doctornush

can anyone with experience with replacing a front crank seal and valve cover gaskets give me some experience here on potential problems, costs, places to do it in san jose/

epicman

Last month I had a leak in the front main seal on my B7 S4, which had 91k on the ODO. Took it to the dealer and traded it in for a S5. That job is a big dollar expense, better to trade it in on a CPO upgrade.

doctornush

what is a cpo upgrade and what did they quote for the crank seal leak?

Ken F

DoctorMush

I've got the parts prices laying here in front of me...
Crankshaft seal: $22.40 (from dealer)
Valve cover Gasket set: $14.61 per side

I did not have them estimate labor, however I'm sure it's right up there with a cambelt replacement as all the belts have to come off to get to the crank seal. Don't you have a good independant shop that could estimate it for you?

Ken

epicman

CPO - Audi Certified Preowned... $4,000+ for front seal replacement

A8nightmare

I just replaced mine when I did the timing belt. It's not bad of a job, but do the timing belt and everything else if you are getting it done. I recommend getting the blau parts kit. Here are a couple tips that do not come in the blau parts kit that you should get if doing it. Make sure you buy a new crankshaft bolt, because you will not be able to get the torque spec of 148 ft/lbs + 180 degrees out of the old one....you will snap it off if you try. Also get the bushing that the seal rides on...well worth the couple bucks otherwise flip the old bushing so the groove from the old seal is on the inside. if you need some pics of the front end off let me know. I took some pics when we did the job. Any other questions I will try to answer.

doctornush

i dont get it...the 4.2 v8 has a timing chain i thought

A8nightmare

Timing chain is only on the 07 and newer models. If you have an 04-06 it has a timing belt.

extetty

You have to take off the valve cover to remove the upper timing cover because there is a small lip. You need to take off the timing covers so you can put the timing belt back on properly ie. align the cam and crank gears.

Front Crank Seal or Front Main Seal are both widely accepted names.

ReinaA6

can you post pictures or email to me?