Community Forums

ftodaro · 07-30-2017, 07:36 PM

I have a 2001 3126, I have owned it for 4 years and put 11,000 miles on it, for a total of 45,000 miles. All has been well and all of a sudden it has started to leak oil out of the front main seal ( rear of the coach) i can see fresh oil coming down from the behind the harmonic balancer. Its strange as it has all of a sudden started to drip and wet on the underside.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this happen, and if this seal can be replaced by taking off the balancer and pulling the seal like h ave seen done on some car motors?

twinboat · 07-30-2017, 07:54 PM

Recent oil change ? Overfilled ?

Checked breather on valve cover for restriction ? Crankcase pressure will push oil out seals.

dc8cappie · 07-31-2017, 08:36 AM

Had the exact same problem with my C-7 with 50,000 miles. The shop pulled the cooling pack to do the repair. While it was out I paid extra (EW for leaking front maim) had them separated and cleaned. Drive from Las Vegas, Tonopah, Fallon then I-80 and I-5 to Junction City Oregon never saw a temp higher then 195*. Worth the extra expense while it was out. I have an oil catch jar but I'll change to a hard tube when I get home.

Rkesselus · 07-31-2017, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc8cappie

Had the exact same problem with my C-7 with 50,000 miles. The shop pulled the cooling pack to do the repair. While it was out I paid extra (EW for leaking front maim) had them separated and cleaned. Drive from Las Vegas, Tonopah, Fallon then I-80 and I-5 to Junction City Oregon never saw a temp higher then 195*. Worth the extra expense while it was out. I have an oil catch jar but I'll change to a hard tube when I get home.

Could you expand a little on an"oil catch jar" and a "hard tube" Thanks Richard

ftodaro · 08-02-2017, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Recent oil change ? Overfilled ?

Checked breather on valve cover for restriction ? Crankcase pressure will push oil out seals.

I will do, i was thinking the same thing, as it did not leak the first of the month when i used it last, Going to be using it this weekend, so i will see if its venting. I have extended the slobber tube with catch bottle so easy to see if its breathing. I know its not over full, I did just change the oil but only put 20 Qts in it and after use its showing 1/2 qt low.

I will report back.

from what i see below i gather that it is possible to just replace the front main without a total rebuild, that would be the last option, but i think i may have a blockage.

ftodaro · 08-03-2017, 04:48 AM

I do have one other question, before I get to it, regarding the breather on the top of the valve cover, is that screwed in or a press fit? Also can i clean it with solvent?
Thanks.

dc8cappie · 08-03-2017, 08:04 AM

Sorry for the delay traveling towards home in Florida.

Oil catch jar in my case is a peanut butter jar. You cut a hole in the lid so it fits the breather tube. Slip it on the breather tube and secure it with a hose clamp below the lid. The jar itself you drill several holes around the upper part for air to escape. In the bottom of the jar add a catch medium, in my case I used steel wool. Now periodically you unscrew the jar and dump the oil it catches and reattach. You now have an OCJ.

Happy travels.

ftodaro · 08-14-2017, 06:58 PM

After some investigation, I am bringing my coach into the shop tomorrow for repair of the front main seal. I considered doing this work myself, but in light of a time crunch for me and not having time to fix any mistake i might have made, i am taking it to a local repair shop, Not a dealer to get it fixed. They have a good reputation and reasonable labor rates.

While we are in there i am going to replace the belts, hoses, filters, thermostats. and anything else that does not look up to spec. I posted in another thread that i found a new OEM radiator for 800.00 vs the 3100.00 price quoted by a dealer.

One of the reasons i am moving quickly, before a planned trip in the beginning of September to the Smokey mountains is the speed of the advance of the leak. In early July when i was under it last, all was dry then the end of the month after a weekend trip is was leaving two 50 cent size drops on the driveway sitting for a hr or so.

I was not losing any oil on the dip stick but who knows how fast it could accelerate.

I will be good till the next issue comes.

swampdog2 · 08-14-2017, 07:10 PM

I will bet all my money on the oil cooler Gasket leaking not the main seal!
I have fixed 2- 3126 cats with the same problem oil will run right down around the balancer and make you think it's main seal .Wash the engine real good and then look ! This is not an easy fix lots of stuff got to come off to get to it , Exhaust , Turbo, and all the piping for the air filter , and after the air filter plumbing Is put back on make double sure there are no leaks so as not to DUST the engine . figure 2000 to hire it done

NathanJS · 08-14-2017, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swampdog

and after the air filter plumbing Is put back on make double sure there are no leaks so as not to DUST the engine . figure 2000 to hire it done

How does one go about checking for leaks after replacing the air filter? I just did mine and stressed a little about that after I did the job. I made sure it was all the way back over the lip and clamped down to spec but is there anything else?

ftodaro · 08-16-2017, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swampdog

I will bet all my money on the oil cooler Gasket leaking not the main seal!
I have fixed 2- 3126 cats with the same problem oil will run right down around the balancer and make you think it's main seal .Wash the engine real good and then look ! This is not an easy fix lots of stuff got to come off to get to it , Exhaust , Turbo, and all the piping for the air filter , and after the air filter plumbing Is put back on make double sure there are no leaks so as not to DUST the engine . figure 2000 to hire it done

If that is the problem, will it be obvious when they get in there? I have directed them to replace the Front Main.

twinboat · 08-16-2017, 07:39 AM

You should let the shop confirm your diagnoses, without suggesting it, or let them point out another diagnoises of any problem.

If you tell them you need a crank seal, some unscrupulous shops will give you one, whether you needed it or not and then tell you that you need other work, to fix the problem.

Trust but confirm.

tropical36 · 08-20-2017, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Recent oil change ? Overfilled ?

Checked breather on valve cover for restriction ? Crankcase pressure will push oil out seals.

My first thoughts, exactly...

ftodaro · 08-22-2017, 06:45 PM

I did check the breather, and it was clean and clear. They are still working on it, but the mechanic told me that he had another customer with a Cat that all of a sudden it started leaking out the front main. I had the oil changed in July all was good a few weeks later it started leaking. When the work is done i will write an update of what they found and what they did.