I have a 1993 Plymouth Sundance with a 2.5 4cyl. 200,000 miles.
It blew a head gasket recently and I replaced it. Hmmmm...I checked the head deck for warpage and it appeared to be good so I reassembled with new timing belt and water pump. I flushed cooling and engine oil systems and reinstalled a quality oil, filter and coolant.
Everything is fine for a few days then the wife tells me her oil light is coming on. I check the oil and it is way down with evidence of a major leak at the Front main crank seal. So...I pull it down to the timing cover and when a removed the timing belt cog from the crank I see the main seal blown out of its seat in the timing cover! Well...I dont know what to think about that. I look at the old seal and it looks pretty rough. Dryed and cracked around the internal rubber. With 200K on it...its time for a new one.
Ok...considering the mileage on the car, I go down and buy a new crack main seal and repair sleeve and install both. They seem to go on ok and the seal seats into position just like it should.
I reassemble everything and it does fine...for a few days....then The same old story...oil light came on...2 quarts in 30 miles...oil blown all over the lower engine and right side of the car...
...THIS time, I put some oil in...start the engine and feel for pressure or vacuum at the oil filler. Its BLOWING air, BIG time!
Could it be ring blow-by pressurizing the crank case enough to literally blow the oil seal out of its seat??? Hard to believe, I know...but possible???
I didnt pull or replace the timing cover, in which the seal seats into last time. I'm fixing to tear into it again this weekend, but before I do I want to buy a compression tester and check compression and leak down on the cylinders.
Anybody have any other ideas, recommendations or suggestions on what might be going on and the best way to fix it.? Yeah...the car is high miles...but other than this, and the head gasket, it has been running fine.
Could the blown head gasket to start with be a clue that I'm not catching???
Thanks in advance for any info you may care to share,
Dave...in (Sunny, Hot, sticky and humid) Florida