Crankshaft seals — replacement (VW Lt 28)

197. Both front and rear crankshaft oil seals can be replaced with the engine in the vehicle. Oil seals must be replaced, regardless of their condition, at every engine overhaul.

198. The following is the procedure for replacing the seals on an engine that is on a vehicle (on a removed engine it is the same).

199. In order to get to the front oil seal, you need to remove the vibration damper and the timing belt sprocket located on the crankshaft.

200. Remove the old oil seal, being careful not to damage the oil pump housing.

201. Coat the new oil seal with clean engine oil.

202. Wrap the end of the crankshaft where the flange is located with adhesive tape to avoid damaging the lip of the new oil seal.

203. The seal is installed with the closed surface facing outward.

204. Install the oil seal without distortion onto the end of the crankshaft and drive it onto the shaft.

205. If the seal becomes distorted during driving, it will most likely be damaged and must be replaced.

206. After the oil seal is positioned on the shaft, a press should be made from a suitable head, socket wrench and crankshaft pulley bolt and the oil seal should be pressed into place into the oil pump housing.

207. Install the removed parts in place.

208. The rear crankshaft oil seal is located in a housing that is bolted to the rear surface of the cylinder block (see photo).





209. To get to the rear oil seal, you need to remove the gearbox, clutch housing, clutch itself and flywheel.

210. The oil seal can be removed without removing its housing, however, in the event of an engine overhaul, the rear oil seal housing is still removed in order to remove the crankshaft.

211. Remove the old oil seal, being careful not to damage its housing.

212. Coat the new oil seal with clean engine oil.

213. The seal is installed with the closed surface facing outward.

214. Carefully install the seal into its housing and drive it into place by tapping it evenly along the edges with a suitable punch.

215. If the oil seal housing is crushed, install a new gasket on the cylinder block at the location where the oil seal housing is installed (see photo).



216. Install the oil seal housing onto the crankshaft flange and onto the 2 mounting pins (see photo).




217. Install the mounting bolts and tighten them to the specified torque.

218. Install the flywheel, clutch, clutch housing and gearbox.

Note: If the oil seal is being replaced with the engine still in the vehicle, there is no need to remove the oil pan. Just remember the two oil pan mounting bolts that go into the oil seal housing.