oil quandary...

[tyr0981]

I think my rear main seal is leaking oil...... :moping: i cleaned off the oil dripping down the rack and bell housing on the front of the transmission (with engine bright foam) drove around for a day, and there's a small drip on the bottom of the transmission bell housing. I though it might have been the oil pan gasket, but oil is too high up / far back for that, valve cover gaskets already replaced.

So.... is is worth the effort to replace the rear main seal (pulling the transmission), or should i just keep adding oil until i need to do major work? it's a slow leak, about half a quart ever ~3k miles. i just like to keep her in the best condition possible, but having ~256 thousand miles this sort of thing was bound to happen

:ranger:

 

[MStudt]

I think my rear main seal is leaking oil...... :moping: i cleaned off the oil dripping down the rack and bell housing on the front of the transmission (with engine bright foam) drove around for a day, and there's a small drip on the bottom of the transmission bell housing. I though it might have been the oil pan gasket, but oil is too high up / far back for that, valve cover gaskets already replaced.

So.... is is worth the effort to replace the rear main seal (pulling the transmission), or should i just keep adding oil until i need to do major work? it's a slow leak, about half a quart ever ~3k miles. i just like to keep her in the best condition possible, but having ~256 thousand miles this sort of thing was bound to happen

:ranger:

I would keep an eye on it. Loosing that little oil over a normal oil change period isn't a huge loss. Just keep and eye on it and add as needed.

 

[541joseph]

I think my rear main seal is leaking oil...... :moping: i cleaned off the oil dripping down the rack and bell housing on the front of the transmission (with engine bright foam) drove around for a day, and there's a small drip on the bottom of the transmission bell housing. I though it might have been the oil pan gasket, but oil is too high up / far back for that, valve cover gaskets already replaced.

So.... is is worth the effort to replace the rear main seal (pulling the transmission), or should i just keep adding oil until i need to do major work? it's a slow leak, about half a quart ever ~3k miles. i just like to keep her in the best condition possible, but having ~256 thousand miles this sort of thing was bound to happen

:ranger:

Just wait until you have another reason to pull the trany

 

[KidVermicious]

I think my rear main seal is leaking oil...... :moping: i cleaned off the oil dripping down the rack and bell housing on the front of the transmission (with engine bright foam) drove around for a day, and there's a small drip on the bottom of the transmission bell housing. I though it might have been the oil pan gasket, but oil is too high up / far back for that, valve cover gaskets already replaced.

So.... is is worth the effort to replace the rear main seal (pulling the transmission), or should i just keep adding oil until i need to do major work? it's a slow leak, about half a quart ever ~3k miles. i just like to keep her in the best condition possible, but having ~256 thousand miles this sort of thing was bound to happen

:ranger:

Do you know for sure it's the main? Reach around to the back of the engine block and on top of the bell housing and see if that's clean. Leaky valve covers are much more common than leaky rear mains, and they look the same from underneath.

 

[tyr0981]

The whole truth is my cylinder heads are filthy (i thought from the formerly leaky valve cover gasket) but it's all in the same back of the engine area, dribbles down to the oil pan and as far back as the steering rack, i'll give the bell housing a reach around and see if there's oil up there too

Could this turn into a fire hazard? like make it's way to the exhaust somehow? if anybody has any experience wit that i'd like to know....

 

[jgue467]

Carry a fire extinguisher?

...Could this turn into a fire hazard? like make it's way to the exhaust somehow? if anybody has any experience wit that i'd like to know....

Well many of us have had/have VC leaks, usually from the side/rear areas, leading straight to the exhaust pipes, they smoke, they smell but they don't catch fire. Perhaps some on here knows of some that have but I never heard of it stemming from a minor/small Oil leak (fuel is different!).

I'd double check the VCs as someone said, they're notorious for leaking Even after a fresh install, takes 5 mins.

To me the amount of oil you mentioned leaked is not much when you consider the engine has to burn some oil, many will burn 1/2 qt over 3-5K miles anyway. I'd just hate the drip on my driveway. Luck! :banana:

 

[tyr0981]

Sounds like a plan, i'll verify the VC's aren't leaking, then go from there... and yes i carry a vehicle rated fire extinguisher. thanks fort the input!