Pesky oil seal leak passenger side 1998 nissan altima

[cease1955]

I have a 1998 nissan altima 5 sp that I just dropped a jdm engine into. I did not replace the transmission. I am unable to get the right side axle oil seal to stop leaking. I have even gone to the extent of taking the car into local shop where they replaced 2 oil seal no luck, they both developed serious oil leak problems. I thought that I would take the car into the EXPERTS at Nissan and have them repair the oil leakage. No luck. They have replace 2 oil seals, after the 1st seal, they sd that I had a aftermarket axle and that the diameter spec was different than oem. i had them install a new oem axle and still leaking. I am about to take it back into them for the 3rd time and hopefully get this thing sealed. I have verifyed that the transaxle vent tube is NOT pinched, therefore I wouldn't think that the transmission is building up pressure. I bought the car w/ bad engine ( timing chain failure) therefor dont know if the axle seal was leaking prior to or not. Any suggesitons would be appreciated.

[MaximA32]

They didn't make an Altima in Japan. So how exactly did you get a JDM engine for your altima?

[EZcheese15]

Well, Like NSRA32 said, you don't have a JDM engine. The KA24DE (Engine in the 98 Altima) was only sold in the U.S.

But anywho...if you are having problems with your axle seals leaking and you have had your seals replaced, as well as a new OEM axle, there are only 2 possible explanations.

1) The person who installed the new seals and axles did a bad job, tore a seal, and denied it.

2) The transmission casting is bad. The only thing that could cause a leak is a) transmission seal is torn, but you said those are new b) axle is bad, but you said that is new or c) housing is bad, which is extremely unlikely, but I suppose it's possible.

I'm willing to bet the tech just tore an axle seal when installing it. It's easy to do...heck I've done it myself a few times. If you take it back and they give you crap about it, ask to talk to the service manager. Explain to him/her that your axle seal is leaking and you've already had it there once to have it fixed. If it truly is the problem, there is no reason they should not fix it the 2nd time for free (unless they determine that something else is broken).

Which axle is leaking? The only other thing I can think of is that the axle isn't in all the way, but the driver's side uses a cir-clip to hold it in place and the passenger's side is bolted in, so I find this highly unlikely.

[cease1955]

Hi Torry, thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I purchased the engine from a foreign engine exchange house that specialized in jdm engines. I did not do my homework but assumed that it came from Japan. I transfered the intake and exhaust man. The exchange engine didnt even have a egr valve, and the valve cover was slightly different, so I assumed that it was a jdm engine.The axle seal that is leaking is the passenger side, the long axle which bolts into a carrier w/ ( if memory serves correctly 3 bolts). This will be the 4th seal that has been installed. 2 by a foreign car garage, and 2 from the dealership. I am going to take the car back to them tomorow.... hopefully this will be it. I agree that the only other possibility is a bad trany, but I to feel that a bit of a stretch. I am totaly baffled by this. Thanks for the help

[NISTECH]

Need to check the case around seal area for cracks. I have seen engines pulled incorrectly by inexperinaced techs where the bell and engine were seperated but the right hand shaft carrier was inadvertantly left connected to motor and axle shaft bound in the trans drastic enough to crack the case around the seal as the engine and transmission seprated the axle slid out enough to pitch in the seal.