Replaced rear main seal and still leaking from rear main seal
 

A few weeks ago, I removed my transmission to replace my old clutch with new ACT and to replace my rear main seal.

I did both, and I thought everything went well.

But my car is still just pouring oil from the rear of the engine. It's not really "pouring" but it drips pretty quick and I lose oil real, real fast.

I got under my car today and removed my oil pan and replaced the gasket. Which BTW is a PITA!

After I did that, I drove around to see if I was still leaking oil. Yep, just as bad as before.

I removed the front most plate of the transmission where you can see the flywheel when you remove it. I started my car and oil comes from that location. I know of no other place then the rear main seal for oil to be leaking out of. I already replaced this and I'm positive I put it in correctly. I just don't get it. The only other place that oil is partially leaking from is by the oil filter at the top. That leak cannot be related to the leak at the rear of the engine at all.

So if anyone has any advice or anything, please help me. Im afraid I'll get fined for the mass pool of oil in my street... haha.

Thanks,
JFR

Could it be that the flywheel wasn't put on tight enough? I mean, there just really isn't any other place oil is leaking from... OMP and the lines are fine... oil cooler and its lines are fine.

you didn't somehow damage the surface when you changed the seal did you?

Pretty positive i didn't... I mean I got the old one out, then put the new one in then tapped on it with a hammer to make sure it was flush.

Did you replace the O-ring seal behind the stationary gear? Common oil leak problem.

All I did was remove the tranny, clutch and flywheel... I don't think I could get to the rear stationary gear. Maybe I'm wrong, I mean I can't even fix a damn oil leak haha. Besides, even if it was that o-ring, what would be the point of a rear main seal, if it doesn't seal oil from leaking out?

right behind the rear main there is another seal common to go bad ... dont know the name but you have to remove the rear housing where the rear main sits... also oil cooler lines are usually a spot... transmission front seal... or seriously the rear main might have been damaged...

There is a rubber o-ring on the rear stationary gear. You might have to do a search to confirm this, but I don't see where you wouldn't be able to remove the rear stationary gear with the engine in place, as long as you're careful not to bump anything or turn the engine doing it, since it's the last piece on. Definitely confirm that with someone who knows for sure, though.

Alternately, there are a couple of metal seals on the rear iron. I'm fairly sure they're all freeze plugs that go into the water jacket, though.

+1, for the o-ring on rear stationary gear. It can be removed on car, as mentioned, and yes dont bump/turn the motor. Pop out the gear replace the o-ring, andreplace. I didnt even get out underneathe the car when i did this.

Good luck

its the stationary gear o-ring man ...

Thanks guys, I figured it wasn't the rear main seal, I did everything right. But it sounds a little difficult to remove the rear iron while the engine is still in the car. Has anyone done this before? So it goes... clutch>flywheel>rear main seal>rear housing>rear stationary gear>oil seal?

You do not remove the rear iron. The stationary gear is right behind the flywheel, it is what you put the rear main seal in.

Once the flywheel/pressure plate is off, the stationary gear is the round shiny metal bit in the middle with 6 12m bolts in it. Just take out the bolts and gently and evenly pry underneath it until you hold it in your hot little hand. The E-shaft should hold the rotor in place while you change the o ring and stick it back in.

Oh, okay, thanks. I guess I'll just have to get my hands dirty again and get that leak fixed. Thanks again for your help guys.

I like to put a small amount of RTV between the gear and housing. Very small amont of RTV and make sure you torque the 6 12mm bolts down. Usually a new o-ring will be good, the RTV things is just some thing I like to do. A back up thing.

Okay, I'll do that, thanks.

Does anyone know what the oil seal is called or what the part number is?

O-ring Rear Gear All Rotary 10-555a-0813 $6.07

Mazdatrix.com

Thanks man

I also like to put some Ultra RTV around the rear main seals outer part. Most use oil to help the seal go in to help from tearing the seal. The RTV acts as a lubricant and also helps with sealing when it dries.