V6 - damaged crank shaft oil seal casing

[bourne2bongo]

Hello all ... I wondered if anyone has tackled this problem before?

While investigating odd knocking noises from the engine (turned out to be a noisy tensioner pulley), local mechanic Graham from RD Motors removed the old crank shaft oil seal and found marks on the shaft where it spins inside the seal (just after 1 o'clock in the pic), and silicon when once a chunk of aluminium had been (just before 3 o'clock in pic).



It looks like someone has taken a swing with a hammer and screwdriver in the past - presumably trying to remove a stubborn oil seal

I'm wondering what the best course of action is to repair the damage. I think the crank oil seal is part of the oil pump: http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... no=.html#5.

If so, what's involved in removing the oil pump? I guess an engineer could repair the oil seal bore (aluminium solder and some machining?). Or maybe a replacement oil pump would do the job? I can't find much on the forum - or anywhere - about changing oil pumps, so not sure if this is a can of worms.

Any thought or ideas gratefully received!

[Bongolia]

Nasty!
The correct way would be to change that cover/pump. Whats more worrying is the mark on the crank. Damage there could be hard to deal with.
I cannot see it from the images. Can you get some more shots ,with the seal out, of the crank damage and a sideways of the case damage.
If there is a flange behind the seal there is a possibilty you can carry out a good bodge to the casing using an epoxy based product.
http://www.jb-weld.co.uk/metal-repair

Edit2
Looking at the image on a PC I can see the seal is already out.
It looks as if the flange the seal sits on is missing,is there anything left to support an epoxy fix if yes then that may well work.
Looking at the Lush project image it does look as though that case forms the body of the oil pump.
Maybe the best way forward would be to bite the bullet and get a secondhand pump from a breakers.
The crank damage really depends on whether the lip of the oil seal will behind the damage.

[Bongolia]

Edit 3 Re thinking that the seal should seal that area off anyway providing the outer edge (where the metal part of the seal meets the case) is not damaged to badly. The cranks the worry.

[rita]

Looking at the pic it would appear (unless it has been wiped) that the leak is actually at the damaged casing, afraid a new casing is the most dependable answer providing the shaft has not been damaged also.


Good Luck.

[bourne2bongo]

Thanks Rita and Bongolia.

A pic showing the damage to crank shaft end a bit more clearly (clockwise from 12 o'clock):



If we go down the route of replacing the oil pump (or just the case part?), any ideas what steps are needed to remove the old pump from the engine? And what seals / gaskets would need to be replaced? Anything else to watch for - I'm worried about what other damage could be caused to partially removed seals / gaskets etc.

And any recommendations on where to pick up an old oil pump would be very helpful ... I not finding much from a Google / eBay search .

[Bongolia]

Are you attempting this yourself?
If not I think you need to go with whatever your mex says really. Its difficult to call from the images.
I think your guy will know whats needed re the crank.
I do know that whoever took that oil seal out in the past needs re-educating.Anything in the service history?
It looks as though he has knocked a screwdriver or sommit down the crank to prize it out.
Bongo breakers for the pump? Some are listed on BF.

[bourne2bongo]

Not attempting this myself as van is still with RD Motors.

Just trying to get my head around what's involved and listen out for the experiences of others. It seems that oil pumps don't come out very often so any stories of the good/bad/ugly all appreciated.

Thanks again for the generous advice. An engineer will be taking a closed look at the crank shaft and case damage and on Monday, at the suggestion of the Graham from RDM - I'll post back here with his recommendation.