Front Main Seal

Replace the front crankshaft main seal on a 2017 Maserati Levante 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo, requiring removal of front accessories, timing cover, and crankshaft pulley to access the seal.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front crankshaft main seal × 1 — Use OEM Maserati specification
• Timing cover gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Oil pan gasket (front section) × 1 — Use OEM specification or RTV as specified
• Oil drain plug crush washer × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Engine oil filter × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Coolant hoses (inspect and replace if deteriorated) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Accessory drive belt(s) × 1 — Inspect and replace if worn

Fluids

• Selenia Racing 10W-60 — 5.5 qt
• Maserati OAT Coolant — 10 qt

Preparation

1. Ensure vehicle is on level ground and parking brake is applied
2. Disconnect negative battery terminal and wait 10 minutes for system discharge
3. Remove engine cover and front underbody splash shields
4. Allow engine to cool completely if recently operated (minimum 2 hours)
5. Take photos of accessory belt routing before removal
6. Mark timing cover bolt locations with tape and marker to document sizes and positions

Procedure

1. 1

   Drain engine oil and coolant
   Place drain pan under oil pan. Remove oil drain plug and drain engine oil completely. Reinstall drain plug with new crush washer. Move drain pan under radiator. Open radiator drain valve and remove coolant reservoir cap to drain coolant system. Locate engine block drain plugs (both sides of block) and remove to fully drain coolant from engine.
   Torque spec

   Oil Drain Plug35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove front accessories and belts
   Remove accessory drive belt(s) by releasing tensioner. Remove engine oil dipstick tube. Disconnect electrical connectors from alternator, noting positions. Remove alternator mounting bolts and set alternator aside without disconnecting battery cables. Remove power steering pump mounting bolts (if equipped with hydraulic pump on this model) and secure aside without disconnecting lines. Remove A/C compressor mounting bolts and secure compressor aside without disconnecting refrigerant lines.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)

   Electrical Connector Bolts7 Nm (5 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Remove crankshaft pulley and harmonic balancer
   Install crankshaft holding tool to prevent rotation. Use impact wrench to remove crankshaft pulley bolt (180 Nm - very tight, likely torque-to-yield). Remove harmonic balancer using appropriate puller if necessary. Do not pry against timing cover. Inspect keyway on crankshaft for damage.
   ⚠️Crankshaft must be held securely during bolt removal. Do not attempt with breaker bar alone as this can damage crankshaft position sensor reluctor wheel or crack the crankshaft.
   Torque spec

   Crankshaft Pulley Bolt180 Nm (133 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Support engine and remove front motor mount
   Install engine support fixture from above or position floor jack with wood block under oil pan to support engine weight. Remove front motor mount bolts. Carefully lower or raise engine approximately 2-3 inches to create clearance for timing cover removal. Ensure no stress is placed on transmission mount.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Disconnect sensors and remove upper timing cover bolts
   Disconnect crankshaft position sensor electrical connector. Remove crankshaft position sensor mounting bolts and carefully extract sensor. Disconnect camshaft position sensors on both cylinder heads. Remove any remaining electrical connectors or harness brackets attached to timing cover. Begin removing timing cover bolts, starting with upper bolts. Note that 10mm bolts (45 Nm) and 8mm bolts (25 Nm) are used in specific locations - keep separated.
   Torque spec

   Sensor Bolts11 Nm (8 lb-ft)

   Mounting Bolts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove lower timing cover and oil pan junction
   Remove front section of oil pan bolts where pan meets timing cover (12 Nm specification). There may be additional gasket bolts or cover bolts securing the timing cover to oil pan junction. Carefully break seal between timing cover and block using plastic gasket scraper. Do not pry against aluminum surfaces. Remove all remaining timing cover bolts and carefully remove timing cover assembly. Some coolant may drain from water pump passages.
   Torque spec

   Oil Pan Bolts12 Nm (9 lb-ft)

   Cover Bolts18 Nm (13 lb-ft)

   Gasket Bolts21 Nm (16 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Verify timing alignment before proceeding
   Before disturbing crankshaft, verify that timing marks are at TDC for cylinder 1. Install timing alignment tools per Maserati/Ferrari specification to lock camshafts and crankshaft in position. This ensures timing is not disturbed during seal replacement and provides reference for reassembly. Take clear photos of timing chain position and all alignment marks.
   ⚠️Do not rotate crankshaft or camshafts with timing cover removed unless timing is properly locked with factory tools. Engine damage will result from valve-to-piston contact.
8. 8

   Remove and replace front main seal
   Using seal removal tool or small seal puller, carefully extract old front main seal from timing cover or block (depending on seal location for this engine). Clean seal bore thoroughly with brake cleaner and inspect for any damage, burrs, or grooves. Lightly lubricate new seal lip with clean engine oil. Using appropriate seal driver or installation tool, install new front main seal squarely into bore until fully seated and flush. Ensure seal is not cocked or damaged during installation.
   ⚠Seal must be installed perfectly square and to correct depth. An improperly installed seal will leak immediately and require repeating this entire procedure.
9. 9

   Clean all gasket surfaces
   Thoroughly clean timing cover gasket surface on engine block using plastic scraper. Remove all old gasket material and RTV. Clean oil pan mating surface at front junction. Use brake cleaner on all surfaces and wipe completely dry with lint-free cloths. Inspect surfaces for any damage or warping. Clean timing cover mating surface similarly.
   Torque spec

   Gasket Surface Bolts22 Nm (16 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Install timing cover with new gasket
    Install new timing cover gasket or apply Maserati-approved RTV silicone in continuous bead per service manual specifications (typically 2-3mm bead where no gasket used). Position timing cover carefully onto engine block, ensuring it fits over crankshaft snout without disturbing seal. Verify timing alignment tools remain in place. Install all timing cover bolts hand-tight first, ensuring 10mm and 8mm bolts are in correct positions. Tighten 10mm timing cover bolts to 45 Nm in factory sequence (typically star pattern from center outward). Tighten 8mm timing cover bolts to 25 Nm in sequence. Tighten gasket surface bolts to 22 Nm and gasket bolts to 21 Nm as applicable.
    Torque spec

    Cover Bolts18 Nm (13 lb-ft)

    Gasket Surface Bolts22 Nm (16 lb-ft)

    Gasket Bolts21 Nm (16 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reinstall oil pan junction and sensors
    Install front section oil pan bolts where oil pan meets timing cover, tightening to 12 Nm. Apply thread sealant to crankshaft position sensor threads if specified. Install crankshaft position sensor and tighten sensor mounting bolts to 11 Nm. Reconnect crankshaft position sensor electrical connector. Install camshaft position sensors and tighten to 11 Nm. Reconnect all electrical connectors removed from timing cover area. Install any harness brackets with electrical connector bolts to 7 Nm.
    Torque spec

    Oil Pan Bolts12 Nm (9 lb-ft)

    Mounting Bolts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)

    Electrical Connector Bolts7 Nm (5 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Install harmonic balancer and crankshaft pulley
    Remove timing alignment tools from engine. Clean crankshaft snout and harmonic balancer mating surfaces with brake cleaner. Inspect crankshaft keyway and balancer key. Slide harmonic balancer onto crankshaft, aligning with key. If new crankshaft pulley bolt is required (torque-to-yield), use new bolt. Apply light oil to bolt threads. Install crankshaft pulley bolt and use impact wrench or torque wrench with holding tool to tighten to 180 Nm. If TTY specification applies, perform additional angle torque per factory specification.
    ⚠Verify whether crankshaft bolt is torque-to-yield and requires replacement. Reusing TTY bolts can result in bolt failure and catastrophic engine damage.
    Torque spec

    Harmonic Balancer Bolt180 Nm (133 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall front motor mount and accessories
    Raise or lower engine back to original position using support fixture or jack. Install front motor mount and tighten mounting bolts to 50 Nm. Remove engine support. Reinstall A/C compressor with mounting bolts to 50 Nm. Reinstall power steering pump (if equipped) with mounting bolts to 50 Nm. Reinstall alternator with mounting bolts to 50 Nm. Reconnect alternator electrical connectors. Reinstall engine oil dipstick tube. Install accessory drive belt(s) per routing diagram.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Refill fluids and complete reassembly
    Close all coolant drain points on radiator and engine block. Refill cooling system with 10 quarts of Maserati OAT coolant (may require burping procedure per service manual). Install new engine oil filter. Refill engine with 5.5 quarts of Selenia Racing 10W-60 engine oil. Reinstall front underbody splash shields. Reinstall engine cover. Reconnect negative battery terminal.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all timing cover bolts are torqued to correct specifications based on bolt size (10mm vs 8mm)
2. Verify crankshaft pulley bolt is tightened to full 180 Nm specification with impact wrench
3. Double-check all electrical connectors are fully seated with locking tabs engaged
4. Verify accessory drive belt is properly routed and tensioned per factory specification
5. Ensure coolant system is fully bled of air per Maserati bleeding procedure to prevent overheating

Verification

• Check for oil leaks around new front main seal, timing cover gasket, and oil pan junction with engine running
• Verify no coolant leaks from timing cover or water pump passages
• Confirm proper oil pressure on instrument cluster (should reach normal pressure within 5 seconds of starting)
• Listen for any abnormal timing chain noise indicating timing issue
• Scan for diagnostic trouble codes related to crankshaft or camshaft position sensors
• Verify engine temperature reaches normal operating range without overheating (indicates proper coolant fill and bleeding)
• After initial test drive, re-check all fluid levels and inspect for any leaks
• Allow engine to reach full operating temperature and inspect front seal area with flashlight for any seepage

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