Engine Seals Leaking

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

My car went in to get its timing belt service (and other drivebelts at the same time). I got work from my toyota tech that my front seals are starting to leak. To him, since this car (my 01 solara - 5sfe) has close to 97K miles, he suggested that I replace them. Needless to say, i didn't choose to.

I talked to him briefly on the phone, and he said he will write a small note on the ticket as well. THen I picked up car later in the night from the dealership cashiers. The note he wrote was:
"engine seals should be replaced, they will start leaking; This is routing maintenance..and he would do the same to his car; rest of car is in tip-top shape" - mind you this isn't some joe-shmo, its another toyota enthusiast on other forums.

On my previous cars, i had replaced them at 120K miles.
My conclusion: I think the seals are leaking as i am supposed to add 3.6 qts when doing oil changes...i add close to 3.8-4.0 qts at times (well i add close to 3.5 and then incrementally till the dip stick looks full). To the tech, this is easily why the seals are leaking..cus i'm adding more oil and my oil's not burning like normal 97K miles cars do (cus i've always used mobil 1 since 10K miles).
QUESTION: Should i replace them now, or could i go on and replace them when they do actually leak?
Suggestion/recommendations/input/Advise welcome....

[solaraluv]

I was just wondering does your car smoke heavily when you first start it up after sittling over night?

[Jackass-Jeff]

I was just wondering does your car smoke heavily when you first start it up after sittling over night?

I don't think he means valve seals =P

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If he's only suggesting the leak based off oil consumption, then you're ok. If he actually saw it leaking, then I'd replace them. There's no true "maintenance interval" for them... unless the tech's willing to do it since he's in there for NOTHING... which, we all know, won't happen unless it's your buddy.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

I was just wondering does your car smoke heavily when you first start it up after sittling over night?

The car doesn't smoke, knock, or anything. Like i said, NOTHING is really wrong with the car. Its drive/looks new. All the oil (brake, ps, etc were already flushed). Engine bay is so clean you can eat off it! The car looks like the day it came from canada!

These were again engine seals. Engine does not burn oil at all (oil replaced w/ mobile 1 every 2500-3000 miles). Premature, but its cheaper than a new car payment!!!

If he's only suggesting the leak based off oil consumption, then you're ok. If he actually saw it leaking, then I'd replace them. There's no true "maintenance interval" for them... unless the tech's willing to do it since he's in there for NOTHING... which, we all know, won't happen unless it's your buddy.

Jeff: No, he did not see it leaking. Basically, according to him, this is the time when they "start to leak".....His take was that I don't take my car to the dealership at all (well only every 30K miles to get the tranny flush) and this was my first visit for timing belt and drive belts. Hence, the next time he will see my car would be 120K miles, hence suggested it.

let me ask this question: When do you all replace your engine seals? (typically)....my celica one's were replaced at 120K, and then again the 'O' ring was replaced at 160K miles.

[PDX SuperSolara]

The front seals last a lot longer than most service techs want to admit but they are really easy to access when a timing belt is done so they always try to talk you into replacing them at that point, but the main reason is to make extra money. They usually charge at least 1/2 to 1 hour or more and charge for the seals. It costs a lot more if a seal starts to leak and has to be replaced when you don't have it all apart for a T/B already. But I have seen seals go 250k miles or more and never leak. Water pumps are commonly changed for the same reason even though they usually last through two timing belts.

At our shop, if they don't leak we don't replace them unless someone wants them replaced anyway. Sometimes new seals leak, so it is better not to ask for trouble. The biggest problem with oil seals leaking is that if the oil gets on the belt, it breaks it down and can cause them to come apart, so you always should replace a leaking seal.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

^^ Thanks!!
When i take my car again at 120K miles (for tranny flush) i will see what he says then....

[TMMK Toy]

Why half ass it and just have it done right when it's being done? If it were me I'd have all that crap done at the same time. Oh, and 5sfes hold 3.8 quarts.

[BadChicken]

I assume the tech was trying to tell you that your front seals were beginning to seep oil. The problem you run into is that if they begin to leak they could saturate your new timing belt and then you'll end up having to replace it again, plus not to mention the labor charge to tear everything apart again to do a couple seals that aren't expensive. It's just cheap insurance if you ask me. Just my 2 cents