Will my leaking main seal destroy the timing belt?

[gibbons]

Our 2004 has 103,000 miles on it. It was delivered 9 years ago. I haven't gotten around to changing the timing belt. "Do ya feel lucky, Punk? Well, do ya?" I was planning on getting to it within a few thousand miles.

My upper engine mount was loose as a goose, so I decided to change it. I had to take the top cowling off the motor, and decided to take a peek at the belt under the end piece. Yikes! I have a leaking main seal, that's letting oil sling down on the bottom timing pulley, which is slinging around. How often does this happen? Is it going to deteriorate the belt? Should I put a new belt on, or have the motor torn down for the seal first? Crap, this can't be good. Two pictures are the top pulleys, one is the inside of the top cowl showing how much has slung off. It's not gooey, it's dried up crusty. The other is in the bottom end by the leaking seal. It doesn't leak enough to drip on the ground, it just hits the bottom faring, spreads out, and dust soaks it up. By the way, how does the belt look in the spectrum of belt wear? Thanks for your insights and experience. It doesn't like my web hosted URL photos, so I had to upload from the camera. Please click the thumbnail for the gruesome details.

[billr99]

What kind of shape is your PVC system in? That might be more the issue than a bad seal. In any event, change the TB belt and rollers and while you are in there put a new crank seal on. Then sort your PVC and repair as necessary. Going to end up being way cheaper and less painful then having a weakened and worn TB belt letting go.

Good luck,

Bill

[JRL]

That's the FRONT CAM SEAL not a RMS which is on the other side and on the bottom
and yes, after this is fixed you need a new T belt and tensioners

[Astro14]

What kind of shape is your PVC system in? That might be more the issue than a bad seal. In any event, change the TB belt and rollers and while you are in there put a new crank seal on. Then sort your PVC and repair as necessary. Going to end up being way cheaper and less painful then having a weakened and worn TB belt letting go.

Good luck,

Bill

Exactly what I would say. The oily dust around the timing cover is bits of belt...the oil degrades the rubber. Fix the leak (it's a front main seal from your description), remove the cause (PCV likely), replace the damaged components...

[gibbons]

How hard is it to get to these seals, cam or main? When I think of mains, I think of removing the engine and splitting the bottom end to get at it. Rats...

So, a bad PCV allows an over pressurization, to help blow oil out? If it was bad, and replaced, would that possibly relieve the pressure and leak?

[Astro14]

I haven't done the main on this particular car...but from other experience, front mains are usually one piece, press fit. so, the timing cover and crank pulley would have to come off, access is best through right wheel well with wheel and fender liner removed...then you need the special tool (or a really big socket of the right size) to drive the new seal on squarely.

sometimes, the seal is still good, so if the source of overpressure is removed, then it starts doing its job again...but that's not always true...

A strategy then, would be to 1: check PCV. 2: if it's bad, replace all of it. 3: clean and see how front main seal holds up. 4: replace FMS if necessary...but if the PCV tests good, it's the seal itself and you're into the front of the engine...

And either way, I would replace a belt that has had oil exposure...they're not designed for it...since you're doing the belt, and at the mileage for the belt anyway, do the timing tensioner and idler so that they have the same life expectancy.

[JRL]

Rear main seal? Tranny has to come out for a $20 seal, 10 hours flat rate!

Front CAM seal is not nearly so bad a job, 2-3 hours, (including a new T belt), if you know what you're doing.
Breather box replacement (PCV system) is a 2+ hour job plus $150-$200 in parts if you have the right tools and (again) if you know what you're doing, if not 3-6 hours if you don't!

If it's totally plugged up including the tube that goes into the pan, then it takes longer as other work needs to be done

[Astro14]

Rear main seal? Tranny has to come out for a $20 seal, 10 hours flat rate!

Front CAM seal is not nearly so bad a job, 2-3 hours, (including a new T belt), if you know what you're doing.
Breather box replacement (PCV system) is a 2+ hour job plus $150-$200 in parts if you have the right tools and (again) if you know what you're doing, if not 3-6 hours if you don't!

If it's totally plugged up including the tube that goes into the pan, then it takes longer as other work needs to be done

From his description, this is the front main seal - a rare failure, but clearly not the rear main and clearly not a cam seal...it's going to be a bit more work than the cam seal since he needs to go in through the right wheel well...