Oil Leak 98 S70 Non-turbo 173K

[C@lvin]

Have oil dripping from the row of bolts connecting oil pan to transmission. Also from the underside of the transmission itself. Oil is also collecting/dripping from the area where you can see a small section of the flywheel above the axle.

There really isn't a great deal dripping to the ground. Sometimes none. Sometimes 3-4 spots the size of a half dollar snow up overnight.

I suspect the rear main seal, but would like suggestions on how to eliminate other possibilities.

There is no smoke from the dip stick tube, but the oil filler cap was leaking (replaced the gasket already).

Are there any pics posted that show where the RMS oil leaks manefest themselves?

If it is the RMS, how bad will it get? Is there any danger in waiting to replace the seal if you make sure the oil doesn't get low?

Thanks for your help.

[MadeInJapan]

Welcome to MVS.
The rear main seal is on the driver's side...there is a little weep hole on the bell housing where the transmission and engine are fitted together...look there and see if you see oil dripping out. the others could be just about anything...above the fly wheel sounds like a cam shaft seal. There is a rubber gasket in the oil fill cap...it can get hard and brittle and leak out oil over the top of the engine, down the back and mimic an oil leak, especially if it drips all the way down onto the oil pan (usually caused by positive crankcase pressure- a symptom of a clogged PCV system). There is also an oil return line that can leak if you have a turbo. My suggestion is to get a good degreaser (even brake cleaning spray is good) and clean up everything to try to pin point your leak. Also, if your PCV system hasn't be changed out, the positive pressure from a clogged PCV system can cause a lot of seals to leak (as mentioned already). Sometimes changing the PCV out can cause leaks to stop. Look in the repair database or other recent threads for the PCV and how to replace it.

[C@lvin]

Thanks MIJ.

Actually there is some evidence of an older leak around the top and bottom of the "front" of the engine approximately in the area of the distributor cap and below. But it isn't really "wet" like you'd expect of an active leak.

Could you be more specific about where the weep hole is in the bell housing? I had read that there was one, but I haven't seen it. Of course, I may be looking right at it and not realize it.

Would you say that if there isn't oil coming from the weep hole that the leak is definately not the RMS?

Thanks again.

[MadeInJapan]

Yes, the weep hole is where the oil leaks for the RMS...sorry, I'd have to find a picture or two and I'll look for it tonight. Above it is where the rear cam seal is...often this will leak downward and make it look like a RMS leak (you said maybe it was dried up but at the lowest point, it still could be leaking and hard to tell).

[C@lvin]

I spent an hour today looking through VADIS for a picture or diagram. But no luck. I found the flywheel and I found the instructions to replace the RMS, but I couldn't find anything on the bell housing or the weep hole.

If anyone has a link for pictures or diagrams showing where the weep hole is, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks.

[MadeInJapan]

If you'll look at the picture below you'll see the weap hole. It is rather small...right above the area where the lower engine/transmission mount is...I've circled it:



Hope this helps!
You'll need to clean up all of the oil so you can make sure this is where the oil is dripping from.

[C@lvin]

MIJ,

Thank you!!!!!

That is a huge help.

I'll let you know what I discover, now that I know where to look.

[MadeInJapan]

Glad it helps...by the way, while you're down there, check out your lower mount. As you can see from the picture (not mine) that mount looks trashed and will probably vibrate the heck out of it's driver.

[C@lvin]

OK, so I replaced the two rear cam seals and degunked the engine in the areas in question. The new seals seem to have reduced the leaking, but I am still left with some leaking that doesn't seem to be coming from "above".

I have yet to actually see a drip coming directly from the weep hole, but the bolt head right next to it has a drop and the bottom of the bell housing in the vacinity of the weep hole is oily (but no drips).

Also, if you get under the cabin side of the engine and look up at the location where the passenger side axle enters the tranny and next to which you can see a small portion of the flywheel through an opening in the bell housing, there are a couple of drops of oil collecting in this area. While the source is not obvious, it does not appear to be coming from above this location.

To date not too much oil has actually leaked out - around 1/2 of a quart in between oil changes (3500 - 4000 miles). (But enough to spoil the driveway!)

So I am assuming that I have a RMS leak and my questions are:

1. Does this seem like a correct assumption?

2. If so, what are the consequences of not replacing the seal and just taking care to insure the oil is always filled up?

3. How long can you drive the car this way without damage?

4. Are there any DIY instructions/pics available? Has anyone done this themselves? VADIS instructions include specific equipment to lift the engine to seperate the tranny from the engine and remove it so that the seal can be replaced. Are there any practical and inexpensive alternatives to these tools?

5. What do you think is the source of the oil accumulating near the axle/tranny joint? Could that be coming from the RMS (since the flywheel is exposed at this location) or somewhere else?

If you've read this far, thanks for sticking with me! Please comment or post answers (or direct me to other posts covering these questions) I'd really appreciate any input.

Thanks!

[vegasjetskier]

2. An oil stain on your driveway and a mess under your car.

3. Forever.

I'd try some Valvoline High Mileage oil or a can of Auto-Rx (http://www.auto-rx.com/) to rejuvenate the seal.