front seal question

[SethM]

Just installed a new front crankshft seal.... the new seal went on with very light hand pressure. Wondering if this sounds right to others or if the seal was incorrect size (used a Felpro seal)?

Thanks,

[takza]

It usually is a pretty fair struggle to get them in and seated right. That one will probably pop out?

[keith]

Mine went in easy so I glued it in.

[garyfish]

My new front seal also went in very easily, surprisingly so. I applied a thin film of hi-temp RTV sealant around the outer rim before pushing it in... that was a year ago and I've had no leaks or problems.

[SethM]

Yeah-- "surprisingly so" would characterize my reaction too. But (also surprisingly) I had read the FSM and noticed that they called for "liquid sealant" around the outer edge of the seal (both on the crank and cam seals) so I did that and will hope for good results. Would know by now but the timing belt I installed seems way too loose (even with the new tensioner and spring installed and pusher to the right) so I have one on order from the dealer just to make sure I've got the right belt.

[Highlander]

Seth- On the timing belt-be sure that you've got the tensioner on its pivot pin- I've never had a loose one after replacement -that doesn't sound right.-At least you know that -you're right to suspect it

[SethM]

Pivot pin? uh-oh....what pivot pin? I have one end of the spring attached to a pin protruding from the block. Is there a second pin? For the other tang on the pulley? I (think) just have the pulley held by the centerbolt..... (time to take a look at the FSM!)

[Highlander]

The pivot pin for the tensioner is opposite the spring, the bolt that retains the tensioner is between them. the tensioner sits over the pivot pin at the bottom , bolt in center, spring on top (attached to the notched pin in the block). Page EM-11 in FSM Paragraph 2 -to the left in the cartoon you can just see the pivot below the adjuster bolt hole.

[SethM]

ummmmm:
a) I feel like a dumb**s....I was wondering why the pulley had another tang and why that tang had a hole in it...
b) but sheesh Keith you're good- I would have NEVER picked this detail up from the cartoon in the FSM.

I reinstalled the pulley- correctly this time- and the timing belt is much tighter this time....

Thanks Keith.

[Highlander]

Glad I could help-

[Petros]

I have had oil seals, even new ones, blow out on older engines with worn rings (hi crank case pressure from the blow-by).

I had a my high school auto shop teacher suggest always using sealant on the out side of the seals to keep them in place (that was 35 years ago), and I have always done that with good results. Replacing a rear main seal when it comes loose after you just put in a new one is a real PIA.

The fastest way to do any job is to do it once. Which means taking the time to make sure you do not have to do it again. I learned that one the hard way.