2.5L ('98-'01) Oil Leak

[Jay11]

1998 2.5 2WD 129k miles
Has an oil leak, front of the engine towards the bottom. It's not dripping but the area is caked with oil wetness and mud. UT vids led me to suspect crankshaft seal needs replaced. Problem is when I search for the part on RA, Amazon, AZ, etc. all are giving me different parts (as in the part itself, not just the part number). Heck I am so confused. Which is the correct part number? Should I also replace the camshaft seal? I will be replacing the radiator due to a leak, TStat, serp. belt, idler, tensioner. Thought with the rad out might as well take care of the oil leak.

 

[franklin2]

I just fell into a trap which may have caught you also. I looked up the timing cover seal, but found out they gave me the aux shaft seal. So that may be why you are getting different seal numbers for a "timing cover seal".

Of course all the rubber gets old on all the seals, you might as well change them all while you are in there.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Looks like a Timken 2955.

It's probably that or the housing that it mounts in, unless it's the O ring for the oil pump that's behind the aux shaft.

I didn't see a timing belt and tensioner in your list but would be worth doing while there

 

[Jay11]

Starting to tackle this. Got the Tstat housing out and here is a close up of the leak. Where is the source of the leak and what should I be ordering to get this leak fixed? Initially I thought leak was lower but this area here has more oil wetness.
Any ideas, suggestions even what to look at for confirmation.

@[B]scotts90ranger[/B]

Getting the entire kit including timing belt and tensioner, etc

 

[scotts90ranger]

If the oil leak is above the thermostat then the only real source is either the cam seal or the cam pulley bolt, both can be tackled easily while doing a timing belt, if you pull the cam pulley off the seal is right there and the bolt just needs some thread sealant (permatex has some good thread sealant, usually in a little thing by the register at autozone or whatever, it's plenty). After putting that back together just let it sit overnight and you should be good to go.

It's either that or the valve cover gasket, I would probably do the above before ripping things apart to do the valve cover gasket, but at this point it's probably leaking too....