How common are flywheel oil seal leaks?!

[anewman]

I have a leak which appears to be coming from between the engine and the clutch housing, at least it is dripping from there. The oil switch, filter, sump plug, camshaft cover. fuel pump blanking plate are all dry.

I have smelled the oil and it doesn't appear to be transmission oil (no foul smell).

If the flywheel oil seal is my best bet, how much would a rough ball park figure be for a garage to replace the seal? (I don't fancy the job myself.)

Thanks in advance.

[fordfan]

Labour wil be the main cost, in the region of 3 hours. I can't see the seal been more than £15, gearbox oil around £10, but you may want to consider renewing the clutch (kit around £70) as it all has to come out to replace the seal.

[anewman]

Ouch on the 3 hours. Will have to give the underside a good scrub up to see exactly where the oil does come from. From experience it's often difficult to tell without a good clean up as the oil tends to move around.

[rigsby]

cheap tray from poundstretcher £1.99 to put on the drive plus a top up now and then. a lot cheaper than repair and blow back of oil stops floorpan rusting

[anewman]

Well I don't have a drive so it leaks onto the road. Lol. Will double check source of leak and ring around for cheapest price. I really couldn't afford anything above £100 which with 3 hours it sounds like it would be.

I have put wynn's engine stop leak in there twice. Once before oil change and once after changing the oil. I wonder if that could have caused the damage or if another can could help stop the leak.

[daverapid]

You'd have to go some to replace a rear crank seal in 3 hours even in a workshop with the car on a ramp. I reckon 4 or 5 hours is more realistic.

[rigsby]

sod the tray if its on the road , just top it up!!!

[daverapid]

Originally Posted by rigsby

sod the tray if its on the road , just top it up!!!

Put the tray under the car at night, and in the morning pour the oil back in the engine!

[anewman]

Originally Posted by daverapid

Put the tray under the car at night, and in the morning pour the oil back in the engine!

Not sure I like the idea of that lol. Looks like Asda smart price 20/50w 5 litre cans it is. Lol. Hopefully it will remain a smallish trickle and won't foul the clutch mechanism.

[rigsby]

my rapid (same engine) leaked for the 3 years i had it, and i never got round to fixing it

[anewman]

Originally Posted by rigsby

my rapid (same engine) leaked for the 3 years i had it, and i never got round to fixing it

The annoying thing is I only just fixed a leak from the fuel pump blanking plate, and this leak looks like it won't be cheaply/easily fixable. Was possibly that leak stopping the other happening or something. Oh well.

You've given me some hope for the likely longevity of the car was starting to consider the possibility of having to get another car possibly within the year. When the time comes I would probably be looking at getting another Favorit or a Felicia anyway, leaving this one on bricks ready to be collected by a scrappie.

[stevejwest]

I havnt found an engine with a few miles on it in ANYTHING that doent leak a bit!
As long as you keep a bit of oil in it!

I have found that keeping the oil about halfway between the marks reduces the leaks - if its low you risk engine damage - if its high it just leaks out!

The Wynns Stopleak shouldnt damage the engine but dont go outside their recomendations. Wynns have a really good technical team you can ask this sort of question on though.

[favguy]

A word of warning re. any of the stop leak products!!

These stop the leak by reacting with and swelling up your rubber seals, this works initially, but will drastically reduce the life of all your rubber engine seals, as they will wear prematurely after treatment, so you fix your main oil seal for maybe 10K or so, but then all your seals will start weeping!!

Personally, I'd live with the leak or fix it, but woulldn't use stop leak products if you plan to keep the car and do any significant mileage