Oil leak's got me a little worried...

[Rusty]

Chaps,

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all.

Had the car on a ramp the other day and found some oil dripping off the undertray... Part of this was due to my incompetance when topping up the oil but there was also visible oil coming from the gap between the rear of the engine and the front of the gearbox. Oh dear! I immediately thought that it may be due to a seal on the rear of the engine, crankshaft oil seal??? Any BTDTs or just comforting advice would be useful. Will just have to put up with it for the moment and sort it with a few other odds and sods, maybe a new clutch or perhaps it's just an excuse for a 2.6!!!

Will post some piccys as and when I get a chance.

[Greg_S]

Andy, ive had a similar problem on mine for as long as ive had it. I havent had the gearbox out yet, but I noticed it after rebuilding the engine so it may be a weaping crank seal.

Its gonna wait until I have the gearbox out again, the leak is minimal at the moment anyway and it doesnt smell like gearbox oil so i dont think it is that either.

Greg

[Rusty]

Got to do an oil change very soon so will have a good look whilst it's up on the ramps and see if I can find out where it's from. The PITA is that it's so much work to replace a £10 seal (or whatever it is) that you might as well do everything else, especially at 133k. For now I'll just live with it and keep a record of how much oil she's using.

[s2avant]

It's not quite a £10 pound seal. Retail price is £69.16+VAT!!

Ben

[Greg_S]

yup they aint cheap. might as well wait until you change the clutch if you can.

Greg

[audiman]

Also check all the breather pipes above the gearbox/on the back of the head. If these leak it dripples oil vapour over the gearbox and makes it look like the rear crank oil seal is gone.

BTW, the cheap way to get a crank seal is to buy a lower end gasket set for the engine, They come with all bottom end gaskets, which includes the rear and front crank oil seals.

If you buy the rear crank seal on its own, it comes with the ally housing, thats why its so dear!!

HTH

[Graham]

It's not quite a £10 pound seal. Retail price is £69.16+VAT!!

Ben

What what is this seal made of, Aflas (space shuttle seal material), if anyone can get a picture of one with all the dimensions, i would be gratefull. Is there anything special about this seal other than it comes in a housing, is it unidirectional or something, even though it still shouldnt be that much. Robbing *******s

[s2avant]

Your paying for the ally housing. It's the same on all VAG engines. They stopped doing just the seals years ago. At least thats what we tell you

The seal is still listed as a repair kit for VR6 engines, it's the same one that comes in a bottom end gasket set as Tom said. Comically the whole bottom end gasket set is only £62.17 + VAT.

Part number for the seal is 068 198 171 Retails @ £24.66 + VAT. Must stop giving away all my main stealer secrets

Ben

[Bruno]

Did you find the problem?

[PeteRR]

Holy thread ressurection!

[Rusty]

Nothing obvious. Rear crank seal was replaced when the clutch and flywheel were done.