Rear main seal
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,069
Likes: 74
From: Casselberry FL
Rear main seal I've got a LS3 in a F-body and I've had a slow main seal leak for awhile. I've read that this seems to be a problem on LS3's also, and that it's sometimes difficult to get the correct orientation of the replacement seal when being installed. One solution was to replace the entire rear main cover.
The rear main cover which includes the gasket & seal isn't that expensive, but with the motor in the car can you R&R the cover? I don't know if all the bolts are reachable after removing the clutch, bellhousing, etc.
If I can't replace the cover with the motor in the car, what are the correct parts & tools we need to replace the seal? Since the oil pan isn't coming off, we don't need any special Kent-Moore style tools, do we? I don't know the reason for the LS3's main seal problem, but never had the problem on my LS1's. Anything special I can do to ensure when we replace the seal that it won't leak again until I choose to replace it again?
The rear main cover which includes the gasket & seal isn't that expensive, but with the motor in the car can you R&R the cover? I don't know if all the bolts are reachable after removing the clutch, bellhousing, etc.
If I can't replace the cover with the motor in the car, what are the correct parts & tools we need to replace the seal? Since the oil pan isn't coming off, we don't need any special Kent-Moore style tools, do we? I don't know the reason for the LS3's main seal problem, but never had the problem on my LS1's. Anything special I can do to ensure when we replace the seal that it won't leak again until I choose to replace it again?
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
2000 z28 I just bought my dream car the camaro z28 it's the LS1. Well I noticed it had a oil leak, that gets worse as I rev my engine in high rpms. So I take it to my mechanic he puts it on the lift shows me the rear main seal is leaking and kind of pushed out a little. So then he tells me the seal can wear a ring into my crank and it will never seal again without a new crank, then he goes to tell me I can be pushing to much oil pressure and pushing the seal out my oil pressure is around 35 on idle and when I rev goes to about 60. I'm getting the new seal put in this wensday but basically he is telling me if it's warn I will have to get a new crank any thoughts.? Thanks
I just bought my dream car the camaro z28 it's the LS1. Well I noticed it had a oil leak, that gets worse as I rev my engine in high rpms. So I take it to my mechanic he puts it on the lift shows me the rear main seal is leaking and kind of pushed out a little. So then he tells me the seal can wear a ring into my crank and it will never seal again without a new crank, then he goes to tell me I can be pushing to much oil pressure and pushing the seal out my oil pressure is around 35 on idle and when I rev goes to about 60. I'm getting the new seal put in this wensday but basically he is telling me if it's warn I will have to get a new crank any thoughts.? Thanks
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
I think he's over exaggerating, I mean; yeah I'm not doubting those things are possible and I was also warned that replacing my rear main seal would likely not fix the leak and it was usually bigger problems that would require rebuilds, ect.. $500 later and a new rear main seal I never had any more leaks from that area in over a year of driving it. The car is 14 - 15 years old. Seals are going to be bad at this point. Go ahead and replace it.
