Engine - Oil Leak at the Rear Main Seal and/or T Joint
FILE IN SECTION: 6 - EngineBULLETIN NO.: 57-61-11
DATE: May, 1995
SUBJECT:
Service Procedure for Repair of Engine Oil Leak at the Rear Main Seal and/or "T" Joint Face
MODELS:
1993 Cadillac Allante
1993-95 Cadillac Eldorado, Seville
1994-95 Cadillac Concours
1995 Oldsmobile Aurora
with 4.6L Northstar V8 Engine or 4.0L V8 Engine (VINs 9, Y, C - RPOs L37, LD8, L47)
This bulletin provides information for repairing an engine oil leak that is present at the rear main seal area of the engine. A leak in this area may be caused by a damaged or mispositioned rear main seal and/or a leak at the "T" joint of the upper to lower crankcase. The "T" joint is the surface at which the rear main seal and upper/lower crankcase split line meet.
Rear Main Seal/Upper Crankcase to Lower Crankcase Joint Leak
If inspection of the rear main seal and crankcase reveals that the leak is present at the "T" joint face or split line at the upper/lower crankcase, perform the following procedure.
1. Remove the transmission assembly as described in Section 7A of the appropriate Service Manual.
2. Remove the flywheel and reinforcement.
3. Check the rear main seal to see if it is mispositioned. If it is, remove the rear main seal by drilling a 1/8" hole in the metal body and removing with a slide hammer.
4. Thoroughly clean the upper/lower crankcase seam with disc brake cleaner and dry the surface.
Notice:
The disc brake cleaning solvent must be of the aerosol type and must not leave any residue which would affect the silicone rubber sealant and its ability to cure.
5. Place a bead of GM RTV Silicone Rubber Sealant, P/N 12345739, on the split line surface.
6. Lubricate the rear main seal sealing lips with engine oil and slide the seal over the arbor of seal installer J 38817. The garter spring must face in toward the crankcase. A properly installed seal should be seated 0.3 mm below the surface of the block face around the entire seal (Figure 1).
7. Thread seal installer J 38817 into crankcase flange and install seal by turning handle until tool bottoms against crankcase.
8. Install flywheel and reinforcement.
9. Install the transmission assembly as described in Section 7A of the appropriate Service Manual.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:
Labor Operation Labor Time
J1120 5.6 hrs