Dodge Deisel Repeated Rear Main Seal Leaking Again
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Final Updated on November 22, 2021
Try every bit we might, information technology is only impossible to wish abroad all that tin potentially ail our vehicles. If one drives enough miles, they will somewhen face up mechanical hardship of one sort or another. However, non all mechanical issues are the same, either in type or severity, which creates a "luck of the depict" type scenario for motorists when the eventual breakup does accept identify.
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Some of the trickiest mechanical issues to pinpoint for repair, tend to exist oil leaks. The origins of such leaks tin sometimes be deceiving, sending even a skilled technician on a wild goose chase of sorts. Even when located, the complexity associated with repairing such leaks can vary greatly.
Few potential oil leaks tend to be as dreaded as those that originate at an engine'due south rear main seal. Leaks of this nature are ofttimes labor intensive and time consumptive to remedy, causing a substantial headache for those faced with difficulties of this type.
All the same, i is meliorate equipped to handle an oil leak of this multifariousness, when armed with a thorough understanding of what they are up against. Read on to larn more about the symptoms of a rear main seal leak, as well every bit what to expect when faced with an oil leak of this type.
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What is a Rear Main Seal?
In the simplest of terms, a rear main seal is a seal used to prevent oil loss from the rear of an engine, where the engine's crankshaft mounts to the transmission, via a flywheel or flexplate. This, in turn, gives nascence to the rear main seal's nickname as the rear crankshaft seal.
Seals of this type are typically driven into a recess within an engine'south rear cover and are generally concealed within the bong-housing of the transmission itself. In almost cases, it is incommunicable to view an engine'south rear main seal, one time it has been installed, and a vehicle has been returned to service.
Without a properly functioning rear main seal, a vehicle'southward engine oil is immune to escape outside of its normal signal of retention within the crankcase. Equally such, a noticeable leak is presented, which tin can range in severity by substantial margins.
Signs of a Leaking Rear Main Seal
A rear chief seal leak can be identified in a number of ways, some of which bear witness far more axiomatic than others. Being mindful of such symptoms will assist y'all in coming to an early diagnosis, thereby expediting the repair process.
The post-obit are the most common signs of a rear main seal leak.
#1 – Puddling of Oil in Driveway
Rear main seal leaks tend to worsen when an engine has warmed to its standard operating procedure. For this reason, a leaking rear principal seal is often about axiomatic in the minutes to hours later on a vehicle has been parked for the day.
This, in plow, leads to the puddling of oil beneath a vehicle'south engine, leaving behind ample prove of such issues.
Therefore, the sudden appearance of an oil stain within the driveway is crusade for business organization and should exist carefully studied to make up one's mind its point of origin. It is as well possible for this pooling of oil to worsen with time.
#2 – Need For Frequent Peak-Offs
Rear principal seal leaks are known for their trend to leak an excessive corporeality of oil in short order. In astringent cases, a compromised rear main seal can leak as much as a quart of oil in a week's time.
This rapid loss of oil volition necessitate frequent height-offs, to avert an engine'due south oil from dropping to dangerously low levels.
If a weekly inspection of our vehicle'southward engine reveals unanticipated oil loss, or if you suddenly notice yourself adding more oil to your engine than normal, a worn rear main seal could be to arraign. Therefore, additional time should exist taken to appraise the cause of this expedited oil usage.
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#iii – Oil Saturation of Vehicle Underbody
Since a leaking rear main seal tends to cause pooling of oil within an engine/manual's bong housing, it is non uncommon for blowback to cause extensive oil saturation of a vehicle's underbody. As a vehicle is operated, leaking oil is swept rearward, coating all that lies behind the rear of a vehicle'south engine.
This places boosted importance upon periodically inspecting your vehicle. Simply glancing beneath your vehicle will reveal such tell-tale signs of rear master seal failure, in the vast majority of cases. This allows you to plan for repair earlier the offending leak grows in severity.
#4 – Illumination of Oil Light
If you are driving along merely to notice the sudden illumination of your vehicle's depression oil light, in that location are two primary things that you should exercise.
The first of which is to pull to the nearest shoulder of the roadway and shut off your engine equally soon as possible. The second task of essence is to effigy out where your engine's oil has disappeared. In a case of this nature, an engine's rear main seal is doubtable.
A astringent rear primary seal leak can cause rapid oil loss, especially when an engine is warmed to operating temperature, and the affected vehicle is in motility. If oil loss exceeds a detail betoken predetermined by a vehicle's manufacturer, a depression oil light volition illuminate upon the nuance.
Also, some vehicles will display a low oil force per unit area light or message in a similar fashion.
What Causes the Seal to Leak or Get Bad?
The single most prevalent cause of rear primary seal leaks is uncomplicated clothing and tear. Seals, though relatively hearty, are not designed to concluding indefinitely. Instead, it is quite normal for an engine's seals to break down as a vehicle ages and miles accumulate. Equally this occurs, seepage begins to take identify.
Prolonged periods of vehicle storage tin besides atomic number 82 to college instances of rear main seal failure. Seals of this type generally rely upon splash lubrication from an engine'south oil, in order to ward off early deposition.
When a vehicle sits idle for extended periods, this splash lubrication ceases, thereby allowing seals to dry out, harden, and crack. As a result, leaks ofttimes go evident presently following a vehicle'south return to service.
Less normally, a rear main seal might brainstorm to leak if an engine is low on oil. While running an engine 1-quart low on oil for a brief period of time is unlikely to crusade any issue, operating an engine in this way for extended periods tin lead to seal drying and hardening.
Therefore, it is best to routinely check your vehicle'due south oil level, to prevent further problems at a later on appointment.
Is a Rear Main Seal Leak Serious?
A rear chief seal leak is more often than not regarded as being quite serious in nature, due primarily to the fact that such leaks just tend to worsen with fourth dimension.
In astringent cases, a rear main seal can leak to the point of creating difficulties when attempting to keep upwardly with the resulting oil loss. Simply put, adding enough oil to maintain proper lube supply becomes troublesome.
However, this is still a far better scenario than what will likely occur should an engine go starved for oil, at the easily of a rear primary seal leak. Whatsoever substantial loss of lubricating oil poses the risk of causing bearing harm, which tin can ultimately result in untimely engine failure.
At the very least, running an engine low in oil tin, and will, cause premature internal habiliment. In any event, a rear main seal leak should be addressed at the kickoff available opportunity.
While repairing a leak of this nature can get rather involved, it is withal nowhere near as troublesome equally being forced to supersede an engine that has suffered the prolonged effects of sustained oil loss. If you are non up to the task of completing such repairs yourself (most volition not exist), make an appointment with a trusted service center as soon as possible.
Can a Rear Main Seal Be Replaced Without Removing the Transmission?
Conventional rear principal seal replacement requires a vehicle's transmission to be removed. This is necessary to proceeds access to the rear master seal itself, which is housed at the back of an engine, within the manual's bell housing.
Unfortunately, removing a vehicle'southward transmission is no small feat, and is rather time consuming to complete.
Luckily, there are now several products on the market place that merits to terminate rear master seal leaks in their tracks. These products are designed to rehydrate an aging seal, thereby restoring its sealing ability. Unfortunately, products of this nature are known to produce mixed results, leading some consumers to steer clear.
However, a express number of these end-leak products stand up out higher up the rest, due to the overwhelmingly positive reviews that they accept received. I such production is BlueDevil Rear Main Sealer, which is oft cited past consumers every bit being a "catholicon" for rear main seal leaks.
In whatever event, consumers have little to lose, when giving a rear main seal stop leak product a try. After all, when the merely culling is excessive vehicle downtime and exorbitant repair costs, the use of a unmarried-awarding sealant comes as a welcome culling.
Rear Main Seal Replacement Cost
When it comes to a rear primary seal leak, in that location is no sugar-coating the fact that repairs will be quite pricey. Even more aggravating is the fact that about rear main seals are relatively inexpensive to purchase. However, the labor costs associated with such repairs are oft all-encompassing.
Of course, these labor costs are hands justified. Replacing an engine's rear main seal is no easy task, and requires a significant investment of time.
A repair of this nature requires a vehicle'southward manual to exist removed, as access to an engine'southward rear primary seal is not otherwise possible. Additionally, the removal of a vehicle's transfer case is often required in the case of four-wheel bulldoze vehicles.
The exact cost of rear main seal replacement differs from one vehicle to the adjacent and is reflective of a manufacturer'southward quoted flag fourth dimension for such repairs. Pricing for rear chief seal replacement is also dependent upon the bulldoze configuration of a item vehicle.
The price of rear main seal replacement typically ranges between $650 and $1,800, though the vast majority of such repairs fall within the $800-$1,200 price range.
Will Thicker Oil Aid a Rear Main Seal Leak?
In certain cases, running engine oil of a thicker viscosity can ho-hum rear principal seal leakage. This is due to the fact that oil thins equally information technology warms during normal engine operation.
This, in turn, allows oil to escape more easily through crumbling, worn, or damaged seals. This is 1 of the reasons that a leaking rear main seal appears to worsen when an engine is at operating temperature.
Keeping this in mind, it is reasonable to assume that oil of thicker viscosity would be less likely to seep from such a seal, fifty-fifty when warm. In fact, near everyone knows of somebody who has sworn that switching from 10w30 to 10w40 has slowed their vehicle's oil leak.
Also, it is fifty-fifty common to hear of heavier diesel motor oils, such as 15W40, being used in gasoline engines to slow a leak.
However, one must also take into consideration the possible ramifications that could arise from diffusive away from their vehicle manufacturer's specified oil viscosity. Manufacturers specify the use of a sure viscosity of oil based upon several factors, including the measure of an engine's bearing tolerances.
Therefore, though rare, making such changes in oil selection can atomic number 82 to possible oil delivery-related problems. As such, one should keep with caution, when determining whether or non to use engine oil with a viscosity other than that recommended by their vehicle'due south manufacturer.
See Too: Types of Oil (Conventional vs Synthetic Blend vs Full Synthetic)
Source: https://cartreatments.com/rear-main-seal-leak-symptoms/