A friend loaned me his "seal removal tool" after I complained to him about trying to remove them with picks-and having the tip of one break off behind the crank seal. (Still haven't found the tip....might have to remove the pan to find it!) I couldn't believe how easy it was to pull the seals with this tool. This is a "must have" if you're pulling seals.

Its a flat piece of steel with a flat steel head. It almost looks like a flattened hammer. Instead of a hammer head, there are two hooks (one each side of the head). You hook it under the seal, rock the thing back, and ! the seal's out with no gouging. If only I'd had this to start with. So much time and trouble can be avoided with the right tool(s). Sigh......

-Bruce