Finding a puddle of oil under your own truck is never ever an excellent sign, plus if it's arriving from the back from the engine, you're going to want a six. 7 cummins rear main seal install tool before you actually think about beginning the repair. There is nothing very as frustrating because spending an entire day pulling a heavy transmission plus flywheel, only to have the new seal leak five mins after you fire the particular engine back up. If you've spent any time focusing on these Cummins engines, you know these people are workhorses, but they can become incredibly picky whenever it comes in order to how that rear seal sits upon the crankshaft.
The reality is the rear main seal on a 6. 7 Cummins isn't like the old-school rubber seals a person might find upon an old Chevy small block. These types of are modern, Teflon-based (PTFE) seals that require a very specific installation process. With out the right tool, you're basically betting with your money and time. Let's talk regarding why this particular piece of hardware is a non-negotiable a part of your toolbox with this job.
The headache of the leaking rear main
In the event that you're seeing oil dripping through the examination plate of your transmission, it's usually 1 of two issues: the rear main seal or the back from the oil pan. Nine times out of 10, it's that rear main. On a 6. 7 Cummins, this seal provides a big job. It has to help keep the oil in the crankcase while the particular engine is vibrating, heating up, and rotating at thousands associated with RPMs.
The biggest issue with these seals is that they don't just "pop in. " They need to be seated at a very specific level, and they possess to go upon perfectly straight. In case the seal is definitely cocked a portion of a millimeter, it's going in order to leak. That's exactly where the 6. 7 cummins rear main seal install tool is needed. This takes the guesswork out of the equation by making sure the seal is pressed on equally across the whole circumference of the particular crankshaft.
Why you can't simply wing it
I've seen men try to make use of a hammer and a block of wooden, or even a PVC pipe, to tap these seals into place. While that may work on some older engines, it's a recipe with regard to disaster on the 6. 7 Cummins. These engines use a seal that will often includes a wear sleeve. The wear sleeve is usually a thin metal ring that matches over the crankshaft to provide the fresh surface regarding the seal to ride on.
Trying in order to install that put on sleeve and the particular seal simultaneously without having a dedicated drivers tool is almost impossible. You'll most likely find yourself distorting the sleeve or tearing the delicate Teflon lip of the particular seal. Once that will lip is nicked, it's toast. You won't know it's ruined until almost everything is bolted back again together as well as the pickup truck is idling in the driveway, that is the absolute most severe time for you to realize a person have to do the job over once again.
Precision matters with PTFE seals
Most contemporary six. 7 Cummins rear seals are made from PTFE. Unlike traditional plastic seals that need a bit of fat or oil throughout installation, PTFE closes must be installed dried out . In case you get oil within the sealing surface throughout the install, it won't seat correctly contrary to the crank, and it will leak almost immediately.
The six. 7 cummins rear main seal install tool can help you handle the particular seal without coming in contact with the inner lips excessive. It keeps the seal securely and guides this onto the crankshaft smoothly. This precision is what prevents the particular lip from flicking over or "rolling" since it slides onto the crank. If that lip proceeds, you're looking with a massive oil leak from 1.
Setting the proper depth
Another huge factor is the depth. The seal needs to sit down within a specific spot on the crankshaft flange. In case you press it in as well far, it might not seal against the right component of the crank. If you don't drive it in considerably enough, it may interfere with the flywheel. The professional-grade install tools have a built-in stop or a depth gauge. What this means is you just bolt the tool to the crank, convert the nut, plus it presses the particular seal to the particular precise factory-spec depth every single time. It's fundamentally "dummy-proof" in that will regard.
Selecting the right tool for your shop
When you start looking regarding a 6. 7 cummins rear main seal install tool , you'll notice a wide range associated with prices. You will find inexpensive versions on generic marketplaces, or you can go with the high end billet aluminum versions from reputable diesel-powered performance shops.
If you're a professional auto technician, you'll definitely would like the heavy-duty version. They are usually produced from high-grade aluminum or steel plus are designed in order to be taken hundreds associated with times. They won't flex, as well as the strings on the middle bolt won't strip out after 3 uses. For the DIYer who will be only likely to do this once every single 200, 000 mls, you might end up being tempted with the cheaper options. Make absolutely certain the particular reviews mention that will the depth is definitely accurate. A tool that sets the particular seal at the wrong depth is usually worse than getting no tool with all.
A quick walkthrough from the process
Utilizing the tool is really pretty satisfying as soon as you have the rear of the engine cleared. First, a person have to create sure the crankshaft is clinical-grade clean. Any old bits of seal or carbon buildup will wreck the new seal. We usually work with a bit of brake pedal cleaner and the lint-free rag.
Once the crank is prepped, you slide the seal onto the set up tool. Again, don't use lubrication it . After that, you bolt the base of the particular tool to the particular end from the crankshaft using the provided bolts (which generally go into the particular flywheel bolt holes). From there, you place the driver plate on the seal plus start tightening the particular main nut.
As you change the nut, the particular tool slowly plus evenly presses the seal and the put on sleeve onto the particular crank. You'll sense the resistance increase as it soles out against the stop. Once it stops, you know you're done. Back the tool off, unbolt the base, and you'll see a perfectly seated seal that looks such as it came straight from the manufacturer.
The particular "while you're within there" factor
Since you're currently using the 6. seven cummins rear main seal install tool plus have the transmitting out, it's the perfect time to look at a number of things. It's typically worth replacing the particular rear cover gasket at the same time. On the 6. 7, the particular rear cover is what the seal actually sits in. Sometimes the outflow isn't the seal itself, but the gasket behind that metal plate.
Also, have a look at your freeze plugs plus the "dog bone" oil gallery attaches on the back again of the block. It's a lot easier to repair a $5 plug now than it is to pull the transmission once again in six a few months because a coolant leak developed.
Final thoughts upon the investment
Buying a 6. 7 cummins rear main seal install tool may feel like the big expense regarding an one-time work, but think of it as insurance plan. The cost associated with the tool will be usually less than the price of an individual replacement seal, plus it's definitely less expensive than the labor to pull the transmission twice.
If a person really don't want to own a single forever, these tools have a great reselling value in the diesel community. You can often get one, use it with regard to your project, plus sell it on the forum or regional marketplace for 80% of what a person paid. Or, keep it inside your tool kit and be the hero for your buddies when their particular trucks start marking their territory within the driveway.
At the end of the day, working on a six. 7 Cummins is definitely all about getting the right gear. These engines are constructed to tight tolerances, plus they deserve better than a "close enough" installation. Using the proper tool ensures your pickup truck stays on typically the road and the oil stays inside the motor where it goes. It's one of those jobs where the right equipment makes all the distinction between an effective Weekend afternoon and a week-long nightmare.