Vivek Reddy

Hey all, I just wanted to say I have found quite a wealth of information on this board already. Basically I just purchased an FD not too long ago and have a little oil leak problem (which I have seen is common). I have also searched and come up with the following based on where it is (I have attached photos).

I looked at the oil feed lines as people have mentioned, but they are clean and dry. What it looks to me is one of two things.

Either the rear main seal is leaking and the flywheel is spraying oil everywhere (can you see oil splatter (tho minimal) up into the engine bay. This seems to be the most likely as it seems the oil was gathering on the bottom of the turbo compressor housing after running, but after wiping it and letting it sit, it has stopped.

One thing I am wondering as a possibility is whether it could be the return line. How much pressure does the return line have, and maybe its possible that its spraying as well. Also it seems the shield for the view port is missing (I think that's how it works, I am new to FD's) so perhaps the oil is spraying a bit from the return line and the turbulent air from the flywheel is making it spray everywhere. I figure I need to do an oil change, so I will replace turbo return gasket anyway and see (and hope) that's the problem.

To make it easy, I have the following questions:

1. How likely do the previous scenarios sound?
2. Could the lack of viewport shielding yield serious problems in the future?
3. If it is the rear main seal, what would the ramifications of not fixing it immediately be? I am not losing a severe amount of oil by any means.
4. Does anyone have the part numbers for the oil return line gasket for the turbo?
5. I also took apart the charge piping just to run through everything and was wondering if anyone also had the part numbers for the intake/chargepiping gaskets as well as the o-ring in the charge piping. I figure I will go ahead and replace everything.

Thanks in advance for your help guys!

Vivek Reddy

Ok, I got the part numbers so need for an answer on those.

Vivek Reddy

I also had another question. What is that hole that looks like something is supposed to be screwed into?

cairyl09

hey whats up man, i recently just purchased a 95 rx7. and i'm having the same problem as you. im getting a small oil leak which isnot doing much to drop my engine oil level.

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

If I understand you right, the inspection cover is missing from your bellhousing. Stick your finger in and wipe the inside bottom surface of the bellhousing. If it comes back dry....it's not your rear main seal. As for the cover, not a big deal but I would replace it. If you can't find an original, just fab up a piece of sheetmetal and drill a couple holes. Doesn't have to fancy. IIRC those bolts will be 10 X 1.5, the standard little 10mm head bolts that is used all over the car. A U-Pull-it type salvage yard will yield a pocket full of them from any MAZDA or 2nd Gen. Probe for the cost of admission.
IF it is a rear main, I would want to fix it asap. It won't heal itself, and eventually it will soak your clutch plate. It will require R & R'ing the transmission and removing the flywheel. The latter can be a PITA if you don't have access to a big pnuematic impact. On the positive side, the seal isn't much (IIRC < $15) and it's also a good time to re-torque the engine tension bolt, which won't cost anything. Many also use the opportunity to replace or re-pack the pilot bearing, replace the rear tranmission seal and replace throw-out bearing too. Have you downloaded a copy of the Factory Service Manual yet? If not, go the stickys in the 3rd Gen. Section.

cairyl09

Sgtblue, thanks for that helpful comment. SInce being new to rx7s, I really do not know some of the technical terms that you've used. sorry, i will download the service manual asap and i will post pictures up this weekend so i can get to the right direction as quickly as possible. i'm a senior in college and i dont have a lot of time to be messing with it right now. its going to be kept in a garage from now on for winter storing only to be driven twice or 3 times a week to maintain it.

so yeah, thank you again. i will post the pics up around friday or saturday if thats fine with you.