good at it!!!