Front bottom of engine always looks wet..

Essentially just pulls off...but I use a puller tool to get it off because of buildup caked on it. Can't remember if there is a thread hole for a bolt to break it free

 

I really gotta change that worthless seal. It should be considered more of an orfice the way it leaks on our trucks.

 

Yea mine started to get pretty bad. I'm just glad the seal fixed it...there are instances when the crankshaft itself gets grooved and a metal sleeve is needed. I actually avoided using OEM main seal so it would sit in a different spot and hopefully prolong the grooving

 

Grooving? Say what?! Hat brand seal did you go with by the way? I'm contemplating between OE and a differenbrand so I'm open to ideas.

 

I used

Beck/Arnley 052-4052 Seal Crankshaft

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004ZQM3OQ/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

My replacement seal was Felpro.

 

A rubber seal is not going to be wearing a groove in a hardened steel crankshaft.

 

Over a long period of time yes it will. I have seen it many times. It takes many many years though

 

Ordered. Thanks for the suggestion man! $6 shipped is cheap enough!

 

After about 350-400k miles on my '82 I threw mine away and got an ungrooved one. The sealing period was getting shorter and shorter as the groove developed. Based on everything being more expensive and lasting less nowadays, I could see grooving being an issue at 200k or less..................

 

If you have wear where the seal meets the crankshaft / pulley it is not the rubber seal that is doing it. It is contamination and grit working into this area from the outside or you do not change the oil often enough and getting acidic. One of those two things is the cause. Rubber is not going to wear into steel. Keep it clean and you will not have an issue.

 

Makes sense. I can't say I want to remove the pulley regularly to clean there. Not to mention all the grime that collects from offroad.

 

agree to disagree.........but my evidence is long gone. I did regular oil changes and used factory seals. I am OCD about fluid leaks on my vehicles and always have been. And it was the right part, same one it started out with. It was 2wd so it didn't bathe in mud.