FJ 80 blown out front engine seal. (1 Viewer)

[gwtdrago]

I have a 1991 FJ 80 with a problem that no one in my city seems to know how to fix. I bought this vehicle with 158,000 miles on it. It had just undergone a complete engine rebuild. After having the cruiser for a few months with very little driving,it devleloped a small oil leak that soon developed into a huge engine leak. It turned out to be the front engine seal where the harmonic balancer comes out. It was blown completely out ot the engine case. The mechanic replaced the seal and put a "sleeve" on the harmonic balancer. After I got the car back,the leak returned the second time I drove it. The compression on the vehicle seems fine and there is no blow -by that the mechanic can find. He has suggested a problem with the positive crankcase ventilation system but I don't think he knows how to check it or how it works on this "rare" vehicle.
The seal must be blowing out due to high,unrelieved crankcase pressure. The mechanic is trying to fabricate a clip to hold the seal in. If this works, he recommends I sell the vehicle because he doesn't hold a high opinion of the engine rebuilders and believes it will eventually happen again and I'll need a new engine.I'm frustrated that the vehicle that I was led to because of it's reliablility reputation has a problem that has no apparent solution. Please help with any suggestions! Thanks,

Glenn Tillery

 

[cruiserman]

Easy enough: replace the PCV valve.

 

[e9999]

Well hello and welcome!

seems like the problem is more with the mechanics than with the vehicle, no?

No panic (yet)!

 

[semlin]

That is a shame Glenn. Welcome. I have no idea what the problem is but I do have experience being frustrated with mechanics and I can relate to your state of mind. take a deep breath and relax a little. Someone in town can fix it. A 3FE is a fairly simple inline 6 motor and it's not that rare.

you may want to cross- post this thread on the cruiser tech forum and the 60/62 forum, and you might also check out the 3FE forum on yahoo. Your 3FE motor has much in common with the 2F and F motors on the earlier 40s and 60s and was used in the 62 series.

I doubt a new pcv valve will fix it but replacing the valve and checking the pcv hoses and inside the valve cover is obviously a start. You should ask your mechanic about it. I would be surprised if he has not already done those things.

Beyond that I'm sorry but you'll have to hold on for someone with a lot more expertise than me (thankfully there are a great many people at ih8mud fitting that description )

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Where ya located Glenn?

 

[robbie]

One problem that can happen is that the gear cover is installed wrong. by this I mean that there is some room for movement when istalling it. So some times the hole(in the cover) is not centered to the Pulley/damptner. So it puts more pressure on one side and can pull the seal out. So It may be that the mechanic does not know this. Also If you are not using a toyota seal, this can be more of a problem. Some of the after market one also have too much rubber on the seal area and will not work in the seal surface/area well expecially if it is oily when installed. The best seal is the toyota one. later robbie

 

[gwtdrago]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm in Huntsville, AL and I'll be talking to the mechanic about what's been recommended so far. I'll let you'll know.

Glenn

 

[CruisinGA]

I don't know where Huntsville is in Alabama, but it can't be that far from Atlanta.
David @ Urban Land Cruisers (www.urbanlandcruisers.com) runs a 3FE himself and would probably have much more of a clue than your average chevy mechanic.