Please help! **URGENT**

[Matrix]

Hey guys,

I've replaced the rear main seal on my MSP 3 times this year. Each time, the same thing happens - it begins leaking again within a day or two, badly. I don't know what to do. My friends and I can't figure out what's wrong, and neither can the tech at Mazda.

There's no crack in the block, we've used only the best quality seals, and still the same problem persists. The Mazda tech says he's never seen anything like this. The only suggestion he can make is that perhaps there is a burr or other imperfection where the seal sits that is causing it to tear repeatedly. They want a boatload of $$$ to check for that, which I don't have.

I don't know what to do. I love my car, and it's running great otherwise. This oil leak has ruined a brand new Exedy clutch that I just had installed in April of this year. I don't want to replace the clutch until I know the seal won't fail again, but we don't even know what's causing it.

Please help! All input and suggestions would be appreciated!
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[Wagonbacker9]

has any bottom end work been done to this block? I don't see anything in your mods list... but is it rebuilt in any way?

last time you did the seal, did you notice anything about the failed one you pulled out? when you pulled it apart could you see where the leak was coming from?

[Matrix]

has any bottom end work been done to this block? I don't see anything in your mods list... but is it rebuilt in any way?

last time you did the seal, did you notice anything about the failed one you pulled out? when you pulled it apart could you see where the leak was coming from?

No internal or bottom end work has been done on the car. The car only leaks oil while it is running or still hot. Everytime we worked on it we had to let it cool down first, so we weren't really able to tell exactly what point the oil was coming from, other than from where the main seal sits.

[Wagonbacker9]

hm... well thats more than less than helpful... i guess I'd try ripping it out, going over the seal surfaces with a fine tooth comb, and put it back together... if that doesn't do it I'd say you're in for a professional. at least I would be.. once it gets down to that level I usually consider it best to throw in the towel.

[TheMAN]

what did you install the seal with? and how did you remove the seal? is the crank knicked up from when you pulled the seal out? what about the rear cover where the seal goes in? I'd replace that... and while you're replacing that, install the seal OFF of the engine and into the cover first!

you need to lube the inside of the seal first with dielectric grease, bearing grease, or assembly lube before installing it... a dry seal will get torn up the first time you start the engine!

[Matrix]

you need to lube the inside of the seal first with dielectric grease, bearing grease, or assembly lube before installing it... a dry seal will get torn up the first time you start the engine!

Crap, I can't remember if we did or not. I'll have to call my friend to see if he remembers.

I don't think we did....(flame)

[Wagonbacker9]

well, as stupid as its making you feel at the moment, at least your problem would be solved? lol

[TheMAN]

nobody likes to take it dry!
she likes that lube!

[Wagonbacker9]

nobody likes to take it dry!
she likes that lube!

this is the first post I've seen you put up that was anything buy strait fact. well done sir! lol

[boostdprotegelx]

this is the first post I've seen you put up that was anything buy strait fact. well done sir! lol

it's still a fact though!! lol.

[orng1]

It's real easy to damage that seal as you install it. You cant push it in to far or not far enough as it will leak. It can get sliced so easily too. I've ruined two on hondas, one got sliced and one I pushed in too far. The one I pushed in to far got cut with the tool I used to pull it out. Are you paying to have the seal replaced? The tech is responsible for it not to leak and should not charge you to do it again because he installed it wrong.

$.02

[boostdprotegelx]

It's real easy to damage that seal as you install it. You cant push it in to far or not far enough as it will leak. It can get sliced so easily too. I've ruined two on hondas, one got sliced and one I pushed in too far. The one I pushed in to far got cut with the tool I used to pull it out. Are you paying to have the seal replaced? The tech is responsible for it not to leak and should not charge you to do it again because he installed it wrong.

$.02

the tech, is me. i was told both by dino, and neox, and jdmsam, that the seal sits against the block, then with the cover had some rtv against the block, no one mentioned lube.

[orng1]

LOL your doing it wrong. (lol)

No just be super careful not to slice it as it's going in. When you pull it out how does it come out. It does happen I've messed up a few. Even the factory messes up, I replaced a few under warranty on accords.

[boostdprotegelx]

LOL your doing it wrong. (lol)

No just be super careful not to slice it as it's going in. When you pull it out how does it come out. It does happen I've messed up a few. Even the factory messes up, I replaced a few under warranty on accords.

so it's not supposed to go all the way to the block? or it is?

[orng1]

There is a tool for it and it's supposed to stick out like a tiny bit. Almost flush. I just used a huge socket on the hondas, I did one on an MSP but forgot what I used but it was not flush and it did not leak. They know better than me on the MSP. So Neox how did you do this one on the MSP?

[TheMAN]

one trick is to use one of the covers/caps for the acetylene tank... the shit is huge so it usually works good as a rear main seal installer :D

[TheMAN]

this is the first post I've seen you put up that was anything buy strait fact. well done sir! lol
all my posts are nothing but straight fact :p

[orng1]

I think I used the cup from my jack, but it's been a while I'm not sure.

[boostdprotegelx]

i'm still unsure as to how far back i'm to push this seal.

[orng1]

What are you using to push it in? It needs to push on the outside of the seal evenly.

[boostdprotegelx]

What are you using to push it in? It needs to push on the outside of the seal evenly.

my fingers.. both sets. with as even pressure as i can get.

[orng1]

You sure you have the right seal, I don't remember it going in that easy. I gave it a few taps.

[boostdprotegelx]

..well that's the one i ordered.. and yea.. i took the plate off, put the seal over it, pushed it on as even as i could(i put it against the block as per direction from people i mentioned earlier) RTVd the cover, put the cover over it and bolted it back down in a semi star pattern.

[orng1]

(popcorn)

[boostdprotegelx]

(popcorn)

what does that even mean?

[orng1]

Just waiting to see what other people say, having a little snack while people show up to comment.

[boostdprotegelx]

ok. lol.

[TheMAN]

it's supposed to be in mostly flush... there's no way for it to go in that easily! I always had to tap it in with a hammer!

where did you get the seal from? just stick to the mazda seals! I hate fucking with aftermarket seals... I bought an aftermarket cam seal for my corolla and it had a stupid metal plate on the outside... I fucked it up trying to put it in... I bought the right shit the 2nd time and it went right in

[boostdprotegelx]

well i'll get him to buy the mazda gasket then. mostly flush with what though?? the crank?the block?or the seal plate?

[TheMAN]

the rear cover, DUH

[boostdprotegelx]

ok

[Matrix]

it's supposed to be in mostly flush... there's no way for it to go in that easily! I always had to tap it in with a hammer!

where did you get the seal from? just stick to the mazda seals! I hate fucking with aftermarket seals... I bought an aftermarket cam seal for my corolla and it had a stupid metal plate on the outside... I fucked it up trying to put it in... I bought the right shit the 2nd time and it went right in

Hmmm...I just ordered a felpro seal before I read this. Should I go buy one from the Mazda dealer instead?

[TheMAN]

considering the amount of work to get to it, I'm not nickel and diming these parts!

[orng1]

I always had to tap it in with a hammer!


I'm glad you said that, a little tap does it. Anyone else?

[Matrix]

considering the amount of work to get to it, I'm not nickel and diming these parts!


All righty, well I just ordered an OEM Mazda rear main seal for my MSP. It was about 3x more expensive than the FelPro, but I got it anyway. (uhm) I guess I'll just keep the Felpro handy or sell it on the forum.

[boostdprotegelx]

All righty, well I just ordered an OEM Mazda rear main seal for my MSP. It was about 3x more expensive than the FelPro, but I got it anyway. (uhm) I guess I'll just keep the Felpro handy or sell it on the forum.

take the felpro back. tell them you didn't need it.

[Matrix]

take the felpro back. tell them you didn't need it.


I'll try. It was a special order, so I'm not sure if Advance Auto will give a refund. I guess I'll find out.

[orng1]

Curious how this will turn out. I bet they kept giving you the wrong part.

[Matrix]

Curious how this will turn out. I bet they kept giving you the wrong part.


Nah, I doubt we ever had the wrong part. boostdprotegelx (damian) made sure he carefully ordered the right seal last time, and I know I ordered the right one before that, as well.

I'm confident that we've identified the errors - we didn't lube up the seal prior to install and we probably pushed it in too far instead of flush with the cover.

I've got a tub of bearing grease I'll be using this time. I'll keep everyone posted on how it turns out.

[boostdprotegelx]

I'll try. It was a special order, so I'm not sure if Advance Auto will give a refund. I guess I'll find out.

doesn't matter. take it back. they will.tell them it was the wrong part then. and you sourced the other.

[Alamo1]

how about some pics for a noob?

[boostdprotegelx]

sorry. we didn't take pictures. but we got it all buttoned up today. hoping(crossing fingers), that this fixed it. oem mazda seal, much different than the other 2.. most def.

and we lubed the fuck out of the middle part.

[TheMAN]

excellent smithers

[boostdprotegelx]

lol.