After my motor install I started car, and drove it around. Only to find an oil leak. Since "I was sure" it was a front crank seal; I replaced the front seal last night, and didn't run the car first to see exactly where the leak was coming from. I put everything back together (without first checking to see if it would leak. I started the car and let it run (no leak).

I looked under the car when I arrived at work today, and what do I see, oil on the front of the pan, and a few drips on the ground.

My plan is to pull everything back apart. My plan is to take everything back apart, clean up the oil, and run the car in neutral for a fem minutes to see if I can locate the leak.

I put the seal in with a few taps on a piece of pvc. Looked really even and flush.

My oil pump has a billet gear, my oil pressure has been normal. Goes up to 90psi when cold, then settles at 60 when under load and 30psi or a little less at idle.

How easy is it to botch a crank seal replacement? What should I be looking for? Where else should I be looking for a leak? oil pump, cam seals, front crank seal, anything else. I did feel a small scratch on the crank. You can feel it with your fingernail However, the seal seems to go in farther than this scratch. Is it possible that when the crank was polished that the seal is too big now?

I'm really frustrated. It's a lot of money spent, and now I'm chasing an oil leak. The people who built the motor will fix it, but I have to take the engine out and take it to them. Doesn't seem worth all the removal and installation hassle again.

 

Assuming you removed your oil pan for the built,and that Ive heard stories that sometimes it does not seal properly, I would double check that. Aside from that in the front you only have to worry about the camshaft seals and the one you alreary replaced. (correct me if wrong)

 

I would think the seal is fine and it's coming from somewhere else. Here are a few ideas:

- Cracked oil pan (mine cracked right on the front corner)
- Leaky cam seals
- oil pan gasket
- Oil pressure sender (maybe running down block)

That's about all I can think of.