gvr4111

I just replaced rear main seal on my 996tt motor and it seems new rear main seal sits deeper into the casing than my other original motor that came out of (I'm doing motor swap, other motor blew up.) I searched in manual but I couldn't find any info on how deep it should go. From quick search on the net result it said push it on till it stops so that's what I did. But I'm looking at the old motor and it is flush with casing lip and it doesn't go deep as this new seal on other motor. I don't have porsche special tool for this job and it took me a bit to get it on. I already put flywheel and clutch back on ready to put trans back on it so I can shove it back to my car. But I'd rather do it over if I didn't install seal correctly now rather than after motor is back in the car. Seal is cheap and I'll go get another one if I have to redo it. I'd rather do it right first time so I don't have to worried about it for while.

I know there are few people done this job on this site, I looked few thread but I couldn't find answer.

Any input will help.
thanks

rmc1148

May be a silly question but it is a new seal right? You have to make sure seal doesn't roll as you install there is a special tool. I use a socket to tap in and some people put the seal on separate socket to keep from rolling. I would get a oem seal.

gvr4111

seal is new. crank side is not rolled. It just sits deeper than my old motor. Seal height was exactly the same as old one I took out. I wish I had access to special tool but I don't.

rmc1148

I have not had a reason to do this on a flat six so I don't have first hand experience hopefully someone else will chime in.

Kevin

There is a tool that installs the rear main seal. Strongly recommend it. I have seen various installed depths. Typically you want it flush to 1mm below the engine case casting. Usually the factory seal is set flush. You can drive it past flush to 1mm, IF you have a slight wear groove or discoloration on the crankshaft surface.

gvr4111

Thanks Kevin. I think the seal bottomed out in the housing. I'm pretty sure it exceeds 1mm mark. Would it cause issue if exceeds 1mm mark? I wish I can get one but I'm not planning on doing this RMS again so it is really pointless to go buy one unless its pretty cheap.

Kevin

As long as you drove it in straight and not at a angle you should be fine. You should be able to see where the seal was riding on the crank. A lot of times folks that hammer it in with a block of wood or plastic tube will cause the lip seal spring to come off. You can't see it come off, and you get a massive oil leak on start up.

gvr4111

Hmmm, I hope spring didn't come off lol.