oil leak front main seal

[bookie]

Hi everybody
My mechanic said i have oil leaking from the front main seal.
I would realli appreciate it if someone could explain this to me.

I have a gen 3 camry auto 5sfe

[chesstompowell]

I'd say that the mechanic must be referring to the valve cover gasket or perhaps the cylinder head gasket when he says main seal. You could clean around those areas and then get some of that jock itch spray (sprays on as a white powder), spray around those areas, drive around for a week or so and thenif the powder turns a brown colour then you've found your leak.

[Digger1]

Bookie,

I'll bet he's talking about the seal at the front end of the crankshaft. The crankshaft pulley needs to come off to access this seal.

He'll probably want to set you up with a new timing belt, pulleys, and a water pump. If these components are old, you may as well bite the bullet and get them replaced.

Sorry!

[barthmonster]

under your timing-belt cover is the timing belt and pulleys. Under they timing-belt pulleys is the oil pump (a large-flat aluminum plate looking thing). Your main seal is under that also. I saw mine when I did my timing belt, but couldn't figure out how to get it out. Maybe its easy, don't know...