On Saturday I'm looking at a '94 TS Wagon for purchace. It's a 3.0 litre, 5 speed manual with 147,000 ks on the clock and apparently "immaculate" inside and out (aren't they always?). The owner says that the main seal was recently replaced as well as the clutch.

Why would the main seal need replacing? Thats the one on the crankshaft isn't it? Would it have been what killed the clutch? I'm wondering if this engine has been run low on oil and hence has a dodgy bottom end.

If anyone has any viewpoints I'd really appreciate recieving them. If the car is staright and the engine Ok I don't see how I can go wrong for $3300 odd dollars.

On Saturday I'm looking at a '94 TS Wagon for purchace. It's a 3.0 litre, 5 speed manual with 147,000 ks on the clock and apparently "immaculate" inside and out (aren't they always?). The owner says that the main seal was recently replaced as well as the clutch.

Why would the main seal need replacing? Thats the one on the crankshaft isn't it? Would it have been what killed the clutch? I'm wondering if this engine has been run low on oil and hence has a dodgy bottom end.

If anyone has any viewpoints I'd really appreciate recieving them. If the car is staright and the engine Ok I don't see how I can go wrong for $3300 odd dollars.

It's hard to say which came first, the chicken or the egg.

If the clutch was shot, it's a good opportunity to replace a weeping rear main seal.
Or
The leak was severe enough to get oil on the clutch plate which would require a stripdown of the clutch.

It's also hard to say that the engine has been running low on oil. If the owner knew about the leak, he/she was probably just topping up the oil as required.

Get it checked by RACV or Equivalent if you're concerned and tell them what you're worried about. It seems like an okay price though I would check Redbook market value first.

Thanks for that.

I forgot, where is the engine number on the 3.0 V6?

From memory it's just below the front cylinder head, stamped onto a flat pad near where the bellhousing joins the motor.

Great! Thanks.