Replacing Front Main Oil Seal - What's Entailed?

[originalbadbob]

From the picture in the book, and the fact it doesn't say anything about removing the oil pan, I don't think you have to have the pan off.
To install the seal, it says you need a Driver 40 mm I.D. 07746-0030100.
It looks like a regular hollow seal driver that will slide over the end of the crank.

1. Dry the crankshaft oil seal housing.
2. Apply a light coat of multipurpose grease to the crankshaft and to the lip of the seal.
3. Using the seal driver, drive in the crankshaft oil seal until the driver bottoms against the oil pump. When the seal is in place, clean any excess grease off the crankshaft and check that the oil seal lip is not distorted.

Sounds pretty much like any other car.

Good luck with it.
Robert

[MindThoughts]

Hello Everyone.
I have a 2000 Honda insight which needs the front main seal replaced. The engine has 341,000 miles and runs excellent. I recently replace the oil cooler sandwich adapter seals(two o rings) and stop that little leak. Now I see a messy leak from the front main engine seal(pasenger side of engine).

I would like to change this seal as soon as possible. It's leaking and making a mess. I drove the car up onto ramps and can clearly see the leak is coming from the front main engine seal.

I spoke with the mechanic I go to when I encounter a job I do not have the tools to do. He said he has to remove the timing chain cover to get to the main seal. Although I did not read meantion of this in this thread so I'm thinking he may not realize what is involved in replacing the seal.

I would like to replace the main seal myself. If anyone can walk me through the steps, and or posibly email me the procedure, I would greatly appreciate it.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

By the way, I already purchase the main seal from Pasadena Honda for just over 10.oo dollars. Is there another seal I need to purchase? I read that theres another o ring or something behind the main seal, at least that's what I recal reading on this thread. I just want to make sure I have all the parts I need before pulling the pulley off.

Ok, so I need a 40mm socket to remove the pulley?

do I need to use a pulley puller? which type or kind? will any size pulley puller work? Sears is near my home and so is Harbor Freight, which both offer many tools and pulley pullers, I believe.

If I were to pay the mechanic to replace this seal(unless it's incredibly simple to do myself) what price range would you consider to be resonable.

by the way, I do prefer to change this front main engine seal myself, My only concern is making sure I have the proper tools needed to do the job. I do not have any air tools nor compressor.

Thank you in advance.

I'm looking forward to any insight that may be shared regarding this main seal replacement.

I can provide my email address to anyone willing to send the documents to my email address which shows the procedure. I have not yet purchase the service manual, although that is something I very much look forward to purchasing.

[biododge1]

^^^^ the post above you is word for word from the shop book. You can do it yourself. Skip that mechanic-he has no clue

[MindThoughts]

Thank you biododge.

The Pasadena Honda dealership parts department told me I would need an air gun to remove the pulley.

The note's above my first post on this thread do not mention how one may remove the pulley.

Do you know what tools I will need to remove the main seal pulley(pulley just in front of the main engine seal).

The notes say to use a 40mm socket to remove the pulley(the notes seem to specify using the 40mm tool to slide the new seal onto the crankshaft, I hope this is also the the tool to remove the main pulley bolt/nut). I also do not know what tool may be used to prevent the pulley from spinning while I losen the main pulley bolt/nut. Maybe I can put the car in first gear and put the emergency brake on with wheel blocks in front of the wheels.

If you are saying that all I need is the tools mention in the post above my first post, then I imagine this to mean that I can leave the car in gear, use a 40mm socket(shallow socket should work, not a deep socket?), and the pulley will slide right off by hand, once the 40mm socket is removed?

I've never changed a front main seal on a small engine. I changed the front main seal on a 1970 Mustang with a 351 Cleveland, but had help with that and it was long ago.

I understand the notes above my post mention how to put the new seal in. I'm trying to figure out how to get the pulley off. Thank you for your help.

I'll buy a 40mm socket from Sears to remove the main engine seal Pulley. And hope I'm able to pull the pulley off by hand after this 40mm bolt or nut has been removed. Is there another way to hold the pulley from spinning while I loosen it? I see it has big holes in it, I don't want to damage anything trying to get this pulley off with a breaker bar connected to a 40mm socket.

Originally Posted by biododge1

^^^^ the post above you is word for word from the shop book. You can do it yourself. Skip that mechanic-he has no clue

[MindThoughts]

For anyone changing their own front main engine seal on the 2000 to 2006 Honda insight. This Pulley Holding tool allows us to hold the pulley. A 19mm socket is also needed. I just order a Crankshaft Pulley Holder Tool and it's on it's way to me now.

The Honda mechanic explain to me that people often try to loosen the pulley with an impact air gun(19mm size socket) and end up breaking the crankshaft. The Honda mechanic explain to me, with the right tool, it's very simple to change this front engine main seal. We simply hold the pulley with the Pulley Holding Tool. Direct Link: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ttn-51700

And use a 19mm deep socket(with a breaker bar, not an impact/air gun- which can break the crankshaft on these engines) which slides inside the Crankshaft Pulley Holding Tool, and loosen the pulley with a 19mm deep socket. The mechanic said the Pulley will slide right off, without using any additional tools such as a pulley puller.

Two non Honda Dealership mechanics said they could change the front main engine seal for 150.oo dollars. I would much rather purchase the tools to do this myself, and then I will always have the tools to do the job, should the Honda insight need another front main engine seal, in the future. After all, my goal is to reach 1,000,000 one million miles.

[Rush]

MindThoughts -

Good find and advice ;^)

[MindThoughts]

Thank you Rush. I'm happy to help