Nissan Sentra 95 Questions from a Newbie

[GosarJunk]

Hi,

I have a Nissan Sentra GXE 95 with 132K mileage on it.

When i went for Oil change @ Firestone yesterday - they mentioned that i need to change my Oil Pan Gasket (est cost $250 to fix from the shop) and there was a possible leak from the Front Crank Seal (est. cost $1000 to fix from the shop).

Now,
- How do i double-check this without going to another shop (due to financial situation)
- If i have to do it myself - How do i change the oil pan Gasket? Any ideas on how to do it? Any istes which have pictorial representation on how to do it?
- How to fix the Front crank seal. I checked/searched the forums but without Pictorial representation or Video - i am unable to figure it out.

Please advice.

[SHAWN]

1st mistake was going to Firestone to have engine work done ... 2nd is believing anything they say !!

I would bet you dont have any leakage from the oil pan ... VERY rare on a Nissan ... Your leak is the front crank seal , VERY common on Nissans ...

Crank seal is fairly easy , pull the belts , remove the front crank bolt ( thats the hard part , may take air tools to do or some tricks ... are you auto. or 5 speed ? ) ..then pull the crank pulley off , remove old seal , tap new seal in with hammer , lube seal with oil and replace a torque everything !! Replace the belts with new !!

We get the old " your oil pan is leaking " all the time from lube shops ... If you get any leakage from a seal or even just from doing oil changes and the oil filter leaking down , the oil will build up on the pan rails and make its way around the pan , looks like an oil pan gasket leak ... but very rarely is !!

Oh yea, front crank seal replacement on a '95 Sentra is 1.5 Hours ... so with belts its about $200 .... No idea where they are coming up with $1000 .... Thats just NUTS !!

[HondaKillah]

Man SHAWN,already selling the SE-L?

Why?

[SHAWN]

Wife found something she likes more ... I kinda like the SR Auto. ... But the choice was Forester or Sentra ... I like the Forester to much !