leaky rear main seal? :(

[denverunner]

g'morning...

Some prelim info.. 98 3.4L 124k w/MT, running M1 (started witm M1 @ 115k)

I left to run some errands yesterday and noticed a decent sized slick in my parking spot when I got home...dammnit! Checked the oil and it's about 1/2qt shy of full after sitting for 4 days. I took a quick peek underneath and I'm getting some steady drips (3-5 every 10 mins or so) running on/around my steering rack and also running/dripping off the backside of the rearward skid... I wasn't able to confirm that the leak is coming from the RMS, but based on what I've read and the photos posted by others, it would seem that the RMS is to blame.

So, if that's the case (drumroll... Would you strongly advise against a 700 mile RT this weekend? Ive read a couple posts where people advise against driving a MT with a leaky RMS. Something along the lines of "leaky seal slings oil on the pressure plate disc, causing it to slip?" Can anyone explain that for me? Would I end up having to replace the clutch if I drove with the leak for too long? Would it be okay to wait till I get back to fix it? At the rate it's leaking, I'm somewhat worried, but I can bring a few qts of oil, if needed.I'm still a novice with this stuff and eager to learn, I just don't have the coin to drop on this repair right now...

I don't have any photos right now, but I will take some after work. I'm set to leave tomorrow and I don't really want to take my civic, because there may be a decent amount of snow blocking the road to our campsite. thanks in advance for the wise words!

 

[BTO]

My old Pontiac (which my boy uses as a daily driver) is just like that. It's not really a problem. He has to check the oil frequently and other than that does not worry about it. Just take a few bottles of oil with you.

The first thing you should do is try to verify where the leak is coming from. Check the oil level and tranny level and monitor them closely. I once thought I had an oil leak but realized too late it was my transmission instead.

 

[BTO]

g'morning...

Some prelim info.. 98 3.4L 124k w/MT, running M1 (started witm M1 @ 115k)

OMG! I just read this part. So you started using Mobile 1 9,000 miles ago and now you have a probable rear main leak? I have heard of this sort of thing before. Of course Mobile says it's old wives/urban legend kind of stuff

I read a post here recently extolling the virtues of M1 and thought I might switch over but now I'm scratching that idea.

 

[topdown4runner]

My old Pontiac (which my boy uses as a daily driver) is just like that. It's not really a problem. He has to check the oil frequently and other than that does not worry about it. Just take a few bottles of oil with you.

The first thing you should do is try to verify where the leak is coming from. Check the oil level and tranny level and monitor them closely. I once thought I had an oil leak but realized too late it was my transmission instead.

I would agree with you, except the OP has a manual not an automatic.

I don't have experience with this issue, but having a manual and leaky rear main would send up red flags for me too....

Where are our 5 speed guru's?

 

[denverunner]

Just to clear things up....

I'm not blaming M1 for anything at all. I've used it in my Honda Civic since 55k (now @ 88k) and couldn't be happier. Keeps the internals pretty damn clean and since I keep finding it on sale (2x year) for $3/qt, I have no reason to switch. I added that bit of information to my original post because many people seem to think that M1 seems "thin" and therefore finds a way to leak through older seals a little quicker. So, I was contemplating switching out to dino, or something a bit thicker to see if that has any effect on the leak, but i literally JUST changed the oil 2 weeks ago. I'd hate to see it goto waste.

EDIT: I'm sure it's motor oil and not diff/tranny/tcase oil. I use Redline MT-90 in my t-case and tranny and I use Redline shockproof in my diffs. The fluid on the ground doesn't share any of the pungent odors of either one.

 

[BTO]

The urban legend says not to change an old motor to synthetic oil not because it's thin but because it will clean out all of the sludge a dino oil can leave behind. This sludge can build up in seals. Then when the M1 cleans it out the seal begins to leak.

The fact that you just changed the oil 2 weeks ago sorta reinforces the theory.