OK, a few questions.

Which would be the easier way to fix my leaking rear main seal? Pulling the engine or dropping the tranny? I'm thinking dropping the tranny would be much easier.

Also, how much is a replacement rear main? '86 4runner

thanks!!

 

Before you drop it, have you heard of that stuff in a can by Solder?

Lots of automotive stores carry it, and its been around for well over 25 years.

It softens up the rope which most rear main seals are made out of, and sometimes it works.

 

I want to do it right, I'm not bashing your idea.. I'd just rather get the job done the right way. I would feel much more secure and comfortable about it.

 

Dropping the tranny seems to make more since to me. Pulling the engine would involve trying to keep track of about 8 billion vaccum lines and trying to reconnect them all later.

 

Wtf is a rope seal??

Pull the trans, its the only way to do it. Nobody would suggest otherwise. Get the toyota seal. Cant be more than 35 bucks. Automatic or Manual? Come to think of it..... Id hate to tackle either one of these in my driveway.


Good luck.

 

Corey, whats this stuff in a can??

It must be like BARR's Stop Leak???


Hey Jay,

I guess it would be more labor intensive with an Automatic huh?? How many hours does the dealer charge for replacing the rear main?

Also,
What makes the toyota seal so special? I have a 1995 4runner (3.0) with 75k on it and the darn seal has failed.
What a nuisance.... I have 3 other toyotas (4cyl) with 102k,144k,and 180k and none of them leak oil!

My driveway is becomming a disgrace!

Mike

 

I guess Toyota does not use a rope seal?
I am use to the old days being an old
Growing up with Chevy 327s in my blood they often would have the rear main seal go out, and my dad back then told me about the stuff.

It basically softens the seal up and lets it expand, and seal again.
I know people have used it and had success, but if Toyota's seal is not the same material, then it won't work.

No, it is not made by Barrs, and it's not the same as their Stop Leak.
Any good automotive store that has been around since the 50s or 60s will know about this product.

 

Hey guys,

I've noticed the last few times that I have been under my rig that I have a drop or so of oil hanging at the very front tip of the transmission bellhousing. It isn't really much at all - just a drop every time I am under there. Anyway, I was never really too concerned about it, but now that this topic came up, I got to wondering....could mine possibly be a rear main seal leak? I will check the valve cover gaskets to see, and also check to see if I can pinpoint a little better where it may be coming from. Anyway, just thought I would check with y'all. Thanks for the info fellas-

CTB

 

Hey CTB,


Thats where my leak is also....

I believe its the rear main in my case because the oil doesn't appear to be coming from anywhere else....


Woe are we..... Oil spots on drive way look bad.....


I think I am gonna tape a rag under there and change it monthly.......


Mike:rolleyes:

 

Dropping the transmission is the way to go. Renting a good transmission jack will help out a ton as well if you don't own one or know someone who has one. There's a lot less stuff to disconnect from the transmission than from the engine, providing for a lot less use of aspirin later on.

Once again-- auto or manual?

Good luck!

 

Im not sure what the labor charge is off hand....id guess 6-8 hours for a manual, and 7-9 for a automatic.

As far as "whats so special about the toyota seal", well really nothing I suppose. Other than the fact that you know it fits properly. Id hate to have to do the job once, let alone twice or more.

 

I know mine is rear main cuz my dad told me so. He's been a mechanic for over 35 years now. My valve cover gaskets are toast too.

 

Hey Mattimus,


When I bought my 87 runner 22re with 119k on in...

The valve cover had worked itself loose and thats why I had an oil leak.

Many times though, the front and rear "moons" leak...

Sometimes I wish my 1995 had the trusty, gas saving, good ole 22re!!!!

Maybe someday, I will knock it out 30 over and cam it up.....

I love what you do for me 22 R E!!!!!

Mike

 

The stuff is called Bearin Seal made by Solder Seal. My rear main seal also leaks on my Runner.I add this stuff every other oil.The trick to use this stuff is after you add it to the engine drive around for 30mins or more. My mech swear by this stuff and so do i cause it really works.

 

That be it

I am glad that we now have a real case scenario of someone here who is using it, and that it works.

Yes, that stuff has been around for years (yellow can I think?) and I have heard of how it really works.

If my rear main seal ever starts to dribble, I will get some.
Right now, the rig doesn't drip a drop of any fluid.

 

I would personally replace the valve cover gasket, half moons, and grommets first. Clean it up real good with a power washer, and see if it still leaks. Those half moons really dump when they go out, and make a trail all over your tranny.

 

I went out and looked under my rig today. The drip doesn't come from very high up on the tranny bell housing. It is really hard to tell where it is originating from. Who knows...I'm not sure what I am going to do.

 

where are these damn half moons?

 

Hes refering to the 22R 4cyl engine. There are two half-moon shaped rubber grommets that fill the area under the valve cover from where the cam journal maching was done when the cylinder head was born. Youll find one on the front of the engine , and another one out of sight on the back side. Over time these half-moon grommets become very hard and brittle and the rubber looses its resilience, therefore not doing its job of sealing that opening. The oil would run down the back side of the engine and seep its way into the bellhousing and then out again at the bottom, simulating a leaking rear main oil seal.

Its sound advice.

 

Makes sense, I'll mention that to my dad and have him check it out. I just noticed this though, I have fresh oil leaking all over my xfer case..!! it's running on the bottom.