Stupid question of the day -replacing rear main seal

[Patrick H.]

Re: Stupid question of the day -replacing rear main seal

The timing cover as well as the seal around the nose of the crank can both leak. I have that in one car, but... oil is cheap. I would not touch those unless you have to. Been there done that, but only when I had to replace a timing chain. When I did that, I had a chance to verify that the one piece oil pan seals are, without a doubt, reusable.

And don't throw away the blue guide pins that come with the one piece seal. You just may need them in the future.

[Gary S.]

Re: Stupid question of the day -replacing rear main seal

"Oil is cheap" - a response I used years go when my well used (abused?) Olds Cutlass went through 1 quart a month. At that time it was $1/quart. Good points though.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Stupid question of the day -replacing rear main seal

My Olds Cutlass leaks oil, but to replace the pan gasket I would have to lift the motor. For a couple of thousand miles a year.... nope.

Oil is cheap.

PS. For my 59 Austin-Healey there is a fancy aftermarket rear main seal system that requires you to remove the transmission, drill & tap the block, and then install the new system. Frequently they still leak based on forum comments. So, the odds of me installing that? Um, no...