Symptoms of a bad or faulty crankshaft seal

If your car has high mileage or oil leaks, it may be time to replace the crankshaft oil seal.

The crankshaft oil seal is a seal located at the front of the engine that seals the end of the crankshaft with the timing cover. Most crankshaft oil seals are made from rubber and metal and are round in shape. They are usually installed in the front timing cover and seal the end of the crankshaft as it rotates. Although they are relatively simple components, they serve an important purpose by keeping the oil, which is constantly being used and kicked up by the crankshaft as it rotates, from leaking out of the crankcase. When they fail, they can cause leaks that can lead to a mess and, if left unattended, can put the engine at risk of serious damage. Usually, a crankshaft oil seal has several symptoms that can alert the driver to a possible problem that needs to be addressed.

High mileage

If your vehicle is approaching high mileage, perhaps over a hundred thousand miles, then the crankshaft oil seal may be nearing the end of its recommended life. All manufacturers have a recommended service interval for most vehicle components. Servicing the crankshaft seal to the recommended service interval can prevent seal failure, which can cause other problems.

Oil leaks

Oil leaks are the most common symptom of a crankshaft oil seal problem. If the crankshaft oil seal dries out, cracks or breaks, this can lead to oil leakage. Small leaks can cause oil to build up on the underside of the engine, while larger leaks can cause oil to drip from the front of the engine.

The crankshaft oil seal is mounted behind the engine's main crankshaft pulley, so to service it, the belts, crankshaft pulley, and harmonic balancer must be removed before it can be accessed. For this reason, if you suspect that your crankshaft oil seal is leaking or nearing the end of its life, contact a professional specialist, for example from AvtoTachki, to check the vehicle. They will be able to inspect your vehicle and determine if it needs a crankshaft oil seal replacement.