Crank Seal slight leak

Hi All

So I had a rebuild after the black death some months ago and since then my 93 TT JDm has had a slight oil leak. I'd just had my drive done so it needed sorting and after several visits to the mechanic its still there. It seems to be coming from the crank end where there is a seal of course where the crank leaves the block, and the crank has a slight groove which lets the oil come through very slightly. Everything I bought for the rebuild was new other than crank and cams which are like hens teeth to find now for this car and clearly this is something which happens to Supes as my old crank which I still have, has a larger groove in exactly the same place.

That said, the solution is to find a larger seal which will fit over the groove and also still fit the housing, has anyone had this problem and know what seal or what car/engine that would come from? You would save me and my mechanic many many hours if you did and I'd say a thousand hail marys for you in return.....

Chris Wilson does a high tension front crank seal. might be worth trying one? unless theres a bigger underlying problem.... did you change the oil pump?

Thanks for that Keron. And yes, new oil and water pumps. It was fitting the new oil pump that made the engine go, apparently the improved pressure made everything else fail!

This might be a start?

http://mkiv.com/tmp/front_crank_main_seal_new/index.html

This looks interesting too

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/7192119/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Pneumatics_And_Hydraulics_And_Power_Transmission-_-Power_Transmission_Rotary_Bearings%7CBearing_Units_Accessories-_-PRODUCT_GROUP&matchtype=&pla-393433400624&s_kwcid=AL!7457!3!243856786970!!!g!393433400624!&gclid=CMSn4qy21-ICFQKG1QodUQgAIg&gclsrc=aw.ds

This is one of the few annoyances with the 2JZGTE that's sort of unsolved/jury's out/there are multiple causes.

Grooved crank nose

Crank case pressure (some say true some say myth)

Oil Pump (too much oil bypass/leaking)

Poor installation

Seems like you have the first given the rest of the work done, but could be the last?

I'd love to know what goes on behind the seal in that gap oil flow wise. It not part of the pressurised system and so as I understand it the only oil the seal should see is leakage from the oil pump internals (which I think it's designed/inevitable to have?) Therefore as the oil pump wears more, so it leaks more and so the drain hole can't cope so well?

If the oil pump is worn then at high rpm's and high levels of wear the rate of oil forced in and the lack of available oil flow out, means that at times the oil fills the void and pressure builds and the seal is properly/forcefully 'popped' out. I say this as when this is reported the engine seems to dumps loads of its oil and my understanding is that even with no oil seal a good conditioned oil pump shouldn't leak like a sieve* (or at least not at a stupidly fast rate?) * can anyone confirm this.

One of mine has had a weeping seal for years now, I have done the seal (twice I think - questioning my installation skills!) and am preparing for an engine out, oil pump change and various other jobs that'll be so much easier once out, but this thread has made me nervous the weep might remain and hence I might try doing the seal one last time taking great care of the installation and driving it in square with a thoroughly degreased housing and lubed crank nose.

Cheers Scooter yes it is a groove all the way round the crank end which is causing the leak, and as both my old one and the newer recon one has it its clearly a weakness on GTEs. I will forward those links to the mechanic to see what he thinks, shame there is no UK supplier of those uprated seals but thanks so much for the info. I'm also waiting on CW to come back on his high performance ones so hopefully I will get there in the end. My drive will thank you!

Simple first thing to try - PCV valve. My non turbo crank seal was replaced and was spitting oil out a year later. Changed the PCV and its stopped