Re: Crankshaft seal

[Simon Favre <simon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Marko,

There are two different seals used on the rear main. The side seals are
called "cigarette seals." The other one is a normal round type with a
lip that goes around the rear of the crank. You can do the cigarette
seals from under the car by removing only the sump. In order to do the 
round one, you have to take everything off the back of the motor, 
including  the flywheel. The best way to get the round one out is to screw 
some self-threading screws into the round part and pry on the screws. You 
can also use a slide hammer. Do NOT put anything between the crank and the
seal. You will scratch the sealing surface. The self-threading screw
idea also works on the cigarette seals. You don't really need to remove
the rear main bearing cap just to do the seals.

Since you don't have a clutch right behind the motor in an Alfetta,
there's less risk letting it leak for a while.

Marko Mataija wrote:

>Is it possible, on a 2000 ccm Alfa engine, to change the rear crankshaft
>seal without removing the engine from the car? Can it do any harm if I
>continue to drive the car with the rear seal leaking, if I check the oil
>frequently?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Marko from Croatia
>Alfetta GTV '81

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