Hello,

I have a 2000 VDP with 190K miles. The rear main seal is leaking and the front is leaking just a bit...seaping on the front end. How hard is to change the rear and front seals? Do I need to remove the engine/ transmission assembley or just pull the trasnmission if changing the rear seal? I'm reasonably seasoned on repairs...have swapped the engine in my1983 Jag and a few other cars. Should I leave this to the pros?

 

Hello David,
These engines are somewhat more sophisticated (complicated) than the old
XK engine;o]
If you have enough stands and equipment, you could possibly do seals front and rear with engine in situ but really, with 190k showing, I would say it's either time for replacement or engine out rebuild.
Rembering that the AJV8 design has a crankshaft bed plate.
Front seal is easy enough as seal is in the timing cover....rear jobbie is a little more complicated ;o]

 

I have a slight rear main seal in the XK8 and have checked on replacement. The seal is simple and dropping the transmission is not overly difficult, but I'm not rushing to do it.

 

Thanks gents, not a job I'm itching to do but I'll have to fix it at some point. I'm getting tired of smelling burning oil when I drive a log way. Now a bigger question: how do I put transmission fluid in the car once some of it comes out when I remove the torque converter?

 

The fill and check procedure are in the DIY section either here or XK8. Briefly, the fill plug is at the right rear 8mm hex, I believe. With the engine running shift through D and R, then in neutral and transmission 30- 50 deg C, pump fluid in until it just dribbles out. Car should be level.