Rear main seal question

[Sting Ray]

What are the symptoms of a rear main going? I have a small puddle of oil that I am having trouble locating the source of untill I get it on a hoist, for all I know it might be the oil pressure line. One friend told me that it is unusual for it to just let go, would seep at first them get worse, or that it could just be dried out and the car needs to be driven, how do theese explanations sound to others.


Thanks,
Tom

 

[Tom Bryant]

In severe cases I have had the clutch slip from oil getting on it from a leaking rear main. Oil dripping out of the small drain hole in the bottom of the flywheel cover is a sure sign.

The problem here is being sure the oil is coming from inside the cover and not just running down the outside from another source like a valve cover gasket, rear intake manifold gasket, oil pressure line or fittings, or oil pan gasket. You will need to first clean up these areas and then watch to see where the oil is coming from again. Any of these will be an easier fix than a rear main seal with the engine in the car.

Tom

 

[IH2LOSE]

Just say NO to oil leaks I HATE THEM!

Rear main seal sound bad dont it?

No problem to fix once you get the car up.I did one my self and its just a time consuming job NO major skill or tools needed except a good torque wrench,and a tie rod end puller.The hardest part is getting the oil pan off with out bending the flange of it.I used a big rubber mallet to "SHOCK" it loose.Just make sure its not from the valve covers or the oil pan plug before you take off the pan.

Good luck and be safe once you get under the car

 

[IH2LOSE]

PS

I just remembered that I got slightley confused because the gasket I removed was slightly different then the one that was removed from my car.And had a little problem figuring out what end of the seal was supposed to face the crank and what end was supposed to face the flywheel.(just because they used funney termonology it said this end towards rear and I was confused as to face the rear of the motor or the rear of the car) and when I was comparing the old seal to the new one they looked different.

 

[Sting Ray]

Thanks for the reply's guys, the R-M seal is my worst fear right now, but still have to get it up on my friends hoist to check it out, and go through all the other possibilities.



Tom