What Are the Hazards of a Leaking Front Crankshaft Oil Seal?
2 Answers
Leakage from the front crankshaft oil seal is a type of oil seal failure, which may be caused by aging of the crankshaft oil seal or excessive crankcase blow-by gases. Besides wasting engine oil, severe leakage can even lead to internal engine damage. Additionally, since the engine operates at very high temperatures, oil leaking onto the engine or other high-temperature components can easily cause spontaneous combustion. The following are the reasons for leakage from the front crankshaft oil seal: 1. Non-petroleum-based lubricants were not used during the installation of the crankshaft oil seal, causing the oil seal to loosen or even fall off after some time of engine use. 2. The parallelism between the rear oil seal installation surface and the rear oil seal seat mounting surface did not meet the technical requirements specified in the assembly drawing. This resulted in uneven deformation of the rear oil seal lip, leading to distortion or even complete twisting of the oil seal after some time of engine use, thereby causing oil leakage. 3. The engine has been in use for a long time, causing natural aging of the rear oil seal and the development of cracks at the lip, leading to oil leakage.
A leaking front crankshaft oil seal is no small matter and can cause a lot of harm. If the oil seal fails, engine oil will gradually leak out, leading to insufficient lubrication. This increases friction between internal components like the crankshaft and bearings, accelerating wear. Over time, these parts may overheat, deform, or even seize and burn out, potentially causing the engine to fail completely. If oil leaks onto hot surfaces in the engine bay, such as belts or the exhaust pipe, it could spark a fire—imagine suddenly seeing smoke while driving! Oil leakage can also result in low oil levels, affecting other systems like cooling efficiency and overall engine performance. Repairs aren’t cheap; replacing the seal and inspection costs can range from hundreds to over a thousand dollars. If neglected, a major engine overhaul might cost tens of thousands. During regular maintenance, check for oil stains on the ground—early intervention is always wise.
