Rear Seal oil leak

blueoval · 26-09-2009, 05:19 PM

Well after moving my car from the garage today, I spotted a pool of oil about the size of my foot on the concrete floor.

When I tried to look under the bonnet, there was no visible evidence of fresh oil coming from the usual spots lke rocker cover etc.

What got me thinking is that it could be the rear main seal. as the oil position is directly in the middle at the rear of the motor.

Whats the word on these things going?

My instinct told me that since my catch can has been fitted, its put extra pressure on the crankcase and pressurised it causing the weakest area to let go, that being the rear main crank seal.

Anyone else had these issues before?

Dave_Obsession · 26-09-2009, 05:28 PM

Not good Shav :( any chance of pics?

FreddyDUZ747 · 26-09-2009, 05:31 PM

Is it a catch can or oil/air seperator?

Hopefully its a easy to get to leak thats running along the bottom of motor and dropping.Have you checked dizzy gasket area?

blueoval · 26-09-2009, 05:36 PM

nah havent checked that area. I'll need to jack the car up. I havent got time to do it now, Im about to head out.

I topped the engine up with oil now so that should tie me over for a few days till I take it to Bruce for his opinion.

From past experience, the rear main crank seal will cost about $400-500 if Im not mistaken

:

But from what I can see, the oil is dripping down the back of the sump. I'll go check it again to make sure

FreddyDUZ747 · 26-09-2009, 05:39 PM

Yep,damn labour.

blueoval · 26-09-2009, 05:40 PM

ok, just checked again.

The rear cross member? behind the sump is wet with oil of some kind. The leak looks to be dripping off that.

Im not freaking out. Its annoying to say the least, but I'll get it repaired as soon as Bruce can fit me in. What does annoy me as well, is that I will need to spend up to $500 odd for no performance improvement. :P

What I might do though while it does get done, is get my pulley fitted, and a major service done at the same time considering I bought all the stuff for the service. Knock it all on the head all at once, and drive away with some extra poke and some satisfaction only if its minor.

frd906 · 26-09-2009, 06:17 PM

is it a leak between the gearbox and engine join? might be rear main seal on the back of the engine

blueoval · 26-09-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frd906

is it a leak between the gearbox and engine join? might be rear main seal on the back of the engine

um thats what I have been talking about mate

frd906 · 26-09-2009, 06:24 PM

couldnt understand any ones posts, anyways, might be leaking from the seal from the gear box behind torque converter

blueoval · 26-09-2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frd906

couldnt understand any ones posts, anyways, might be leaking from the seal from the gear box behind torque converter

There is that possibility. Wont know till the gearbox comes out. Either way, I believe its coming from that vicinity.

lofty · 26-09-2009, 08:09 PM

My cousin told me something about an o-ring at the back of his motor that leaked. Donk out, for a 50c part.

:

frd906 · 26-09-2009, 08:53 PM

nah you just unbolt the gear box from the back and you can change it from under the car

whiskers · 27-09-2009, 09:53 AM

I had my main seal blow on me a few years back. Came out in the morning to drive away and found a heap of oil on the garage floor, took it to a mechanic that I thought I trusted cost me $160 back then, but it's still not right. only took them a couple of hours to do.

The Monty · 27-09-2009, 10:30 AM

I have these problems with my car all the time. As Im slightly dodgy, my usual fix is: Degreaser x 1 can. Spray it everywhere and hose it off. Sikaflex wherever the next drip of oil comes from. Top up oil.
Works for me. But then it just moves the leak to the next weakest point. One day it will come through at an easy fix place and Ill do it properly. If you degrease and hose it weekly, you shouldnt end up with oil everywhere, so you can just pretend you dont actually have a leak, just a seepage, lol.

frd906 · 27-09-2009, 01:21 PM

well you would want it done right in the first place, otherwise will just be come a weekly excuse to wash the car lol

blueoval · 27-09-2009, 02:20 PM

yeah Id rather it done properly. Thats just me. I could choose to ignore it, keep topping it up etc, but it would get to me eventually. I dont handle things like this weighing over my heads too easily.

Im just gonna spend the cash, do it right and then its done.

frd906 · 27-09-2009, 02:27 PM

other wise you end up with oil every where which is a pain in the *** to clean up

blueoval · 27-09-2009, 02:31 PM

yep, its an unsightly mess as it is now. Plus I WAS going to do a service this weekend. Looks like it will need to wait till after this issue is sorted.

frd906 · 27-09-2009, 02:37 PM

got the same problem with my steering rack, leaking but cant see no oil stains on the ground and not losing the fluid, looked under the car yesterday and found oil stains where the box and motor join, at easter i done a engine oil flush and filled it, just 2 days ago i had to refill it form under the low add section, not a good sign for me either,

excuse to finally do my dream engine build lollol

sorry for hijacking cheers frd906

blueoval · 27-09-2009, 02:42 PM

no probs.

Thing is for me, there was no major sign of weeping of the rear seal for me. It just happened and decided to let go a few days ago. My underside of the car is filthy and requires a full degrease and high pressure spray.

I think if my car had of my been NA, it would have been a gradual weep, but since as its boosted it puts more pressure on components that normally dont get it. Not that Im deterring anyone out there to boost their otherwise NA falcon, but just be aware that when stuff like this lets go, it can go without warning, dont be surprised. You'll eventually need to reach into your pocket again to fix things like this up.

Its the price we pay for power. :P

blueoval · 27-09-2009, 02:53 PM

here is an idea of how much oil has dropped in the past 36hours

:

frd906 · 27-09-2009, 03:02 PM

thats no good, when was your last service, oil looks black as

blueoval · 27-09-2009, 03:13 PM

only 5000km ago. Thats why I was going to do a service. lol

But yeah I'll just dump some cheap oil in there for the time being until this can get done and I'll just putt around for now. I'll keep the good stuff for when the leak gets fixed. I'll be in contact with Bruce for this to be sussed ASAP.

The car doesnt drive any differently, but its an issue that needs to be sorted quickly otherwise a cop can nab me for it.

smoo · 27-09-2009, 04:36 PM

My old Fairlane was leaking from around that area, looked as tho it was the sump gasket, but from what it looks like, the crossmember had to be dropped to pull the sump out... bugger that, I'll just give it a steam clean every so often and keep an eye on the oil.

blueoval · 27-09-2009, 04:48 PM

Yes I hear it can be a bastard to get to. But Im hoping its the trans input shaft seal, not the real crank seal.

The Monty · 27-09-2009, 05:57 PM

Dont put cheap oil in it no matter how long.
And thats a shedload more oil than what I was thinking, get that one fixed up properly, ASAP.

blueoval · 27-09-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monty

Dont put cheap oil in it no matter how long.
And thats a shedload more oil than what I was thinking, get that one fixed up properly, ASAP.

Thats the plan mate, really dont want to drive it unless absolutely necessary. Im prepared to just leave it at the mechanics till its done than drive it like this. Its critical I get this done asap as you say.

Just need to organise alternate transport to work or something.

superroo · 27-09-2009, 06:17 PM

Rear main is easy to do. It cost $21.05 to be exact (have receipt here), and it very easy to do your self. Only requires a small screw, multi grips, and a hammer. Only problem is that the box has to come out and that is the annoying part.

I changed mine when I did the clutch back in April for peace of mind.

Cheers

blueoval · 27-09-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superroo

Rear main is easy to do. It cost $21.05 to be exact (have receipt here), and it very easy to do your self. Only requires a small screw, multi grips, and a hammer. Only problem is that the box has to come out and that is the annoying part.

I changed mine when I did the clutch back in April for peace of mind.

Cheers

wish you lived in SA, I'd pay you to do mine :P

blueoval · 28-09-2009, 01:03 PM

Just spoke with Bruce, will be seeing him tomorrow morning and throwing the car on the hoist to see where this leak is actually coming from. Then I'll leave it with him and let him work his magic.