Did I damage my crank seal? (1 Viewer)

[Warsaw Ogurec]

Hello,

I am in the process of replacing the TB on my 2006 LX, and I have just replaced the crank seal. When driving the new seal in place, I greased it and pushed it in with my thumbs. It was going in rather easily with the top arc of the seal sliding right in while the bottom arc not going as deep as the top, so the seal ended up tilted. I then took a screwdriver, wrapped the end of it in a shop towel, put it against the bottom of the seal and very gently taped with the side of the hammer to nudge the bottom of the seal in place (stupid, I know). After the bottom slid into place, I inspected the bottom and realized that even though I was tapping very lightly, I still managed to leave two screwdriver marks on the seal itself, and a small ding on the body of the water pump. I am now second guessing if I should replace that seal with a new one before I have assembled everything, or just leave it be? Although, I saw on some of the pictures that seals are flush with the body of the oil pump but mine went maybe about a millimeter deeper than that. Is that okay? Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[nissanh]

The only place that could cause a possible leak is the left mark towards the top. Do you see any hole there? if you use an OEM seal then it is steel and based on the force you put and the sharpness of the screwdriver, might have cracked the steel plate. if not, then you should be fine. IF you are not in a hurry, get another OEM seal in there.

Never ever use shap objects near a surface where a oil seal is used. Use a piece of wood or plastic instead.

 

[Warsaw Ogurec]

Is ther seal pressed in place when all the bolts and pulleys are back in there? Or is there a gap between the surface of the seal and the pulley?

 

[vipergrhd]

You should be fine, I have seen worse. Next time use a PVC pipe or a flat tip chisel

 

[Warsaw Ogurec]

Thanks! But another concern is that the old seal, I think, was precisely flush with the oil pump surface. But the new one, I have driven all the way in and it is slightly deeper than flush. Could that be a problem?

 

[OEMGUY0720]

You should be fine. This was on my 2006 as well.

I applied a thin layer of orange FIPG around the circumference of the seal before pressing it in for additional insurance from oil leaks.

 

[Moparsncruisers]

No not at all, you'll be fine.

 

[2001LC]

I don't think those marks are from your screwdriver blade. They look like castings, in the seal, during manufacturing.
1mm in or out from flush, shouldn't be an issue. Being square and not scoring crankshaft or oil pump housing is what's very important to a good seal.

I've intentionally pushed seal in a little extra. When I've one I'm replacing due to someone scoring (nicking) crankshaft where old seal was riding.

I never replaces factory crank or cam seals, unless they're leaking. As of today, all I replaced, were not factory installed.