Thread: Front Oil Seal

Within the next couple of weeks I'm gonna change the front oil seal on my 92 SE-R. It is time. It leaks and leaked for years on the old owner. He just let it leak and kept adding oil. I have the seal. Bought a pulley puller today. I have an older blown SR20 in my shop that yank parts from. I took the crank pulley off of it today to replace on the one I'm taking off. Its in better shape, newer and fewer miles. Back in 01, 02 the blown motor was rebuilt. When I went to pull the oil seal from it (for kicks and giggles) I noticed orange gasket maker (see pic)on it. First thing came to mind was the FSM doesn't mention doing that at all when putting in the seal. It just says coat it in oil, tap back in with socket. Just wanting to get ideas from you all that have done this and if you added a gasket maker to the seal or just went by the FSM. Which is what I was gonna do until I ran across this today. Maybe done for extra protection I guess.
Thanks Guys!

Never used gasket maker for anything like this. If you notice, it didn't even apply where it counts, because that's a really good slip-fit they have going on there. No need. Don't do it.

I had no plan on doing this! I was like.... :O!!! what the.... So do I need to soak the new seal in oil or just do as I do with the rubber part of a new oil filter when changing oil and just rub oil on it and tap it in? To soak or not to soak? And I know the seal goes in a certain way. I'll look that up again before I install.

I think you will be asking for trouble if you soak the seal. You will create an oil film on the outside diameter which could interfere with the friction seal between the OD and the bore. The OD should go in dry, then rub a little oil on the seal surface before you put the pulley on.

So pretty much, tap it in dry. Once in, rub a little oil on it to have between it and the crank pulley. The FSM is vague when it comes to where/how you oil the seal. I know I DON"T want to re-do it.
I plan on taking pics as I go for any future how to's. I didn't have much luck this time searching this subject. Thanks Old Guy & Ben!

I like to put them in dry for sure. Make sure those mating surfaces are super clean. I've not heard of putting oil anywhere on these things. Maybe a little on the inner diameter? Maybe a little on the outside face, okay.

Do not soak it. WTF?

Well I can't remember where I saw something about soaking seals. That is the reason I brought that up. Like I said, I don't want to re-do any of this. I'm quite excited about doing the job!

i used a little bit of silicone lube on the lip of the pulley just do it doesnt rip the seal if it gets kinked or pinched going in, thats just my 2 cents but definatly make sure that the area is clean before putting it on. done it to hundreds of seals (in general axle, crank, cam ect ect) and really never had any problems, its all about how u tap it when its going in, sometimes it will jam and slightly bend and cause a leak, rubber might break, mating surface might have a gouge or sheered metal on it. ect ect. just take ur time when installing it thats it. try it dry if its to tough then use a dab of ky i mean oil or vaseline i mean silicone and pray the for the best.