Hi everyone,

The manual calls for "Retinax LX grease" - are there any alternatives that are common in the US (particularly in California where everything is illegal).

Also, how would I know whether or not the crankshaft is worn enough that I should buy and install a sleeve for it? My vehicle is a 2003 4.6 D2 with about 150,000 miles (although I'm not sure if the engine is the original since it's within the faulty oil pump VIN range). If I need to install the sleeve, should I use blue Loctite to cement it in? I'm installing a new front cover and I put a new front oil seal (crankshaft seal) in it from a recommended brand (Corteco since someone here said I should use that make rather than the one that the front cover came with).

Any tips to remove/retorque the harmonic balancer? I'm planning to use a block of wood (possibly with the belt wrapped around a few other pulleys, but water pump, AC compressor, power steering and a few others are removed already) to remove it and I guess I'll do the same, but with a 1/2" torque wrench instead of the breaker bar to tighten it. Does it have to be torqued back to 200 lb-ft or is it OK if it's a bit less?

I got the sump off today and the oil filter adapter and the pickup pipe, so I'm making some progress here. I've been told that I don't need to install the elbow that connects the oil filter to the front cover - is there any other function the "filter head" does other than extend the reach of the oil filter so it's maybe slightly easier to access? It seems that it'll be accessible without using it.

Thank you











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Any grease is fine, post a pic of your harm balancer when you get it off and we will see.

 

Please see the images I’ve taken from views all around. I was told that I might need to install a sleeve and that this view would help determine if that’s necessary. I have the sleeve already in case I need to do this. Can anyone tell me if it looks necessary? The front cover is being replaced and I put a new Corteco seal in it. I think the old one might’ve leaked some oil out of that seal. I’ve also done the PCV mod in this engine.

If I need to install the sleeve, would you use black high oil resistance silicone or blue loctite?

Thank you

 

There is a pretty significant groove in that one, if you have the speedy sleeve I would use it. Clean the oil residue off of your existing one. Put the balancer in the freezer and the sleeve in the oven, should drop right on. Speedi sleeve is designed to cut the flange off, but I put the flange to the balance side and don't bother with cutting it off. You want the sleeve centered on the existing groove.

 

Thanks, so I want the flange to get to this point on the harmonic damper shaft? You don’t use any loctite or silicone here? About how long and hot should I cook the sleeve? Is it bad to just use the tool and hammer it on cold if it cools down and the damper warms up by the time I get the parts together? Also, can the spacer that’s on the damper between the bolt be put on either way or is the direction specific? It fell off while pulling the damper off and I’m not sure exactly which way it was on although it has a shiny mark around the hole through it on one side - I'm guessing that side faces the crank.

 

Maybe this image is better. Can anyone tell me about how far down the flange on the sleeve should go using these arrows? Just so I have some idea… I figure it’ll push itself down further as the crank bolt is tightened, but only if I don’t use loctite or silicone on the groove where the sleeve will go, so I’m guessing I don’t want to put sealant on there.

 

Maybe this image is better. Is it more important to cover the shiny area closest to the pulley or the area closest to the crankshaft bolt? I’m not sure how much area the sleeve will cover, but I’ll try to take a look and estimate what can be done, hoping it’ll cover all of the wear marks. I’m afraid to push the sleeve on too far if the worn area closest to the bolt is the most critical.

 

I did this last summer. If you don't cut the sleeve, at least make sure to put the dust seal on first because it won't fit if you put it on after. I'd just cut the sleeve. Here some pics I took of the process.

And just to offer another perspective, I didn't freeze/bake anything. Using the "tool" it comes with, it slid on really well.



If you don't cut the sleeve...

...the dust shield won't fit.







All done.

 

Wow, thanks for sharing all of this! That looks like it turned out really well. Was it leaking before and now it’s under control? You shined it up nicely. I’m wondering if all that black grime is oil that’s leaked out. Mine is like that. What did you use to polish the metal? I have simple green, diesel, gas and scotch brite pads on hand for this.

The sleeve guide says to use metal powdered epoxy for a deep gouge - not sure if mine qualifies for that? It also says use a non-hardening sealant otherwise, guessing like silicone. It’s contradictory and confusing because it also says no adhesive is required if you measure the diameter in three places and the average is within range for the sleeve - couldn’t find that “range” data. It also says not to heat the part, but I like hearing everyone’s methods - lots of differing opinions. Sometimes one method doesn’t work for me, so I’ll need to try something else and sometimes what works is a combination of all sorts of things, including figuring out problems myself. I’m unsure about the sealant on the sleeve though and would like to figure that out before starting. I can’t tell if it’s worn deeply enough to need that metal epoxy or even a “non-hardening” sealant.

It looks like the sleeve covers the worn area pretty well, so hopefully mine will work. I’ll probably put the dust cover on first in case I have problems there. Thanks for warning me. I think I pushed the new oil seal into the front cover as far as it would go, but I think that’s what’s I was supposed to do. It has silicone to help seal it too - I used a bit on the outside of the seal or in the groove it has when installing it (can’t remember exactly). I’ll try to do what you’ve done and hopefully it goes well! I’ll cut that flange off after I get the sleeve in place like you did.

Was the rubber on your pulley cracking? Mine is…

Did your sleeve resolve any leaking issues in that area?

 

I took a good look at the harmonic damper today and I’m wondering how to get that dust shield off without bending or breaking it. I have simple green, but I’m not sure if that’ll do it or if I need to spray it with penetrating spray. The build-up seems to be holding it on pretty well. I could put it in a bag and soak it in SG for a bit, but hope the rubber won’t get trashed as it’s already cracking.

The grooves on mine are definitely there, but not sure if I want to mess with epoxy. I think I might use a thin smear of black silicone to try to seal anywhere the seal could have a gap in it, then tap the sleeve onto it. I’ll try removing the flange as well so I can be sure the sleeve is covering both shiny grooves (the one closer to the pulley and the one furthest from it). It looks like the sleeve is exactly the depth of the seal, so I’ll really have to get it right. I’m not sure if one side of the worn areas are more important to cover, but I’m guessing it’s the part further from the pulley to block oil from coming out there. Hopefully the seal I installed on the new front cover meets up with the sleeve alright… Lots to worry about here.