Worth changing rear main seal?

[ben_r1]

Doing a clutch on the 172 soon, whilst it's out I was going to change the rear crank seal seeing as I was there, but it's not the cheapest seal and I've never seen/heard of a Clio leaking from there so I may not bother if I can get away with it.

Anyone recommend I change it or just leave it be, it's not leaking at the minute and the engines on 86k.

Tar all.

 

[fraz101]

How much is the seal? It's normally the sump seal that leaks first!

 

[Budgie]

If its not leaking, don't worry IMO

 

[ben_r1]

If its not leaking, don't worry IMO

I'm a firm believer of not disturbing something that's not broken but I know my luck it'll leak a month down the line. To just make it easier I may leave it then.

 

[Laine_16v]

The genuine seal kit is like £25? cheap insurance against a horrible oil leak to fix if it occurs IMO.

 

[ben_r1]

But I'm yet to see one leak on these? I've got mate with 130k+ mileage and been through two or threes clutches an never bothered?

 

[Budgie]

But I'm yet to see one leak on these? I've got mate with 130k+ mileage and been through two or threes clutches an never bothered?

I've never seen one leaking and have broken 6 or 7 cars and changed 10-15 gearboxes and clutches.

 

[Owen92]

If it's not broke, don't fix it IMO.

 

[Chip-mk1]

They are a pain to get to seal even if you are careful, so you might change it now only to find it leaks afterwards when it doesnt now.

Leave well alone IMHO if its not leaking anyway.

 

[fraz101]

I've never seen one leak either, if it was mine i wouldn't change it.

 

[Scrooge]

Never seen a leak on one...

 

[frenchthing]

not sure if mines gone, or its the sump.. but i (make that TDF) will be doing both along with a clutch as its slipping like an eel in a bucket and its shedding oil like the exxon valdez!

 

[Tony Hunter]

Mark (iceman) changed his and had no end of trouble with it.

 

[frenchthing]

knocked it in too far??
scored the face removing the old one??
worn input shaft??

anyhow, after a quick chat with matt he seems to think it may be a tooth sheared off the diff and escaped thru the housing.. obviously on this forum TDF know nothing and are useless but i`ll go with them on this (and anything else tbh) hahaha

 

[Tony Hunter]

I think he had knocked it in too far, so not the seals fault, but was a pain when he had to do it all again.

 

[MG cup]

"after a quick chat with matt he seems to think it may be a tooth sheared off the diff and escaped thru the housing.."

This has resulted in an engine oil leak hhhhhhmmmmmmm

 

[frenchthing]

MrSwede.. I havent confirmed if its engine or gearbox yet.. It could be the seal.. It could be the sump.. but as Budgie has mentioned above its very rare for them to go, so.... Matt could well be right,

 

[Chip-mk1]

I think he had knocked it in too far, so not the seals fault, but was a pain when he had to do it all again.

Its a hateful thing to install TBH, and if you do knock it in too far you end up having to take the cap off to avoid damaging it, and then getting that to seal up as well can be a bit hit and miss too. Definitely one of the less enjoyable bits of building an engine, lol

 

[MikeClio172SPT]

I'm a firm believer of not disturbing something that's not broken but I know my luck it'll leak a month down the line. To just make it easier I may leave it then.

Yea do it dude..... U had it spot on about it leaking a month later..... Does happen. Change it if its someone elses car.
Use genuine also.

 

[Laine_16v]

I knew this pic would come in handy... this is the bottom end i just took apart, this is how the seal sits as fitted by renault at the factory (and therefore the correct way you'd hope!)

 

[MikeClio172SPT]

yes... good pic, you wouldnt really want to knock it further than that, as the rounded shouldered edge of the seal would be in to far.

 

[Jaff.]

The last line on the seal (as in the ribs going around the outside) is a depth meter by all accounts.

 

[Laine_16v]

It worried me when i first saw it, every other previous crank seal ive done, i did it flush with the crank case, havent had an issue saying that though...

 

[Jaff.]

When I fit my last f7r seal flush with the crank case it leaked like a fucked fridge!

 

[ben_r1]

lol this im leaving well alone then!