Engine Rear Engine Oil Leak

I’m desperately reaching out here - I’m at a loss. I just freshened up my 88 302 with new slugs, rings, bearings, gaskets, blah blah and I am experiencing an oil drip from the flywheel cover. I took everything down AGAIN to check if I had improperly installed the seal. Although I did not, I changed it again anyway. There is no groove in the crankshaft surface; checked carefully. Things to mention, the flywheel bolts are sealed, the rear main cap has been sealed prior to installation, the leak is not coming from the valve covers, the rear intake gasket nor the PCV grommet. I have all new gaskets throughout and even opted out for the steel rubber ones just so I wouldn’t get a leak. Before I pull everything down again , could there me something I missed????

OldManRiver said:

Did you apply a light film of RTV on the outside diameter of the rear main seal?

Click to expand...

I did not.... I applied a film of oil to the inner lip and outer ring and installed with a seal driver.

Just want to say “Thanks” to everyone who replied to my post. The issue wasn’t the seal after all... it was the oil pan gasket. It is a one piece gasket so I didn’t think I had to dimple sealer in the 4 corners. It pays to read the instruction sheet an not assume!!! Anyway, I applied 2-3 PSI of air to the crankcase and sprayed the rear of the engine. There it was bubbling away at the oil pan where it meets the saddle. Lowered the pan and dabbed 4 little balls of sealer in the corners, buttoned it up and retested.