Parts for your 1999 Ford Falcon-Oil seals

1999 Ford Falcon (AU) oil seals: what they do and how to keep them happy

Oil seals are definitely used and relevant on the 1999 Ford Falcon (AU series). Authoritative sources including the Ford AU Falcon Workshop Manual (1998–2002), the Ford Microcat Electronic Parts Catalogue, and the Gregory’s Ford Falcon AU 1998–2002 Service and Repair Manual all specify crankshaft front and rear main seals, camshaft seals, automatic transmission input/output and selector shaft seals, differential pinion and axle seals, and power steering rack and pump seals for this model.

On an AU Falcon, oil seals keep engine oil, ATF and diff oil where they belong, while keeping dust and water out. Over time, heat cycles, age and crankcase pressure can harden the rubber and wear the sealing lips, leading to weeps or drips. They’re not a routine replacement item, but they’re well worth checking whenever the car’s in for a service or related repairs.

• Typical seals on the AU: front crankshaft (behind the harmonic balancer), rear main (between engine and gearbox), camshaft front seal, timing cover and sump seals, auto trans front pump and output shaft seals, diff pinion and axle seals, and power steering rack/pump seals.
• Common signs: oil mist around the crank pulley, oil in the bellhousing area (rear main), ATF at the tailshaft or selector, diff oil flung around the pinion flange, or a burnt oil smell on the exhaust.

Good servicing habits help seals last: keep oil and ATF at the correct grade and level, change fluids on time, and make sure the PCV/breather system isn’t blocked so crankcase pressure doesn’t push past seals. During services, a quick look under the bonnet and under the car for fresh oil traces saves headaches later.

If replacement’s on the cards, it pays to plan the job around other work. A rear main, for example, is easiest when the gearbox is already out for a clutch or flexplate job. Use quality seals, lightly oil the lip before fitment, and press them square with the correct driver. Inspect the shaft surfaces