Rear Main Seal Oil Leak Fix with Bearing Cap Modification

[Kurt]

Many owners have reported oil leaks at the rear main seal even after replacing the seal, myself included. Recently Tony Lentini (aka Tony and Ginny 429) found a Serviceman bulletin published in February 1965 which details a new Rear Main Bearing design and a chamfer modification to the bearing cap which is applicable to early 1965 engines as well as 1963 and 1964 engines. The double-slotted bearing and chamfer improve oil drainage from the seal area to reduce the possibility of leakage. This information is new to us so currently we don’t have any testimony about the effectiveness of this fix. We can assume Cadillac did their homework and the fix seems plausible. Member Matti Roth received this information while rebuilding his engine and has applied this fix. We all look forward to hearing positive results when the car is back on the road. I plan to apply this fix to my engine the next time I have the oil pan off.

Here is the February 1965 Serviceman bulletin (Thanks to Tony and Jason)

Feb 1965 Serviceman Bulletin - Rear Main Bearing & Seal

Below are photos posted by Matti of the bearing cap modification and the double-slotted bearing. (Thanks to Matti)

I created this gif (from Matti’s photo) of the oil flow in the slot and chamfer.

When purchasing main bearing sets. please make sure the set contains the double-slotted rear main bearing. Here is a photo posted by Matti of the bearing set. (Thanks again Matti)

SUGGESTED REAR MAIN SEAL
It has been noted that the Caddy Daddy supplied rear seal by Rebuilder's Choice is better than the Best Gasket 3812 in preventing leaks. In the future, we hope to have a separate Help Topic article posted with pictures and details of the differences between the gaskets and perhaps other sources for this Rebuilder's Choice rear seal.  This rear main seal can be ordered thru Caddy Daddy by Clicking Here. 

[Jason Edge]

Thanks Tony & Kurt. This has been added to our Help Page. 

[Jason Edge]

I have added an addendum to the end of this article discussing the Serviceman Bulletin regarding the use of a new double groove rear main bearing and modifications to rear main bearing cap, to include a link to the recommended Rebuilder's Choice rear main seal and noted we will hopefully have a separate help topic posted regarding the rear main seals in the future. When a concise article with pictures is written regarding the rear main seal options, I will simply link to it from this article. 

[Jason Edge]

Since this is another location and topic dealing with oil pan installation and not the rear main seal leak, I do not want to add that to the rear main seal and cap modification article.  There are no pictures and just a newer Cadillac Part # (363 2764) referenced and believe the design would be incorporated on any newer oil pan gasket set going forward. If someone wants to write up an article I can scan and send that short section on the oil pan real seal.