Rear main seal oil leak?

[E9Wayne]

Ok guys, now that my radiator leak issue is resolved as of last month and I just completed a Megasquirt ECU upgrade thanks to Don and Chris Pederson last week, I was in the garage today polishing and cleaning a few things in my engine bay that I noticed when Chris was here working on the MS upgrade.

I dropped one of my aluminum cleaning pads through the engine compartment and, of course, it landed right next to my next project - a 2 drop per week oil leak somewhere near the middle or back of the transmission. You can see the leak here and it's right below the what looks like a bolt hole about 1/3 back of the front casing. The underside of the transmission is covered with a light film of it, possibly from the dyno runs I did early last week.

Does this look like a rear main seal leak? It's not too troubling outside of cleaning up the garage floor every few months or so. I'm pretty sure it's not from the oil pan gasket which I had replaced a few years ago, or the front upper timing cover that was also worked on early last year.

I assume the repair means removing transmission, which means way above my DIY pay grade? Thanks, all

Wayne

 

[HB Chris]

What color is it? I assume you have Redline in the trans and it is red.

 

[ChrisWrench]

You have to quit driving your car so hard after we dyno your car last week. I know it is easy to do but be easy on the old girl. HAHA, Just kidding cars are meant to have fun in. Looks like the input shaft seal. Easy fix but you will have to pull the transmission out of the car.
Drop the driveshaft down from the guebo. Put in any gear. Pull the clutch slave cylinder off to make a little more room. Remove the speedometer cable from the back of the transmission. Disconnect the shift rod from either the shifter or the back of the transmission. Remove the shift platform. Leave the bell housing on the engine and remove the 4 nuts connecting the trans to the bell housing. Drain transmission oil. On the input shaft side of the transmission, there is a plate with 7 bolts holding it in place. Remove the plate and you will see a seal inside the plate that goes around the input shaft. Replace that seal ( 23121220619 ), On the edges of the cover plate, uses a small bead of silicone to help seal it off. Use blue lock tight to secure the 7 bolts back on. While the transmission is out I would also replace the output seal and the shift shaft seal but they can be a little bit more tricky removing and reinstalling.
If you are up to the task ( 23121222677 shift shaft seal) (23121205340 output shaft seal). Replacing the shift shaft seal is as easy as removing the old pressure fit one and installing the new seal however be careful you do not crease the new seal or damage it. It's easy to do and will leak like crazy driving you nuts. The output shaft seal is much easier to remove the nut locking washer from the output flange remove the nut holding it all together and pull the flang off with a puller. replace the seal and just reverse the process of removal finishing off with installing the locking nut washer ( 23211490120 ). This seal is just a little more tricky if you don't have the tools. Fill transmission back up with fluid than just reverse the order of removing the transmission and enjoy freshly resealed transmission.
If you have any questions call me.
I am glad you are enjoying your car.
Chris Pedersen

 

[HB Chris]

Wayne, As someone who has pulled and installed a five speed it isn’t much fun unless you have lift and a friend to help. Getting the one nut on the upper driver side of trans to bell housing is a pain without a specialty wrench, socket won’t fit. And even harder for us tall guys!

 

[E9Wayne]

thanks, Chris and Chris, I will officially be channeling my check book mechanic on this one - no lift or the special tools. Plus my good friends, Chris Ohmes and Tom Baruch, have fled Virginia for South Carolina. However, I am seriously contemplating pulling the AC evaporator, expansion valve and heater core myself this winter to have both rebuilt and then to reinstall them with Don's installation kit. There seems to be some good how-to-guides on this forum. The oil leak isn't bad, just annoying; and, now that I think about it, she's leaked some kind of oil most of the time I've owned her.