how hard is it to change the front main crank seal? Mines been leaking for years and im sick of it caking my opti with oil.

 

Just remove the belt, pulley and hub. Then you can get to it to replace it.

 

as long as you are sure its the crank seal, its easy, pull the belt, pull the damper, pull the hub, inspect hub, if grooved, get a seal that has a hub repair sleeve, the seal will pop out of the cover with a seal puller or carefully with a screwdriver, just tap the new one in after smearing a light film of RTV on the outside of the shell

 

The water pump drive seal is a common source of oil leaks on the front cover. The oil will run down the timing cover and make it look like the opti or crank seals are leaking. Double check before you replace the crank seal.

 

Does it sometimes appear like it's coming from the weep hole? Just noticed this yesterday myself. Wiped down the timing cover and virtually clean where there use to be oil and I assumed the front seal myself. But after letting it run for a while I go under to look if it's leaking and notice instead the weep hole with oil slightly coming out. Car sat for 9 mos too so anything is possible.

 

Not a hard at all. Have a good harmonic/3 jaw puller depending on year (I'm against hammer usage). Make sure you get all of the old seal out. Mine was extremely brittle. Be patient getiing the new one in, can be stuborn

 

The waterpump weep hole sit in front of the timing chain cover so it's not due to the timing cover seals. Are you sure it was oil; it may be coolant...waterpump failures are common too.

 

thanks guys i have really good pics of it but i need help compressing them to smaller file size and need a place to host..help

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...8/P1010391.jpg

opti caked..
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...8/P1010390.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...8/P1010389.jpg


what do u guys think?

 

Pictures help. I wouldn't pin all the leaking on the crank seal, but I would replace it too. Pretty easy.

 

im pretty sure its just the crank seal...the oil all over the opti and pump is from that crank seal dripping on the crank and belt and shooting it all over the place hope im right btw whats the weep hole and where is it located? Thanks guys much appreciated

 

Just did my water pump seal (always thought it was the crank seal but, once everything was in bits I realised it was dry as a bone) - week after I replaced the pump! = Job was easy, the only tricky bit was lining up the drive peg and the opti - helps if you have another pair of hands!

good luck!