Front engine oil leak

[sdoan]

The sunroof car has a nasty oil leak low at the front of the engine (picture bright clean aluminum flange on the oil pump covered with golden oil) . It is probably the front crank seal, but the engine only has 120,000 miles on it and seems to be in otherwise excellent condition for its age. Of the 5 a-series engines I've dealt with this is the first with a bad oil leak at the front - so I've never had reason to suspect a front seal before. Other possibilities are the gasket between the block and oil pump, and the front cam seal.

My question - is front crank seal failure common?
Second question - do you recommend getting the seal from Toyota rather than the after market? (I've had bad experience with cheap aftermarket gaskets)
Finally, any tricks to installing the seal with the oil pump still on the engine and the nose of the crank in the way?

Thanks

[garyfish]

The crankshaft seal (front main seal) I got from Rock Auto & installed in April hasn't leaked a drop.

Beck/Arnley Part # 0523179, about $3.50 (+ s/h) at RA & a couple dollars more at O'Reilly/Kragen.

[xirdneh]

i wonder if mileage matters
time may have something to do with it
those seals loose their flexability

just replaced one that only had abt 60,000 moles on it (was replaced about 5 years ago) and it was already stiff and leaking.
might have been a cheapy (who knows)

[Highlander]

I just did this a little while ago, the only trick that I needed was a small screwdriver slipped under the lip of the seal to pry the seal out, and a LARGE diameter punch to reinstall. I've put in loads of seals with the punch method, the biggest trick to it is to take your time and keep walking around the edge until the punch stops on the raised edge surrounding the seal radius. While you're there, take a look and see if you have a coolant leak from the suction housing- you're three bolts away from replacing it- if its leaking, you'll have coolant showing up in the small recess behind and below the water pump-its a $2 oring and well worth the time if its bad (JMHO) .

[sdoan]

Thank you everyone for the info. Will attack it soon.

[teranfirbt]

I had an oil leak in the front of my motor, turned out to be the gasket between oil pump and block. A few hours and a little swearing at the oil pan and it was all fixed. I'd replace the front main seal if you're gonna have the oil pump out, they're cheap enough.

[IHblarp]

I seem to have an oil leak at the front of my motor too, cant figure out where its coming from but I'm ending up with oil on my sway bar????? it is alost directly below the pully on the crank shaft but i don't find any oil on the pulley. When you guys had leaks from the front main seal were you getting oil on the sway bar?

[Petros]

that sounds about right. The cam seal can also go and drip down the front of the engine (under the front cover) and come at the same place. Either way you have to pull the front cover. If you got oil all over the timing belt it is best to replace that too, oil could weaken it over time.

There is one other place it could leak, the oil pressure sender is right behind the alternator. I have had them leak, it runs down the side of the block and drips off the edge of the pan. IT will run back along the pan and make it looking like the pan gasket is leaking.

[SynthDesign]

The Toyota Factory Front and Rear Main Seals should be replaced every 120K or during major service intervals. ie.. oil pump, clutch Ref. Toyota A series Engine FSM

I know they should last at least 150k and sometimes 300k.
With a ring lipped seal it only takes a microscopic piece of debris to cause failure under a high pressure load. Think how much sand there is on the road in winter.
I've blew out a front main during a Seafoam oil treatment on a motor that had close to 240k.

I say go with a Toyota part if you plan on keeping the motor.

[teranfirbt]

Along with the oil pump gasket, I found that the main seal I had was old and kinda stiff and was leaking from the outside, so it was just dripping instead of spraying oil everywhere like a typical front main problem.