Posted by JR2 on April 11, 1998 at 13:34:29:
In Reply to: wd45 oil leak posted by David S. on April 07, 1998 at 22:03:11:
: I just got my wd45 started after being stored 6 yrs. I have two concerns. First, a few sparks come out of the exhaust when the engine is revved - I used some starting fluid to get it going. Should I be concerned? Second, I've noticed a pretty good oil leak from the front oil pan area. Is this likely a bad seal? If it is, how big a job is this?
David, I'm sure you already have, but be sure the suspected area is cleaned well enough for you to see exactly where the oil is coming from. The reason being that sometimes leaks are not coming from where they seem to be. In your case the crankshaft seal is above the oil pan area and if the crankshaft or timing cover seal as it is called is leaking it would run down on the pan and in that area making some think the oil is coming from the pan. The timing gear cover, or crankshaft seal isn't that big a deal to change, and neither is the pan. The back crankshaft seal is, however, another story as the bottom half of it is in the rear main bearing cap and the top half in the block. Mostly it is agreed the crankshaft should be pulled at least enough to allow replacement, but I have seen all kinds of tricks tried to bypass that. Just one that comes to mind is trying to pull the top half around the shaft with various devices, the bottom half is no big deal since the removal of the main cap accesses it. I think you'll find if you have a leak bad enough back there on that seal, being sure it's not the pan, it's best to go ahead and do it right by dropping the shaft. This is just kind of generally known stuff but I hope it helps. John