Rear main seal. Cost?

emx005 · Postby **emx005** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 8:56 am

Hi guys,

Got the 5's rego swapped over from NSW to QLD yesterday (finally)

While it was up the hoist for the safety inspection at the mechanics we noticed that the rear main seal has completely blown. The car hardly ever gets dríven so I hadn't noticed. He quoted around $600 to replace due to 8 hours labour taking the engine out.

Does that sound right to you?

Cheers

Mike

myredmx5 · Postby **myredmx5** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:07 am

If you are talking about the rear crankshaft seal, it could take that long to remove the engine, replace the seal and install the engine.

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:39 am

You usually just remove the gearbox and clutch assy..can get to the seal behind the flywheel..

Bit easier than an engine out job

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:57 am

yeah it is just like the costs of replacing a clutch + the $12 rear main seal. if it was completely blown, then it be leaking bad and he wouldn't have passed the RWC.

Basho · Postby **Basho** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:31 am

(OE) Crank rear oil seal for a 92 NA6. Pt No- MZBP05-11-312 = $65.00.

Fitting cost all up including fitting a new clutch kit (supplied by me) and machining the flywheel $567.25.

Gold Coast Mazda.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 12:00 pm

Arguably about right.

emx005 · Postby **emx005** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 1:15 pm

project.r.racing wrote:yeah it is just like the costs of replacing a clutch + the $12 rear main seal. if it was completely blown, then it be leaking bad and he wouldn't have passed the RWC.

It's almost completely gone. Oil sprayed backwards over the whole undercarriage.

He passed it because I booked in the replacement for Tuesday which was the earliest he could fit it in and my NSW rego expired on Monday.

Nice of him to do that for me.

Thanks all

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 6:12 pm

engine oil tends to just fall when a seal if worn. if you have fluid all over the chassis. then i'd be inclined to thing it is more of a gearbox seal issue.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:02 am

Transmission oil has a distinctive smell. A mechanic should be able to tell with certainty whether the oil came from the engine or the gearbox.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:11 am

Since the bell housing is completely sealed except a little 20mm x 20mm hole in the bottom of it. I cannot see the engine oil being thrown around everywhere. But if the gearbox seal on the driveshaft end went bang, well then you have a huge mess on your hands due to the rotational forces flicking fluids around.

I'm not saying i'm right. I'm just saying that a worn rear main seal shouldn't make that much mess under the car. Then again I'm the mechanic, and I don't have the car in front of me.