N1XRR

Well, I have a clutch ready to go in the car. But I got to thinking this weekend, what are the charastics of a rear-oil seal leak? I've heard RX-7's have this problem sometime, but have never experienced it, until now(I hope not). Here's all I know:

1. I don't use any less oil than normal, if it is leaking, its not a lot
2. The underside of the car is clean, very little oil at the base of the engine, almost none on the tranny
3. Clutch slips in 4th and 5th gear when going down the highway, and slips a lot until it engages when driving hard in the lower gears.
4. When I heat up the clutch enough, it doesn't slip while going down the highway, but it doesn't grab like it should(won't even squeek 2nd when I dump the clutch)

How can I check this without taking out the tranny? Or is it even possible with the transmision out? Would that cause my clutch to slip? My car heats up and the clutch doesn't give up(as much), is that a characteristic of oil on the surface? Also, when I shut the car off, go inside for 20 minutes or so, it starts slipping again and I have to 'heat it up'.

If it is the oil seal, is it possible to change it without taking out the engine? I assume that the flywheel is held on the same as the 1st gen's, which means it has an ungodly amount of torque to hold it on, I don't think I'd be able to take it out from under the car.

Please help.

Michael

DamonB

I ahve replaced my rear seal. First off, if the clutch were to get wet with oil it would bind, not slip. Just like having oil or grease on the brakes. The symptoms you describe are definately a worn clutch; it will slip in the high gears first. If the oil seal is leaking you will find oil inside the bellhousing and where it seeps out between the engine and tranny; it then blows down the underside of the car. The back of my oil pan was wet from the oil collecting there making me think that it was the pan and not the rear seal. You can remove the small cover on the lower right side of the bellhousing and reach inside with a rag. If there is oil on the rag, the rear seal is going. My clutch stayed completely dry even though my seal would puddle the size of a silver dollar every time I parked. The oil just runs down behind the flywheel; it doesn't get slung around. To replace it you pull the tranny and remove the flywheel. Yes, it is held on like a mother. After you pull the flywheel and counterweight you can replace the seal easily enough. My car had 70,000 miles at the time.

N1XRR

Few! Thats good to know! I don't have ANY oil leaks...and I checked that cover tonight and all I had was dust. Good thing I have my new clutch ready to go. Thank you for the information! I am now happy that I don't have to remove that damn flywheel!

Michael