How much does it cost to replace a rear main engine seal?
It is designed to keep the oil where it should be and typically needs replacement when it shrunk or deteriorates. The rear main seal usually costs between $600-$900, with a service fee of around $550 to $820 out of the overall replacement charge.
Is it worth fixing a rear main seal?
Replacing a rear main seal can be so expensive the cost to replace it may be more than you have to spend, or even more than your vehicle is worth. When faced with a high dollar repair on an older vehicle it can be difficult to decide if it's worth dumping more money into an older vehicle that doesn't have much value.
Is a rear main seal leak serious?
Rear main seal leaks are so dangerous because it is possible for the leak to occur at a very fast rate. Due to the location, it is subject to high oil pressure. It is also connected to the engine, which must be slick with oil to function properly.
How much does it cost to replace seals in engine?
The cost of head gasket repairs can run into the thousands, meaning it's often easier and cheaper to scrap the vehicle than it is to have it repaired. The average cost of head gasket repair is around $1,000 to $2,000, but this isn't because the parts are expensive.
Is it OK to drive with a leaking rear main seal?
Driving with a rear main seal leak is dangerous due to the high possibility of a very fast leak. A fast leak will lower your engine oil level to dangerous levels very quickly, which can lead to permanent engine damage.
How do I stop my rear engine seal from leaking?
If you've discovered a rear main seal leak in your vehicle, seal the leak today before it's too late. Head to your local auto parts stores and pick up BlueDevil Rear Main Sealer. Simply add BlueDevil Rear Main Sealer to your vehicle's engine oil and your rear main seal leak will be stopped as your drive your vehicle.
How many hours does it take to replace a rear main seal?
Replacing a Rear Main Seal However, the process to get to the rear main seal to replace it often requires removal of the entire engine and transmission from the vehicle, a job that can only be done by very skilled mechanics and even then can take 6-10 hours!
What causes a rear main seal to go out?
The most common cause of rear seal leaks is age and/or high mileage. The seal can also leak due to the vehicle being stored for an extended period of time, or from running the engine low on oil. This causes drying and hardening of the seal leading to shrinking, cracking and tearing of the rear main seal.
Can you replace a rear main seal without removing the transmission?
Usually, we will need to remove the transmission before reaching to the rear main seal. But you can do this rear main seal replace without removing the transmission. It is not less difficult than the other way, however, you can do it on your own.
Is it worth fixing oil leak?
Oil leak repair is a serious thing to address, and typically the repair cost starts from $85 to $155 going up from there. And you'll have to pay the labor cost ranging between $70 and $1120, while other small seals on top can cost you between $10 and $30.
How do I know if my rear main seal is leaking?
The main symptom of a rear seal leak is when your car starts leaking engine oil at a faster rate. If your vehicle has started leaving black puddles on your driveway or parking lot, something is definitely wrong with the situation underneath the vehicle.
How many hours does it take to replace a rear main seal?
Replacing a Rear Main Seal However, the process to get to the rear main seal to replace it often requires removal of the entire engine and transmission from the vehicle, a job that can only be done by very skilled mechanics and even then can take 6-10 hours!
How often should you replace rear main seal?
A good inspection of all the seals in your car is a must every 50,000 miles. This is to make sure that everything is in check and nothing is prone to failure. In this article, we are going to learn a lot about the rear main seal. We will learn what this seal really is and where it's located on the vehicle.
What is the seal on a car that keeps oil from leaking?
Often with a rear main seal leak the engine has to be removed from the vehicle to replace the seal. The rear main seal is what seals the crankshaft to the engine block and keeps engine oil from leaking out around the crank. It’s called the rear main seal ...
Can a blue Devil transmission sealer leak?
Eddie-. Yes, it can be the rear main seal leaking transmission fluid. We do manufacture the BlueDevil Transmission Sealer but based on your description of the leak it may be too large for what BlueDevil is intended to fix. The only solution may be to have the seal replaced.
How much does it cost to replace a crankshaft seal?
If it starts to crack or otherwise malfunction, you will be left with an oil leak. You will pay between $650 and $850 for this replacement. The labor should cost around $700, while parts are only about $35.
Why should I replace the rear main seal?
Why should you have your rear main seal replaced? It’s not something that you need to get fixed right away, but the sooner you get it fixed, the more money you are likely to save on repairs later. You can protect your engine, camshaft, gears and other parts from wearing out prematurely by getting the leak taken care of. You will also protect your vehicle from damage caused by leaking oil. On top that, you won’t have to keep such a close eye on the oil levels, and you be able to drive without wondering how soon you need to top up the oil to prevent car damage.
How long does it take to remove a transmission seal?
This may sound straightforward, but removing some of the parts can take hours, especially if the mechanic is taking his time to ensure that nothing is damaged.
Can you replace a seal on a car?
Replacing the seal can be an in-depth job, no matter what kind of vehicle you have. There are a lot of parts to deal with, and the mechanic has to be careful not to damage the engine or let oil leak out in the process. If the oil has already begun to leak out, though, then further repairs and cleaning may be required.
How much does it cost to replace a rear main seal?
First, it’s important to understand where the costs of a rear main seal replacement come from. The rear main seal for vehicle probably costs less than $50 so when you receive a repair estimate for hundreds of dollars it can be a little confusing. The majority of the cost of replacing a rear main seal comes from the long hours ...
What is the best way to recondition a rear main seal?
The best way to recondition the rear main seal in your vehicle is to use BlueDevil Rear Main Sealer . BlueDevil Rear Main Sealer is a special conditioner ...
What to do when replacing rear main seal?
When replacing a rear main seal, you also end up with some other things you need to replace. For example, you usually have to remove the oil pan so you will need a new gasket to reinstall that. Also, you may consider replacing some other components while you have your vehicle taken that far apart. Replacing things like your front crank seal ...
Why is it important to stop a rear main seal leak?
It is also worth considering the value of your vehicle to make sure you’re not spending more than vehicle’s value in repairs. When looking at the rear main seal replacement cost it’s also important to consider other options.
Can you replace a crank seal on a manual transmission?
Replacing things like your front crank seal or even your clutch if you have a manual transmission can make sense as it will save you lots of labor costs in the future. Once you’ve got a handle on the rear main seal replacement cost for your vehicle, you’ve got to decide if it’s money you want to spend. Driving with a rear main seal can be very ...
Is it dangerous to drive with a rear main seal?
Low oil levels lead to permanent engine damage and even more costly repairs so it is not recommended.
Do you have to remove the transmission seal to replace the rear main seal?
Rear main seal replacements always necessitate removing the transmission from the motor and almost always require removing the motor from the vehicle as well. Removing the motor and/or transmission is always a lengthy job as it requires removing lots of accessories, wires, and hoses that need to be carefully labeled.
Why does my engine seal deteriorate?
It is no news that engine seals deteriorate over a long period of use due to oil acidity, heat, and several other related issues, usually due to lack of maintenance . In such a case, the rear main seal stop leak is needed to recondition the seal and work for a few thousand miles.
What is the seal on a crankshaft?
The rear crankshaft seal is usually made of silicone or rubber. The seal wears out over time as a result of corrosion from road salt, crankshaft rotational forces, and other environmental factors. Driving with a rear main seal leak can be very dangerous and can lead to total engine failure.
How to tell if crankshaft seal is leaking?
Just like every other mechanical component, some signs and symptoms will pop up to notify the driver of a defective or leaking rear crankshaft seal. Oil puddles: The most common sign of a rear crankshaft seal is oil puddles on the garage floor or the driveway.
What happens if your crankshaft is worn out?
Worn main bearing: If your engine main bearing is bad or worn out, the crankshaft will dangle inside the bearing leading to stretching and moving the rear crankshaft seal while the engine is running.
Why does my crankshaft leak?
Engine oil condition: One of the factors that can cause the rear crankshaft seal to leak is using the wrong type of engine oil or low oil level. Most engine oils have chemical additives that might affect the seals in the engine. An irregular oil change will deteriorate the seals.
What is the condition of a crankshaft?
Crankshaft condition: The rear crankshaft seal lip rides directly on the crankshaft. Therefore, the crankshaft surface that the inner seal drives on is critical. Any wear or imperfections on the crankshaft can result in a leak. The surface can be restored by installing a sleeve kit on it.
What happens if you lose your main seal?
A rear main seal leak can be catastrophic to your vehicle. If you’re losing oil in that location, you have to act fast to fix that leak before it can cause significant damage to your engine. You don’t have to spend a lot of your time if the seal is shrunk or slightly deteriorates or deformed due to irregular oil change.
Rear Main Seal Function
The rear main seal is used to prevent oil from seeping out of the back of the engine. It keeps the oil in place where the crankshaft is mounted to the car’s transmission through the flexplate or flywheel. That’s why the rear main seal is often referred to as the rear crankshaft seal.
Rear Main Seal Location
The rear main seal is found at the back of the car engine. They are driven into the rear cover and can be concealed in the transmission’s bell-housing, making it more difficult to see. In most cases, it is not viewable without removing other critical components, even the transmission at times.
Symptoms of Rear Main Seal Leak
A defective rear main seal is going to allow oil to seep through. However, the leak might get worse after the engine has been warmed up. For this reason, you might not always see the oil leak.
Causes of Rear Main Seal Leak
If you put the wrong type of oil in the engine, it can lead to a leak. The chemical additives in today’s engine oils can affect the seals.
Rear Main Seal Replacement Cost
The cost to replace a rear main seal is usually between $800 and $1,500. However, the seal itself can cost as little as $50. The rest of the cost is because of the immense amount of labor associated with this job.
Jworks
I've got an oil leak on 2011 Sierra 4x4, 6 speed trans, 5.3 engine, and I was told I needed a rear engine seal. Labor will be $575 (plus parts). Yikes. Does this sound in line?
shakenfake
Yes that sounds about right. Although you can do it for free if you do it yourself. I just did mine lol
newdude
Yep. $115/hr at my local Chevy dealer, 5.6hrs of labor in the book. So just your labor is a bit less than $644 using the $115/hr.
Jworks
Thank you fellows. I didn't know the cost. I figured it would be much higher at a dealership (which it probably would be some, but maybe not by miles....who knows. I have it at a local trans shop and they will be putting it in. I don't have the ability to put it in myself. I would think at a dealership this would be $650 labor, or more.
redwngr
Thank you fellows. I didn't know the cost. I figured it would be much higher at a dealership (which it probably would be some, but maybe not by miles....who knows. I have it at a local trans shop and they will be putting it in. I don't have the ability to put it in myself. I would think at a dealership this would be $650 labor, or more.
shakenfake
Many times they are, that's the only reason I mentioned it. Service manual does allow for reusing so long as new loctite is installed on the threads. They are a 3 pass fastener still so if it were my truck, it would get new bolts.
newdude
Three pass fasteners do not mean you need new ones. It is when you torque to yield with a degree you have to get new ones.