Topic: Front main seal leak! Easy fix, or big disaster?

[Vodkaman]

Replacing front drive shaft U-joints I mentioned fresh oil on the left corner of the crankcase pan. It looks like front crankcase seal leaks. Is it just bad seal, or something worse?
2006, 2,4L, 6 speed.
I did use search button.

It is leaking at the front of the engine, right under the crankshaft pulley.
Usually seals do not leak with no reason, so should I check crankshaft main bearings, pistons compression, or something else..., or it is just a common problem of this year make and this engine.
By the way, it reads 83000 miles on odometer.

[Vodkaman]

Failed to load a picture.
It says - upload folder is full.

[Vodkaman]

Could bed PCV valve be the reason for this leakage?

[aw12345]

Just replace the seal, it happens. If I happen to have time today, I will upload some pages from the manual that deal with the timing belt and seal replacement

[Mozman68]

Failed to load a picture.
It says - upload folder is full.

You need to use a link from an external site like photobucket or Flickr. We don't host photos on our server.

[aw12345]

Here goes

[Vodkaman]

Thank you aw12345. Sorry, didn't mention that I have manual, and studied it thoroughly. The seal must be replaced, but main concern is the reason for this leakage. Bad ventilation of crankcase (bad PCV) could be one of them. What else should I check/change to be sure it won't happen again? If it just bad seal, I will be happy.

[sharpxmen]

is it leaking anywhere else? if not then it's just a bad seal. if the crank doesn't vent it leaks everywhere badly (valve cover, cap, pan, and all seals including the cam seals at the top) not just one place

[aw12345]

If you don't have a ton of oil in the air filter housing the pcv system is working
Seals go bad

[Vodkaman]

Good news! No other leaks, just front seal. But it leaks badly. Started as a small stain at the front of crank case pan, and in two days of light driving the whole bottom of the engine became dirty. I cleared the spot around damper and saw as oil leaks when engine was idling.

[Vodkaman]

Practical question: - must I remove alternator and power steering pump before removing timing belt middle cover? Manual says nothing, but these two are absent on the pictures.

[aw12345]

Take the cover bolts of and see if it comes off. Once you dig in to it, a lot of the stuff that needs to come off is self explanatory.

[Vodkaman]

That is true, and it proved to be more complicated than manual says. Just for future, you need to remove generator and power steering pump, as well as upper nut and stud of AC compressor (if installed), air filter box, and it's bracket. Besides two bolts at the front, you need to remove 3 bolts on the left side of the engine right under generator's bracket.
Now damper is off, but CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET doesn't want to come off. May be there are some tricks? 

[sharpxmen]

it won't come off by hand, you need a puller

Art posted the page from the manual

[Vodkaman]

I did use handmade tool (big washer with 3 holes). Just put more effort, and it moved.
When I finally got to the seal it was almost out of it's place. 5 mm between seal front surface and engine block cover.
Good news - it was easy to remove the seal (no special tools), bad news - still don't know the REASON why it came out.