Oil pan leaking at rear...

[lucr058]

I have recently changed the oil pan gasket as it was leaking fairly bad at the rear. At first I suspected the rear crank seal, but I have replaced that since I was doing a transaxle change over. So even after changing the rear crank seal, the leak persisted and than replaced the oil pan gasket.

As I begun the replacement, I cleaned the pan real good and fitted the new gasket. Just to check things out, I put a straight edge across the new seal and the oil pan when installed and realized that there is almost no seal contact to be made there.

So I installed the new seal with some make a gasket silicone as an addition just to make sure. I fired up the engine and I still have a leak in the same area, but much less than before.

I am not sure what year the engine is as it has been replaced, but I took it out of a 94 escort, but don't know if it was an original 1.9L to fit my 91 escort 1.9L. When I bought the new seal, I asked for one that would fit a 91 escort thinking that there were no difference in the oil pan design in those years, ie 91 to 95.

So has anyone else ever had that problem before and what solution have you found?

Thank you for your time,

Luc

[Davescort97]

If the crank bearings are worn excessively it will supersede a new crankshaft seal.

[lucr058]

Thank you for your reply. I have checked the crank carefully and it is all within limits. The new seal fits nice and tight. I have also taken great care to see where the leak came from, and it is coming from the rear face of the oil pan, the section that goes around the crank.

As soon as I installed the new oil pan seal with the make a gasket silicone, the leak slowed down lots. It is a fairly deep grouve into the oil pan for the gasket. Wish I had an other one to compare it to.

Maybe there is a different gasket size for different years??? I do not know hence why I thought I might ask here if anyone else had that proble before. I am also going to check the PCV valve carefully just in case.

Thanks,

Luc

[lucr058]

I just did some research on the net and found the following information which answered my own question. Good info anyway...

From 1986 to 02 sept 93, Ford Escort LX, 1.9L, oil pan gasket, FelPro # OS30536R

From 02 Oct 93 to 1996, Ford Escort LX, 1.9L, FelPro # OS30915R

So now I am going to be ordering a new gasket for the later years and will let you know what happens. Originally I went under the assumption that those engine would all be the same... Shame on me, lesson learned.

Luc

[Davescort97]

Glad you found the problem. I would have thought all the seals were the same. Most of the time all 2nd generation Escorts have the same part numbers. I wonder why they changed the seal? Maybe there is a TSB out about a problem with oil seals. That's the only reason I can think of to change within the same model years. Luc it's good of you to post us with the information that you have. Hopefully, it will help somebody else. Thanks. Dave

[lucr058]

Here is the conclusion to this little problem. In fact there is a major difference in gasket size and fitting between those years. I got a gasket for a 94 1.9L and its much bigger. So I put it on and the problem is solved. So for you guys out there, don't take it for granted they all are the same. It has been suggested to me that it might have to do with Ford when they bought out Mazda??? Don't know for sure.

As a point of interest, don't ever use "make a gasket silicon" material on your oil pan either. Tonight when I took out the oil pan, I found out that stuff got hard and broke apart. Some of this risidual stuff works its way to the oil pump intake and almost plugged it all up. Now I'm glad it leaked again and forced me to change the gasket again. So be careful with any of that make a gasket stuff.

Well I guess that I should work on that water pump leak now. When is it going to stop? Considering I am running for office in my town, I could use some time off...

Thanks for all your comments and good luck on your own projects,

Luc