I am having annoying issues with these things. I did a timing job and was leaking really badly, even worse than the old ones. Turns out the seals were wrong. Anyways, I ended up using National 3771 after using the Mitsubishi ASA and finding equivalent part numbers. The leak may be gone from the driver's side but is definitely still there on the passenger side.

What am I doing wrong here? Am I pushing the seals too far in? I see in the manual you use a tool, MD998713 to install but I just used a PVC pipe. Maybe I need a Redi-sleeve? Did I end up using the wrong seal again? I don't think it's leaking along the bore so maybe the shaft is a bit worn.

Anyways, I'm getting discouraged. I've had this thing torn down twice now and it's still getting oil everywhere. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

PVC tool works just fine, I've always made my own seal installer.

Can you tell if seal is leaking on the OD or at the cam shaft? My last TB service I used aftermarket seals and they worked fine. I just set seal flush with cap, but you may have a groove worn in shaft or a nick from getting the seal out.

I have used 400-600 grit emery to smooth seal surfaces.

I can't fully tell just peeking through the little panel opening. Is there a way to push the seal back too far on this motor? I'm pretty sure there's some kind of a drain passage back there. I had a nick towards the front of the motor so I pushed the seal a little bit further in.

If I see that the driver's side leak has completely stopped I may just get a redi-sleeve anyways. I'm still just worried about going too far. I know most cars you can bottom out on a lip but I couldn't find if this is one of those engines or not (since the manual tells you to use that specific height tool).

Also can anyone confirm part numbers? It looks like the oil seals all part stores have for this engine are wrong. I ordered from rock auto and it was way smaller and then noticed all part stores had the same parts listed. 3771 for the seal and redi-sleeve 99139 seem correct but I wanted to verify, especially if I have to tear this thing down for a third time.

Man, that does sound annoying. I don't understand why something so simple has to be so finicky. I would be extremely annoyed too. I am a new to the montero world. I soon will also be tackling this job due to the fact that my gen 2 montero has an oil leak at the crank seal. I was thinking I should probably replace the cam seals too while I'm at it. Having never done a timing belt job before I was a bit nervous but have been studying and am confident I can handle it myself. I do have a doubt however about the time. I'd like to ask you about it since you are familiar with the procedure. When I go to loosen and take off the timing belt. I am told that the cams are under spring tension even when it's at TDC and it may cause them to jump time. My question is, if it skips time while I have the belt off, will that jumping action cause the valves to get bent? is there enough for to do that? Or would that only happen if I start the engine without having in time.?

I've seen many forums where it has happened to people 3 and 4 times on various model cars. I guess the seals have to be perfect. It just sucks redoing everything and not being sure what the issue is.

The worst I've had happen with the spring loaded cams was scratched up hands. I've had them "spring" on many models of cars without issue. It's not strong enough to do damage.

Crank seal replacement was fine and doesn't leak, but it had a seal lip pretty close to the edge. These cams have oil drain passages so I suspect I just have one of them pushed too far back.

Make sure to replace the crank bolt with the newer revised version. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005HAP1VQ/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0

Also make sure you double check the part numbers of the seals you remove or use the Mitsubishi ASA so you don't run into what I did with having the wrong parts. Don't let my crappy experience discourage you either.

The depth setting on the cam seal has to do with how much cam shaft end it needs to seal against and if it needs oil splashing to lubricate. I set my PS cam seal flush - you can use the cam sprocket to set final depth, the DS has a shoulder for the seal, on the distributor mount, to rest against, but in the past I have also set this seal flush - both times no leaks.

It may be better to order seals from dealer - the extra cost may save more hassle the end. I also find it useful to go to seal manufacturer's web site and search the part number, then see if parts supplier's number is the same. I trust Felpro, not sure about anything else.

Thanks. Compared it to specs I could find of OEM part. Picked up a sleeve and felpro seal this time. Seems almost the same as the National seal but I'll take a micrometer to it here soon. I may also try setting the seal close to flush, maybe jb weld that little scratch or use RTV. It's at the top of the bore so I doubt it would leak too much anyways.

My 1995 monty is leaking pretty bad too, I just did the valve cover gaskets (spark plug was covered in oil). At this point ,It must be the cam seals, theres oil everywhere. Is this procedure completely different on the dohc engines? All the posts I've seen said that there are two 12mm bolts holding them on, but for the love of me I cant find them!

There's two front cam seals behind the cam sprockets. The cam sprockets are bolted to the the end of the cams each by a bolt (12mm/14mm socket).

There should be two rubber rear cam plugs that the valve cover gaskets fit over but are RTV'd to the head. The plugs are hard to get to.

Did you remove the upper cam sprocket covers? If the cam seals are leaking then you'll have oil down into the timing belt and bottom cover. The valve cover needs RTV at the sharp edges where it rest against the cam caps.

This doesnt relate to leaky cam seals, but i just recently found a mysterious on/off switch by the fuse box next to the pedals, just wondering what this could be, i can send pictures if you want. Thanks! Heres the pic

file:///C:/Users/avoko_000/Downloads/20170108_132019.jpg
just copy and paste to google