Hello fellow knuckle draggers,

I am inching closer to completing to the reassembly of my HG.

Today I am popping off my oil pan gasket and front cover to address an oil leak.

Main Question:

My original plan was to scope out the Cruciform Seal and verify if they are leaking. Should I replace if I don’t know the age and have always noticed a leak between the pan and the bell housing?

Do I complete the trifecta of Land Rover 4.6L Oil Leaks? In a previous post Extinct promised the engine will never leak again if I do all three.

I have the starter off, is getting to the cruciform seap as easy as unblocking the last side bolts and cap bolts?

Side questions:

Permatex Gray? Black? Ultra Gray?

Right Stuff Gasket Maker?

Hylomar?

Which one do people recommend using?

 

I took out my engine recently. It was leaking from the rear. After taking off the flywheel, I could see oil coming from the crankshaft. The gap between the bearing cap and block was clean. Can't say the cruciform seal was the culprit.

Another thing to note - when I took off the bearing cap the main seal popped out of its normal position and was lose. I could just wipe it out with a finger. Makes sense, since it is not held well in its position without the cap. Just my experience.

When installing the cap back in, the main seal might not sit properly anymore or even get damaged. People reporting here just replacing the cruciform seals fixed a rear oil leak. One reported that this method damaged the rear main. Manual says, install new main seal after replacing the cruciforms.

 

My guy.

Thank you for the advice. I am hesitant now to unbolt the ends as I understand the value of not turning a 3 hour job into a 3 week ordeal.

Cruciform and Rear Main Seal replacement will be paired together and done at a later date.