davesan1

iTrader: (4)

OK, I'm down to my last (?) oil leak !

The oil can seen dripping from the center of the joining between the engine bell housing and its mating clutch bell housing. There is definitely oil around the passenger side engine mount bolt area, where it also goes through the oil pan flange. This could suggest the "classic" oil pan leak. However, looking carefully, it could equally well be leaking out of the joint between the clutch housing and the oil pan flange at the back of the engine, and spreading around the bottom of the housing to the engine mount area. This would, I think, indicate a engine main rear seal leak. I've read the threads and I've looked hard, wiping off the oil first, but it's just about impossible to tell which place it is coming from, (could be both of course!).

Popped the clutch housing inspection panel. There's definitely oil inside the housing. It's like a thick, black, greasy coating on the inside of the housing, (probably oil mixed with clutch plate dust?). However, there is no thinner oil that I can see/touch - ie something that would flow thorough the crack, as above. Of course, through the inspection panel, it is not possible to see the front of the clutch housing where it mates with the back of the engine casting because the flywheel/ring gear is in the way.

So my questions are these:

1) Would you normally expect the inside of the clutch housing to be completely oil/grease- free, or does what I described above mean that there definitely is an engine rear oil seal leak?
2) If it were a rear main oil seal leak, would you expect to see the leak (+oil drip) where I described it above? I'm assuming that there is no gasket between the bell housing at the back of the engine and its mating bell housing at the front of the clutch housing, and that, therefore, any oil from the engine rear seal would be able to drip freely from the bottom of where these two housings join. Is this a correct assumption?

I would really appreciate some advice from those of you who have "been here before!"

Thanks

Dave

birdy01

if u see oil in the bell housing it should be the rear main seal. i had a leak too, finally replaced mines wen i did my clutch. but sounds like yours is leaking pretty bad.

FDjunkie

Your leak may be rear main seal, but also possibly the o-ring on the rear stationary gear. Both are known leak points and will definately leave oil inside the bell housing that 'appears' to drip from all around that area. Considering the hassle of getting to the rear main I'd recommend that you take the extra couple of step and replace this o-ring, too.

There are several write-ups posted. Just be sure to postion e-shaft at TDC before removing the gear. This minimizes the risk of the rear rotor dropping out of postion.

tonyttt

no the best thing to do is get some oil die from trash auto and a blke light clean the motor and presto you found your oile leak in 5min and save 50% of your time and money

tonyttt

sorry 4 miss spell