Crank Seal Oil Leak

[Ian603207]

Hi All,

Recently purchased a 2004 KA for my daughter to learn to drive in. I have Just replaced the front crankshaft oil seal, as it was leaking badly. Used a ford part, and followed Haynes guide to the letter, but it is still leaking.

Does anyone have any ideas - is the Haynes guide wrong and should I have done something different?

Thanks in advance.

[stef123]

Is it leaking from the centre or the outer edge?

[Ian603207]

I'm fairly sure it's the centre.

[stef123]

I take it the new seal did have a spring on the inside to keep it in contact with the crankshaft? Has it been pressed in the correct amount, I asl because I have seen seals leak that have been pushed in too far .

[delboy]

sounds like an odd one. perhaps its the actual crank shaft thats wore not the seal as they do wear. try a oil leak stopper they can be purchased in most auto shops. they are good for small leaks so may do the job for you. the may they work is they cause the seals to swell slightly then stop the leak

[Ian603207]

Thanks chaps.

Stef - there was not spring on a seal, but then there wasn't one on the one I took out either? I was surprised as to how easily it slipped from the guide it came on to the pulley. The seal is flush with the casing, as the one I took out was. Is this correct?

Delboy - I may try a leak seal, although I would prefer it if had worked! You may be right with the wear on the pulley as like I said above, the seal did slip onto the pulley very easily.

[stef123]

Sounds to me like you have done it correctly. was there any scoring or marks on the crankshaft? If the seal is a snug fit (as it should be with a genuine part) then I can't see why it would be a problem.

[Ian603207]

I don't recall any major scoring. For the price of a new seal, I'll try again and check.

Do you know if there is a measurable dimension (diameter) for the sealing surface of the pulley so I can check for wear?

[Ian603207]

If I remove the pulley to check the seal is fitted flush all around, will I have to change to seal anyway?

[stef123]

To be honest I'm surprised it doesn't have the little spring around the inside to keep the seal in contact the that crankshaft.

I haven't done a seal on a Ka before but I'm guessing it's just a normal type oil seal? Noting fancy?

[Ian603207]

No, nothing special.

Only different thing about it is the seal comes on a sleeve which fits over pulley hub and you slide the seal down the sleeve and onto pulley. I expected a bit of resistance as it left the sleeve and hit the pulley, but it went straight into place.

[delboy]

sounds like the shaft has wore down but well worth removing the seal and checking agaist another new one as you may have had a duff new seal .

[stef123]

the part of the seal in contact with the crankshaft is rubber so if that can wear the metal of the crank down I would be worried

I can only suggest that dirt has got trapped in the seal and has worn a small amount off the crankshaft - it may have polished it and not scored it so hard to tell by eye.

[delboy]

metal can wear down even against a rubber seal especially if a little grit or metal deposits get in between the seal and shaft as already been said by stef.

the seal should be a nice tight fit on the shaft. when you slide the seal on the shaft it should be tight then as it get to where it sits does it get easier to get in place ie the last couple of mil is looser than when first putting it onto the shaft if thats the case its the shaft that wore down i recon.

whats the milage on the ka ?

[Ian603207]

Mileage is 56k, so nothing really. I know the car had little use in the 6 month before I bought it, so the original seal may have 'dried out' causing the initial leak.

I've just done a short run in it 2-3 miles, and it's not leaking. My not be a good enough run to test, but I'm wondering if the seal has contracted now it's off the sleeve it comes on.

I'll keep an eye on it an let you know what happens. If I need to i'll change it again, and take a more notice of just how well it fits on the pulley before I put it back in.

Thanks for your help so far. I might be back for more in a few days.

[delboy]

sounds like it's sorted. it may have needed to get hot to make a proper seal as you said mayhave needed to sort of bed in properly.

fingers x

[iantt]

are you definatly sure the crank seal is/was leaking? most leaks on later duratec engine comes from cam cover and dribbles down casings and finds its way to crank pulley area making it look like crank seal leaking.

just a thought anyway.

[delboy]

when i looked at my daughter peugeot to find the oil leak i baughat a tin of wd40 degreasant see link

http://www.screwfix.com/p/wd-40-specialist-degreaser-500ml/36763?kpid=36763&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&kpid=36763&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Car%20and%20Van-_-Shopping%20-%20Car%20and%20Van&gclid=CLOumc_-s8UCFaLMtAodYUkAtw

we all thaught it was the sumg gasket leaking until i used the degreaser to clean all the oil off and it was the head gasket.

it brilliant stuff and easy to use as there is plenty of pressure to blow the oil/grease away and use a old paint brush to remove the

ioil thats got dirt on it.

[Ian603207]

are you definatly sure the crank seal is/was leaking? most leaks on later duratec engine comes from cam cover and dribbles down casings and finds its way to crank pulley area making it look like crank seal leaking.

just a thought anyway.

Thanks Ian. It was my first thought too, but no other signs of leaks.

[Ian603207]

when i looked at my daughter peugeot to find the oil leak i baughat a tin of wd40 degreasant see link

http://www.screwfix.com/p/wd-40-specialist-degreaser-500ml/36763?kpid=36763&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product Listing Ads-_-Sales Tracking-_-sales tracking url&kpid=36763&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping - Car and Van-_-Shopping - Car and Van&gclid=CLOumc_-s8UCFaLMtAodYUkAtw

we all thaught it was the sumg gasket leaking until i used the degreaser to clean all the oil off and it was the head gasket.

it brilliant stuff and easy to use as there is plenty of pressure to blow the oil/grease away and use a old paint brush to remove the

ioil thats got dirt on it.

I've never used that stuff, but did clear everything up with a mix of swarfega and white spirit (a recipe given to me 30 years ago by an old RAF mechanic). Messy, but works really well. 😀

[delboy]

i used the wd40 degreaser as it can be sprayed on and reach areas you cant usually get to.

[Ian603207]

Well, after a longer run today, the leak has returned. Time to try another new seal I think!

[delboy]

keep us posted ian. i hope the next new seal works for you

[Ian603207]

Hi chaps,

At last had time to have another look at the leak. What I found was a new one on me!

Go another seal from Ford. While I was in there I managed to have a word with their workshop supervisor. Although he had nothing new to offer has was surprisingly helpful and as was mentioned right at the start, the seals did used to come with a spring, but now no longer do.

He did advise though that I shouldn't need to replace the seal if I was just removing the pulley as long as I was careful.

I stripped everything down again, the seal looked fine, perhaps slightly proud of the surface at the top, so I knocked it in a bit. I cleaned everything up, and just put it back together in the hope that the seal just hadn't seated right. Started her up and went for a quick spin. Leak was still there, so I just stripped it down again as because it was all clean I thought I might be able to see exactly where it was coming from.

The seal itself was perfectly dry? But, the leak was coming from directly above the crank seal. I hadn't seen it before, but someone has obviously been there before me, doing something with the oil pump, and decided to leave a bolt out!!!!!!

oil was coming straight out of the bolt hole running round the edge of the seal so it looked like the seal was leaking.

I've replaced the bolt, and I'm hoping even though I might get a bit of seepage from the gasket, I shouldn't get it pouring out like before, plus I should be able to return my 2nd new seal to ford. .

Thanks for all your help, it's nice to know there are people out there who are willing to help!

[delboy]

thats the reason i said to degreas the engine so you can see where the actual leak is as the leak was hight up than you thaught. i did say to in a previous post that we thaugh ours was the sump gasket but on degreasing it all it was the head gasket.

glad its sorted