my question is can a rear main seal leak spray oil up into the engine compartment on top of the valve cover area on passenger sid?
my question is can a rear main seal leak spray oil up into the engine compartment on top of the valve cover area?
My car has 127000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
It may be possible since the oil can run down the oil pan and then get into the belts and slug up the passenger side of the motor. This is not as likely as the front of the engine crankshaft front seal area leaking and doing the same thing. In order to locate such a massive oil leak and isolate it, the engine will have to be cleaned off and a dye put in the oil. The engine would then need to be ran until the leak is identified with a black light leak detector. You could also have more than one leak in your engine. Have the PCV valve checked to make sure it is not plugged so pressure is built up in the crankcase and pushing oil out all the seals. If you want to have this checked for you, a technician from YourMechanic can diagnose your oil leak and determine what fixes will resolve your issue.
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The traditional fix for a leaking main seal is to replace it, but because of the typically high labor cost some vehicle owners use oil additives designed to restore seals. In some cases, that can stop or slow leaks. Other drivers may switch to a heavier oil, such as 10W30 instead of 5W20.
If you`ve got a rear main seal leak you will have oil dripping off either your engine oil pan or the front of your transmission called the bell housing. The problem is other leaks can cause oil to drip from this location as well.
A rear main seal leak can be a major problem for your vehicle. It can result in serious damage to your car`s engine, which is why it`s important to have it repaired as soon as possible. If you think the oil level is too low, you should stop driving the vehicle.
To remove the rear main seal, you must remove the transmission from the engine, remove the flywheel from the crank shaft, removed the oil pan and in most motors removed the pistons and crank shaft as well.
But an oil leak in the rear of the engine is a sign of a probable rear main seal leak. A rear main seal leak is especially problematic for two reasons. First, the oil pressure in the rear of the engine is higher than elsewhere in the system.
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If this critical seal is damaged or weakened, oil leakage can cause serious powertrain problems that could affect both the transmission and the engine itself.
Thicker oil is not recommended. Thicker oil does not help with leaks (well, maybe a little bit), and if the stop leak doesn`t work the first time, it isn`t going to work if you add more.
The best way to prove that you`ve got a rear main seal leak is the check if the engine side of the flexplate or flywheel is oily. If the rear main seal is leaking on your engine it will drip oil onto the flexplate or flywheel and sling oil around the bellhousing.
When the engine is running, a pump moves the oil from the pan to lubricate engine parts and prevent overheating. If the pan cracks and you lose oil, the engine could seize up, leading to major repairs.
The oil pan gasket itself seals the oil pan to the bottom of the engine block and prevents oil from leaking as it moves from the pan to the engine and back. Because oil is constantly flowing, no vehicle is impervious to oil leaks, though. Often oil leaks stem from the oil pan or from a worn oil pan gasket.
Extreme operating conditions like extraordinarily high heat or foreign chemicals can also cause rear main seal failure. High heat can cause seals to get brittle or hard and chemicals can cause reactions with the materials some seals are made from.
Molded synthetic rubber is the material most commonly used for rear main seals. It offers proven sealing ability, excellent heat resistance and easy installation.
Seal lips should be generously lubricated to where they are wet during start-up, especially if an engine, transmission, or rear axle is going to sit for a while before operation. Dry seals and spinning shafts don`t mix. A dry seal will tear and then leak.
Do Stop Oil Leak Products Work? Yes, they do, and it`s easy to see why our Stop Oil Leak Products are so popular. They`re the fast and affordable solution for engine oil leaks.
Its` Hard. Replacing a rear main seal is time consuming, requires special knowledge of your vehicle and the use of special tools if you are going to do it correctly and without placing you or your vehicle in danger.
Oil Pump or Rear Main Seal Leak
Rear main seal leaks are common, if the color of the fluid is brown, it`s most likely engine oil leaking past the rear main seal. The rear main seal prevents oil from leaking past the spinning crankshaft flange. This leak is a common problem as an engine wears.
Usually, we will need to remove the transmission before reaching to the rear main seal. But you can do this rear main seal replace without removing the transmission. It is not less difficult than the other way, however, you can do it on your own.
You may be able to fix a cracked oil pan yourself, depending on the size of the break. The repair can be completed in just a couple of hours, but you`ll have to wait an additional 15 to 24 hours before the car will be ready to drive again.
RTV sealant is popular with many engine builders, and it`s the preferred sealing method by many OEMs.
A damaged oil pan or gasket can cause an oil leak. These components are located at the bottom of the engine and can be damaged by road debris. Wear and tear can also damage or loosen them, which may result in a leak.
The oil pan gasket could take from 1.75 to 2.50 hours depending on the technician that is working on the vehicle. If you are not a mechanic and are wanting to change the oil pan gasket and have all of the tools, then it could be around 4 to 6 hours.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
my question is can a rear main seal leak spray oil up into the engine compartment on top of the valve cover area on passenger sid?
ANSWER : It may be possible since the oil can run down the oil pan and then get into the belts and slug up the passenger side of the motor. This is not as likely as the front of the engine crankshaft front seal area leaking and doing the same thing. In order to locate such a massive oil leak and isolate it, the engine will have to be cleaned off and a dye put in the oil. The engine would then need to be ran until the leak is identified with a black light leak detector. You could also have more than one leak in your engine. Have the PCV valve checked to make sure it is not plugged so pressure is built up in the crankcase and pushing oil out all the seals. If you want to have this checked for you, a technician from YourMechanic can diagnose your oil leak and determine what fixes will resolve your issue.
Are these oil leak problems related?
ANSWER : If the oil filter housing is integral to the oil cooler, or the housing had to be removed to service the cooler, a professional mechanic with knowledge of the limited service life of rubber seals would have absolutely (guaranteed) replaced the filter housing gasket that you are now belatedly finding leaks. However, if the leaking gasket is in an assembly that was not touched, or is not part of the cooler, they might be on reasonable grounds to have not fooled with it. These cooler configurations vary (from Mercedes Benz model to model) so, having the advice I just gave, you can just simply ask them what configuration you have and go from there. The bottom line is, if indeed, the gasket that is presently leaking was "right in front of them" while they did the warranty work, it should have been replaced simply as a matter of course. Indeed, the weak link on modern engines has become gaskets and seals. The engine will mechanically far outlast the gasket and seals but the problem is to replace all of them (once they all leak) you have to literally take the engine out of the car and take it apart just to put all new seals in. Please let us know how we can help further on this issue.
Oil was leaking, put in over 4 qts of oil and oil leak stopper. White smoke coming tailpipe,engine shakes, car dies. Oil leaking.
ANSWER : Oil additives are not recommended by any vehicle manufacturer for any reason. Additives that purport to resolve oil leaks are useless, a waste of your money, and may result in engine damage. Every vehicle manufacturer strongly recommends against use of these materials. There is only one recommended and approved repair strategy when it comes to oil leaks: fix the leak.
You can only add the manufacturer specified amount of oil to an engine. If you add too much oil, or too little oil, that will cause engine damage. You should check the engine oil dipstick to determine if there is presently too much oil in the engine. If there is too much, the excess will have to be removed to prevent engine damage.
The leak that you are referring to can be repaired if you request an oil leak diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns as you decide what to do, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic because we want you to make the most of your repair dollars and help you get the best possible results.
How much to replace rear main seal or will BlueDevil rear main sealer work?
ANSWER : Hi there. Former Toyota/Lexus master technician here. I can tell you from experience that using any kind of sealer is a literal "Band-Aid" that will not last and could damage internal engine components if some of it breaks loose into the crank case. Your Mechanic does not provide rear main oil seal service at this time, but I would definitely recommend pursuing a qualified technician that can perform the service properly with a quality seal. I suggest using a factory seal as this is a repair that no one want to do twice; the second time either party’s expense. Your Mechanic is here for many of your other service, diagnostic, and repair needs 7 days a week. Feel free to schedule your next service at www.yourmechanic.com.
’98 Dakota 2wd-rear..with Air. Oil leaking in back of engine and above tranny. Leak is right around d-cap and a sensor post.
ANSWER : Hi there. It’s quite possible that this is a rear oil seal or oil pan gasket that is leaking; or perhaps a transmission oil tube seal that is leaking. The problem with trying to diagnose an oil leak is that typically the oil tends to spray onto different components underneath the vehicle. You might want to have a professional mechanic complete an oil leak inspection to help you locate the source of the leak and recommend the right repairs.
Oil leak from lower valve cover
ANSWER : You didn’t say whether you have the 2.4L or 3.3L in your Hyundai, but neither of these engines have a lower valve cover. Could it be that you misunderstood the part the shop said needed to be replaced? Anyhow, it’s always good to have an oil leak repaired as soon as possible. However, it will be OK to drive your car until your finished moving, as long as you keep an eye on the oil level. Depending on the severity of the leak, you may want to check your oil as often as once a day. A good mechanic will clean the engine off, then put dye in the system to determine exactly where the leak is coming from. This ensures the correct repairs are made. YourMechanic can perform an oil leak inspection for you.
2006 BMW oil filter gasket keeps breaking and oil leaks from oil filter. Oil leaks only after starting car in morning. PCV valve?
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may need to replace the oil cap o-ring. If you haven’t done this before there are two O-rings to replace; a small green one on the base of the filter cap stem and the large black one that seals the filter cap (which seems to be the one you are having issues with). The large O-ring sits in a small square-shaped groove that is at the base of the oil filter cap. It is very easy to not properly seat the large O-ring because the threads for the oil cap are quite large and will accept the O-ring if you are not careful. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
It sounds like you may need to replace the oil cap o-ring. If you haven’t done this before there are two O-rings to replace; a small green one on the base of the filter cap stem and the large black one that seals the filter cap (which seems to be the one you are having issues with). The large O-ring sits in a small square-shaped groove that is at the base of the oil filter cap. It is very easy to not properly seat the large O-ring because the threads for the oil cap are quite large and will accept the O-ring if you are not careful. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
Just noticed a huge oil leak trailing my car. It seems to be coming from below the engine. I recently had my oil changed a month
ANSWER : You might have a problem with the oil filter leaking when you rev the engine and increase the oil pressure. This can be from a collapsed oil filter media or excessive oil pressure from the engine. I recommend having the oil and filter replaced using a good quality filter and have the oil leak verified to be from the filter. Make sure to not run the engine low on oil. If you are finding you do not want to drive with the leak, a mobile technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office, and replace both your filter, and oil.
