i was reading some posts and they said i have to take out the seal housing in order to replace the seal. but i was looking at it and it also looks like i have to drop the pan. do i have to do that? can i replace it without taking the housing off? my oil pan looks pretty tight on there and i dont really wanna mess with it. thanks.

 

Those seals are enough of a pain with the seal housing off.. Theoretically you could get it out without taking the housing off, but if yours is anything like the ones I've had to do, I had to mutilate the seal pretty bad just to get it out with the seal housing off the engine.. Maybe someone might have an efficient in-car technique?? I'd just be afraid of scoring the crank trying to remove the seal..

 

anyone??????

i would like to replace this seal but would like to know if it can be done safely with the housing still bolted up. i know if i dont change it it'll start leaking soon after. thats just my damn luck. i thought this was gonna be a simple pry off/hammer in deal!

 

if you have to do it with the housing still installed on the engine use a seal puller and remove the seal and install the seal just like you would with the houseing out, other than needing a means to remove the seal it wouldn't be any differant to install. why are you so set on not removing the seal houseing?

 

i dont have a problem taking the housing out it's the pan that im afraid to move. i looked at the engine i have on the stand and it does look like the pan holds part of the seal housing. which would explain why it's not moving after i took out all the bolts and tried to pry it off. the pan is set on there tight with gasket and silicone and i'm afraid if i mess with it it's just gonna start leaking. hasn't leaked in like 2 years since i've owned the car.

EDIT: i posted a pic of the housing from my other motor and you can see there's a recessed part that the pan goes into sorta like on the timing cover.

 

you don't have to remove the pan to change the seal, even if you did the pan isn't any big deal to R&R.

 

to replace a 1 piece seal on the motor, I drill a smal hole (no larger than1/8) in the steel shell of the seal, might need more than 1 hole, then i thread a sheet metal screw into the hole, then take a couple of pry bars, on opposite sides of the screw, under the screw head, and apply pressure until the seal comes out

if you have a slide hammer that uses a sheet metal screw, that will work too

 

When I did mine I just loosened all the bolts on the pan, that gave me enough room to work.

 

i just pried it off with a screwdriver without taking the housing off. came out rather easily. i was just afraid i was gonna hit the crank or something. i did it after i tried it on the motor that's on the stand first.