Oil leak from rear main seal
 

Hello,
I've had a small oil leak from apparently the rear main seal on my '93
Honda Accord. My mechanic just identified it today when doing some other
unrealated repairs. I knew that I had an oil leak from somewhere that has
been a slight nuisance but not terribly cumbersome. Very little oil hits the
driveway. It will cost about $300 to get this repaired. The car has around
180,000 miles on it and I would like to drive it for at least 250,000 if not
more. The balance of the engine and car is in excellent shape.
Is it worth putting the money out right now to replace the seal or
should I wait until I need some other repair that can be done in tandem so I
don't have to have my mechanic pull the transmission just to get to this one
problem. Thanks in advance for replies.


Dan

Re: Oil leak from rear main seal
 

Dan Staringer wrote:
>
> Hello,
> I've had a small oil leak from apparently the rear main seal on my '93
> Honda Accord. My mechanic just identified it today when doing some other
> unrealated repairs. I knew that I had an oil leak from somewhere that has
> been a slight nuisance but not terribly cumbersome. Very little oil hits
> the driveway. It will cost about $300 to get this repaired. The car has
> around 180,000 miles on it and I would like to drive it for at least
> 250,000 if not more. The balance of the engine and car is in excellent
> shape. Is it worth putting the money out right now to replace the seal or
> should I wait until I need some other repair that can be done in tandem
> so I don't have to have my mechanic pull the transmission just to get to
> this one problem. Thanks in advance for replies.
>
> Dan

First make sure that the leak really is coming from the rear main seal and
not from somewhere else, e.g., valve cover gasket, distributor o-ring, etc.
and leaking down to the bottom of the engine. You did not mention if your
tranny was an automatic or a manual. If the latter, then maybe the rear
main seal can wait until you need to do your next clutch.

Eric

Re: Oil leak from rear main seal
 

Dan Staringer wrote:
>
> Hello,
> I've had a small oil leak from apparently the rear main seal on my '93
> Honda Accord. My mechanic just identified it today when doing some other
> unrealated repairs. I knew that I had an oil leak from somewhere that has
> been a slight nuisance but not terribly cumbersome. Very little oil hits
> the driveway. It will cost about $300 to get this repaired. The car has
> around 180,000 miles on it and I would like to drive it for at least
> 250,000 if not more. The balance of the engine and car is in excellent
> shape. Is it worth putting the money out right now to replace the seal or
> should I wait until I need some other repair that can be done in tandem
> so I don't have to have my mechanic pull the transmission just to get to
> this one problem. Thanks in advance for replies.
>
> Dan

First make sure that the leak really is coming from the rear main seal and
not from somewhere else, e.g., valve cover gasket, distributor o-ring, etc.
and leaking down to the bottom of the engine. You did not mention if your
tranny was an automatic or a manual. If the latter, then maybe the rear
main seal can wait until you need to do your next clutch.

Eric

Re: Oil leak from rear main seal
 

Dan Staringer wrote:

> Hello,
> I've had a small oil leak from apparently the rear main seal on my '93
> Honda Accord. My mechanic just identified it today when doing some other
> unrealated repairs. I knew that I had an oil leak from somewhere that has
> been a slight nuisance but not terribly cumbersome. Very little oil hits the
> driveway. It will cost about $300 to get this repaired. The car has around
> 180,000 miles on it and I would like to drive it for at least 250,000 if not
> more. The balance of the engine and car is in excellent shape.
> Is it worth putting the money out right now to replace the seal or
> should I wait until I need some other repair that can be done in tandem so I
> don't have to have my mechanic pull the transmission just to get to this one
> problem. Thanks in advance for replies.

You can try a dose of AutoRX. Its been known to stop oil leaks. If its
oil gumming up around the seal it may fix it.

http://www.auto-rx.com/index.html

You can get test information and opinions on it from:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

Re: Oil leak from rear main seal
 

Dan Staringer wrote:

> Hello,
> I've had a small oil leak from apparently the rear main seal on my '93
> Honda Accord. My mechanic just identified it today when doing some other
> unrealated repairs. I knew that I had an oil leak from somewhere that has
> been a slight nuisance but not terribly cumbersome. Very little oil hits the
> driveway. It will cost about $300 to get this repaired. The car has around
> 180,000 miles on it and I would like to drive it for at least 250,000 if not
> more. The balance of the engine and car is in excellent shape.
> Is it worth putting the money out right now to replace the seal or
> should I wait until I need some other repair that can be done in tandem so I
> don't have to have my mechanic pull the transmission just to get to this one
> problem. Thanks in advance for replies.

You can try a dose of AutoRX. Its been known to stop oil leaks. If its
oil gumming up around the seal it may fix it.

http://www.auto-rx.com/index.html

You can get test information and opinions on it from:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

Re: Oil leak from rear main seal
 

Clean it up real good, and be SURE it's the rear main seal. My bet is
that the oil pan gasket needs replaced. That's what it was on my '92
Accord 5 speed. bob

noway wrote:
>
> Dan Staringer wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> > I've had a small oil leak from apparently the rear main seal on my '93
> > Honda Accord. My mechanic just identified it today when doing some other
> > unrealated repairs. I knew that I had an oil leak from somewhere that has
> > been a slight nuisance but not terribly cumbersome. Very little oil hits the
> > driveway. It will cost about $300 to get this repaired. The car has around
> > 180,000 miles on it and I would like to drive it for at least 250,000 if not
> > more. The balance of the engine and car is in excellent shape.
> > Is it worth putting the money out right now to replace the seal or
> > should I wait until I need some other repair that can be done in tandem so I
> > don't have to have my mechanic pull the transmission just to get to this one
> > problem. Thanks in advance for replies.
>
> You can try a dose of AutoRX. Its been known to stop oil leaks. If its
> oil gumming up around the seal it may fix it.
>
> http://www.auto-rx.com/index.html
>
> You can get test information and opinions on it from:
>
> http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

Re: Oil leak from rear main seal
 

Clean it up real good, and be SURE it's the rear main seal. My bet is
that the oil pan gasket needs replaced. That's what it was on my '92
Accord 5 speed. bob

noway wrote:
>
> Dan Staringer wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> > I've had a small oil leak from apparently the rear main seal on my '93
> > Honda Accord. My mechanic just identified it today when doing some other
> > unrealated repairs. I knew that I had an oil leak from somewhere that has
> > been a slight nuisance but not terribly cumbersome. Very little oil hits the
> > driveway. It will cost about $300 to get this repaired. The car has around
> > 180,000 miles on it and I would like to drive it for at least 250,000 if not
> > more. The balance of the engine and car is in excellent shape.
> > Is it worth putting the money out right now to replace the seal or
> > should I wait until I need some other repair that can be done in tandem so I
> > don't have to have my mechanic pull the transmission just to get to this one
> > problem. Thanks in advance for replies.
>
> You can try a dose of AutoRX. Its been known to stop oil leaks. If its
> oil gumming up around the seal it may fix it.
>
> http://www.auto-rx.com/index.html
>
> You can get test information and opinions on it from:
>
> http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/