Rear main seal? 308 QV

I think my rear main is leaking. Went for a long drive 1.5 hours on the freeway, parked it and came out the next day to find oil on the ground. Since I can't quite tell where it is coming from I wonder if it's my rear main. Got oil on the frame and on the bottom of distributor caps. The oil on the caps is really dirty as if it might have clutch dust in it.

What do you think?

 

Is it gear oil, or engine oil?

Either way, if you are replacing seals, you might as well do both. As far as rear main seals are concerned, this is a relatively easier one to deal with since just the bell housing has to come out.

 

I don't know if it is gear or engine oil. I suppose it is engine oil because it is a little dirty.

 

Not sure if the 308QV has an inspection plate cover like the 308 2V does - this would allow you to view inside the bell housing and see if oil is being thrown around from the rear main seal......

 

Sure its not camshaft oil seals?

Suggest clean it up as best you can & then try & figure out where it's coming from.

 

Had the camshaft seals replaced about a year ago, but I guess they could be leaking again.

 

Very easily sadly - they are not easy to get right from what I know.

 

Ok, looks like it is the rear crankshaft seal. Consideringt replacing it myself anyone got suggestions or instructions?

I suppose I'll replace the clutch disc while I'm in there. Been 4 years on my timing belts so doing all this sounds like a good winter project.

 

Chris, the rear main seal is quite easy (he says with a hoist and full tool kit ) and should only take a couple of hours , you really need to be careful putting the new seal in as I found someone had put my car back together before I bought it and had used a nail punch to put the seal in with

Needless to say this was the reason mine was leaking, cost a whole $30 and 2-3 hours to do

 

What do you mean both? You mean both the engine and the transmission? And what about the clutch?

 

It lloks like I am going to attempt changing seal/seals myself. Anyone got step by step instructions or know of any posted on here?

 

Might as well do everything while you're in there, clutch, TO bearing, rear main, gear oil, and see if your flywheel need resurfacing as this is the best time to do it. Also make sure you have the transfer gear NUT socket as it is a special one.

 

I don't have instructions, but I have plenty of pics of the teardown - you are welcome to look.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moseley_ferrari/sets/72157602899523865/

It does require a ring nut tool or two. I made mine. You can buy them at Baum or I know FerrParts has a whole box or two of them upstairs that they have yet to inventory.

Rick

 

Thanks for the pics. I think I'm gettin ready to attempt this now that there is 7" of snow here, spring is in the air.

Is this the seal right here (the red)?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Yes.

 

After replacing my rear main seal I discovered that it is my camshaft seal leaking (I did need a clutch anyhow).

It is leaking right into my distributor cap. How difficult is it to replace that seal?

 

If you can do a clutch, you are more than capable of replacing those seals.

 

Check all of those nuts. On a buddie's car, I helped him change that seal, and all of those case nuts were quite loose. I think the seal was probably fine. What a hobby