Rear Main Seal

[djmarch]

I have a major oil leak on my 04, and from what I can tell, it's leaking between the transaxle housing and block/oilpan. How difficult is it to replace the main seal and what steps are required. Does the block need to be separated from the transaxle to replace the seal ?

I'm hoping its the oil pan gasket...Will know more when the mechanic puts it up on a lift.

[06T200]

Yes, the rear main is a 1 piece seal, and you will need to separate the engine/trans to replace it. Odds are likely it is just the oil pan seal however. How many miles do you have on it?

[djmarch]

Yes, the real main is a 1 piece seal, and you will need to separate the engine/trans to replace it. Odds are likely it is just the oil pan seal however. How many miles do you have on it?

155,000... A quart every 500 miles...Thanks for the reply...Your response made me feel better....For now...Goes in the shop tomorrow....God...I hope it's just the oil pan gasket.

[06T200]

dj, with only 155K on it I would lean even more to the oil pan seal. I notice the oil pan seeps a little oil on our 06 LT in the front (right under the filter), but it is not enough to bother me. It does leave a 'print' on the driveway but that's about it. I hope they get it sealed up for you. Since they need to pull the pan anyway to get to the seal, they should be able to determine once the pan is off precisely where it is leaking. If there is no 'witness line' on the bottom of the seal, then it is safe to assume the pan seal (just RTV silicone) was the cause.

[djmarch]

Well I just back from the garage and it doesn't look good. The mechanic showed me where oil was spewing all over the place. He removed the inspection hole in the transaxle housing and the flex plate was coated in oil. Oil all over the starter as well. He suspected the rear main seal, but he said we could start with the oil pan gasket and take it from there. My question to members does the oil pan need to be removed when replacing the seal ? Something I forgot to ask him. Otherwise I'll bypass the oil pan gasket and bite the bullet and get it done. This sucks...Right before Christmas on top of it all.

[06T200]

does the oil pan need to be removed when replacing the seal ?

The pan can stay on the block far as I know. Once the engine is out, they should be able to R/R it with the pan on.