1999 3L Rear Main Oil Leak

[stonwins]

Is it a common problem for the 3.0 Vulcan engine to have a rear main
oil leak? My '99 4x4 Ranger has 112K on it and I will be replacing the clutch,
master/slave cylinder and the main seal this month or next month.
I found out that the $100 plus for the main seal tool. Any idea in making one from snatch, sorry I mean sratch.

 

[pcollins]

why are you changing all of it? is anything actually bad?

 

[Big Jim M]

Before doing all that work make sure your PVC system is clean and working as designed... A dirty system can PUSH oil out the rear main seal!
Big JIm

 

[Earl43P]

I'd suspect valve covers or the oil pan gasket, but you should be able to tell what's leaking once you are in there. I wouldn't touch the rear main seal if it isn't leaking.

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232333&highlight=rear+main+seal Read post #9.

 

[stonwins]

Thanks for the replies all. I have replaced the valve cover gaskets and the PCV valve once. The oil leak seems to be always on the bottom part of the transmission bell housing next to the back of the engine. I have read it here before that this is a common problem for the 3L Vulcan. Since my Ranger has 112K on it now, I figured that it would
cheaper for me to replace the hydraulic clutch pieces while I have the tran out. Not like the older Ranger, the slave cylinder on this is inside the bell housing which I will have to remove it again if/when it needs one someday. The price I pay for the pieces now is much cheaper than having to separate the trans and motor again.

 

[Bigschwerm]

Sounds like you have a good solid plan.

 

[pcollins]

Thanks for the replies all. I have replaced the valve cover gaskets and the PCV valve once. The oil leak seems to be always on the bottom part of the transmission bell housing next to the back of the engine. I have read it here before that this is a common problem for the 3L Vulcan. Since my Ranger has 112K on it now, I figured that it would
cheaper for me to replace the hydraulic clutch pieces while I have the tran out. Not like the older Ranger, the slave cylinder on this is inside the bell housing which I will have to remove it again if/when it needs one someday. The price I pay for the pieces now is much cheaper than having to separate the trans and motor again.

oh, i just thought you were tearing it all apart just because. yes it is cheaper to change everything while you are in there. i know all about the internal slave, had to take my tranny out 3 times in 1 year to fix 5th gear, and 2 bad slaves.

just change the slave, which will come w/ a new throwout bearing, and then get a clutch kit from sachs. i'd say don't change the pilot bearing, but if your rear main is leaking its probably covered in oil and needs it.

 

[stonwins]

NAPA sells a master/slave cylinder kit for $200. I also intend to change the pilot at the same time. The tool to install a new main seal is more than $100. I googled this question and someone posted of making one from scratch with an 4" ABS pipe, a piece of metal for support and two metric 10mm bolts to push the seal back on the engine.
I understand that if the seal is not perfectly flat or straight on that it would leak again.
I think I'm pissing a lot of people that follow me on the road by smelling the oil that is burned on the exhaust pipe. Im a Ford guy and always has been. I just wish that Ford would address these small pesky problems. I put 226K on my '83 2wd Ranger with a 2.0L
Pinto engine that's why I decided to buy another Ranger. I also read that the 3.0L Vulcan would go 300K no problem.

 

[pcollins]

no need to change the master, believe me it is a real pain in the ass and they don't ever go bad.

 

[stonwins]

Is because of its location under dash or something else?

 

[pcollins]

that, and the pushrod doesn't come out, so you have to take the whole inner fender off just to make enough room to take it out of the fire wall. just don't push the clutch in while you have it disconnected, and the master will be fine.