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Thread: Zetec front oil seal, Mk2 Escort

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    Zetec front oil seal, Mk2 Escort

    We have fitted a rebuilt tuned and pre converted Zetec 2.0 to our Mk2 Escort, but the front crank oil seal was leaking pretty bad on first start up. I bought a Elring seal, and changed it. The old seal was damaged and folded back on itself, so I really thought it was fixed. But now the engine is back in, it is still weeping oil. I checked the crank wasn’t scored and was pretty careful to tap it in straight, so it’s really frustrating.
    The engine is coming back out next week, and I will take off the sump and inspect the pump and crank. I spotted one American blog that said there is a special tool to position the oil pump to centralise the seal, has anyone got any tips I can look into or try out to fix it. The sump is the cast retro Ford one, and I’m pretty sure that isn’t leaking, but will check.
    cheers.

    PS is a uprated oil pump, or billet geared pump worth fitting while it is out?

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    Re: Zetec front oil seal, Mk2 Escort

    Looks like the new oil seal that dad fitted with the engine in, has folded over slightly when he installed it, so i have fitted a new one again, and hopefully this one will seal. I had made a collar on my lathe to make sure the oil pump was centralised, but it looks like i didnt need to worry.

    Fingers crossed it will be oil tight when the motor is back in and running.

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    Thumbs down Re: Zetec front oil seal, Mk2 Escort

    Quote Originally Posted by mexetec View Post
    Looks like the new oil seal that dad fitted with the engine in, has folded over slightly when he installed it, so i have fitted a new one again, and hopefully this one will seal. I had made a collar on my lathe to make sure the oil pump was centralised, but it looks like i didnt need to worry.

    Fingers crossed it will be oil tight when the motor is back in and running.
    Nope, all back together, hours spent improving engine bay, radiator mount, engine bay wiring, and fitting group 4 throttle pedal to get the cables away from the carbs. First fire up, and its leaking as bad as before, worse in fact.

    So after two days of general sulking, and watching of mk2 rally videos, i have wound down enough to start taking it all apart again tomorrow night. This time the sump is coming off and the oil pump out. If I can get a new oil pump sorted, ill just fit that with a new oil seal. Im tempted to go for a genuine ford one this time. It is a shame as it was running nice, and the car was ready to take out for a decent run.

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    Re: Zetec front oil seal, Mk2 Escort

    Another update, and hopefully the last one. Engine back out, stripped sump and oil pump. The new seal was tapped in flush with the face of the oil pump, but once i took it off and looked at the inner lip of the seal through the oil pump, it looked like I had tapped the seal in too far. The lip of the seal was being held off the crank in three places due to the shape of the inner casting of the pump. I ordered and fitted a new oil pump and seal, and refitted the alloy retro ford sump with the correct alloy/rubber gasket and grey sealer on the front and rear lip. We refitted the motor today, and quickly ran it up without the radiator in the way. …….. No oil leaks, and nothing weeping from the sump, or the new oil pressure pipe tee piece. Result. So the oil seal needs to be a couple of mm proud of the face of the pump, to stop the issue, and not driven flush or fully home into the recess in the oil pump. I willl load up a photo of the pump, if i can figure it out how to.

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    Re: Zetec front oil seal, Mk2 Escort

    Another update. Gearbox and rear main seal started leaking (i didnt build any of this up). So gearbox removed and re gasketed plus lots of cleaning of threads and mating faces, also new bellhousing bolts, and thrust bearing.
    Rear main removed, no obvious problem, but crank seal surface again stained. So cleaned up and polished, new seal fitted, and now its leak free.

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    Mechanic runoutofrigos's Avatar

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    Re: Zetec front oil seal, Mk2 Escort

    Wow, you've not much luck there.

    Fair play with sticking with it. Now go and enjoy it

    Simon

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    Re: Zetec front oil seal, Mk2 Escort

    Damn double post!

    Simon
    Last edited by runoutofrigos; 23-12-2021 at 08:49.

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    World Champion Decade Plus User Pitstop's Avatar

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    Re: Zetec front oil seal, Mk2 Escort

    I had something similar years ago with a 1.25 Zetec in a Fiesta. After I'd changed it several times without success, I rebuilt it without fitting the timing belt cover or front pulley (using a socket to hold the front keyless timing belt gear in place). The leak turned out to be a loose main oil gallery plug at the front of the block. A quarter of a turn cured it!

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