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Rear oil leak

Mike Szadaj

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440, fresh rebuild. With the engine at a 45' angle, getting ready to put it in, after a few minutes oil started seeping in the rear. Is this normal?
 
No. Stop and find where the oil is coming from. Start at the top and work your way down.
 
Yeah, what Dajkzo said.... it is MUCH easier to fix that leak before the engine gets installed. The first places I'd look are the valve covers & the rear main seal.
 
Don't forget to check the freeze plug in the back of the cam bore.
 
And gallery plugs. I speak from 8 hours of remove tighten and return engine to car.
 
440, fresh rebuild. With the engine at a 45' angle, getting ready to put it in, after a few minutes oil started seeping in the rear. Is this normal?
rear main is likely not installed right
 
Could be the pan gasket too. Think simple, see where it's coming from.

I've mentioned it before about the rear seal retainer bolts need to be filled with sealant before placing the pan gasket over them.
 
Well if it is indeed the rear main seal you're in for an adventure. Be glad you caught it before getting the engine installed..lots of opinions on which retainer to use, which seal, side seals or RTV etc etc..the main thing is the technique. Do it right and any parts will probably work. Here's my recent repair if you want to give it a read. (Post #22 has a recap of what I did)
https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/replacing-rbs-rear-main.173663/
 
Plug the breather. Air up the pcv inlet with 3-5 psi. Spray some soapy water on it and look where its bubbling. Guaranteed to pin point the leak.
Doug
 
I think you meant "Top Right" of the Retainer itself right ?
in which case if Oil is NOT coming out around the Crank Seal itself..... you may be OK to just reseal around the Retainer itself using the Right Stuff(super silicon) without removing/disturbing the Retainer ?

Do this:
HANG the Engine so that the rear main is completely submerged in Oil.... and wait/watch with a flashlight to verify where the Oil is leaking from.
If it is coming out around the Crank itself ?.... that's the Rear Main Seal, you're screwed and going to have to remove the Pan to remove the Retainer & Seal.
But,
if the Oil is NOT coming from the Crank seal ? and it is in fact just leaking around the Seal Retainer itself ? You are probably fine to clean it really well with Brake Clean/Dry.... and apply the "Right Stuff".
Let it dry.... then re-hang the Engine and make sure it's fixed BEFORE installing the Engine.
 
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