Laqintin

I have oil leaking from the transmission. I already know it's the rear main seal but the car is at 270k miles and I bought the car when it had 141k miles for $1,050. I refuse to pay a arm and leg to get the rear main seal replaced. What other options do I have?

Violator

1. Do it yourself
2. Pay an arm and a leg
3. Sell the car, buy a nice bicycle, save the environment, and get in killer shape

JoshG

I'd leave it alone, most 4th gens now leak from the rear main seal slightly. Replace it when your transmission needs work/removed. Just keep an eye on oil level if you leak a lot, but rear main seal's don't leak a lot of oil.

Laqintin

I would do it myself but I'm inexperienced in taking apart the engine and transmission.

Can I use your arm and leg because I'm a little short.

I get more than enough exercise at work. I'm not trying the be Arnold Schwarzenegger lol

Laqintin

Thanks for the fast response. I've have been keeping an eye ínter oil level. I even put some oil leak sealant in the engine (Lucas). That for work for a couple weeks maybe 3, not it's back leaking. As you said, it's not leaking a lot. Maybe 2-3 drips a day but that's about it

JoshG

Don't put anymore sealant in it, just leave it as it is as it doesn't leak a lot. Mine leaks right now but just couple drips at a time. It barely loses any oil after 3k-5k miles. Again why take it out when you can replace it when engine/transmission is out of the car at the same time? Save time and $.

Have you heard about the high mileage Lexus? It leaks oil everywhere but the driver just continues to add oil every week. That's because he doesn't want to replace the seals. Though it still ran pretty well haha. Think of it that way, if your only leaking from the rear main seal.. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Violator

You can get a good wrench and socket socket set for about $75, that is 95% of what youd need to do just about any job on a car and there's a guide for just about everything. I bet you could do the job in 10hours. A thousand bucks for a rear main seal. I'll make the trip and do it for $850

JvG

You have not mentioned if you have an auto or 5 speed.

if its an auto,let it drip.

if it's a 5 speed, you might want to change the seal if it drips a lot. You run the risk of oiling the clutch disk eventually. That would slip of course.

We all learn as we go. Read how to do it. Or watch you tube videos. You might need to buy some tools.
You will use them again someday.

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

If it's leakin, it's livin ...

BransAm

Go up to 0w40 or 10w40 oil if you just use 5w30. That stopped my leak on mine when i went thicker.

Laqintin

You know it crazy that you say that because before, for about 7 years I used valvoline 10w 30. Then I switched to mobile 1 because i needed to do a oil change right then and there. After I put the Mobile 1 in is when I notice the oil leak from the rear main seal. I've already order some Valvoline 10w 40 from amazon. So as it time for another oil change I will put that in and see what happens. Thanks

JvG

The high mileage formula oils are intended to make the seals swell slightly. That is exactly what you want to do.

Laqintin

Wow, I didn't know that. I just thought it added more/better lube to the engine

CS_AR

Tell yourself that you're driving an expensive British car and enjoy it.

I have an 06 Honda 3.5L v6 where real main seals last 60,000 miles. So if you've gotten that far on a Nissan, you're coming out ahead.

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

The Shell Rotella T6 (5W-40) works nicely as well ...

KP11520

I'm confused here..... The OP said the front seal of the transmission is leaking and somehow we're talking about engine oil? (Not everybody Which is it, oil or transmission fluid?) Embarrassing!

With help and some tools, you could remove the transmission and address the seal. Probably not like the engine main seals and requires opening the transmission.

Maybe a transmission shop could do just the seal(s) and flush with new fluid. for a few hundred dollars.No idea where you are to understand the location business deals that can be made.

All I can say is watch the levels. Low transmission fluid can bring on failure, especially if it's got all those miles on the original factory install. Safe than sorry credo!

Maybe limp along until the weather gets warmer, get all tools and parts necessary and read/video up on how to do it yourself (with a friend or two).

Rear oil seals are a little more complicated on this engine, but do-able.

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

I guess it's been my assumption that we've been talking about the RMS based on the OP's first post stating that he refuses to pay a ton of $$ to a shop to replace it.

JvG

It seems like he is using layman's language.
Oil leaking from transmission (area). Rear main seal is specifically mentioned. So most of us would infer that the engine RMS needs to be replaced.
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PH98I30

I am surprised the UOP isn't leaking. It usually leaks before the RMS. Sometimes a UOP leak looks like an RMS leak since the oil can leak out on that side and drip where the trans meets the engine.

Laqintin

I don't recall anybody bringing up transmission fluid. I'm pretty confident it's oil because Ive had transmission issues with other cars so I'm aware of what transmission fluid smells like.


I probably could do it myself. I just don't have the time and I'm not willing to spend that amount of money on this car.

Laqintin

I'm sorry but can you clarify the acronym UOP?

JvG

I'd just let I drop them. Check your oil level . monitor how many miles per quart.

Most older cars dripped 30 years ago. It was normal.

Laqintin

At this point that's what I tend to do. Just trying to see if there were any other options out there other than spending $1,000 on it

JvG

All I can think of is trying the high mileage formulation oils.

As long as you have an auto trans, it could drip indefinitely without hurting anything.
If its a 5 speed, it might cause the clutch to slip.
At that point, either replace the clutch and RMS, or sell the car.

Meanwhile, enjoy your ride.

Laqintin

It's an automatic. Since I'm already at 270,000 miles I plan on driving it til there's nothing left

CS_AR

I've used Valvoline Max-Life High Mileage (Red Bottle) to slow leaking rear main seal leak on a Honda.

JvG

Sure. I'd continue the rest of the maintenance on an otherwise good car with that many miles. It might be good for 50 to 100k more miles. Dang cheap transportation. Might as well enjoy it.

PH98I30

Your oil leak isn't enough to worry about. My upper oil pan leaks a little more than that and I usually never have to add oil in between changes.

Laqintin

Yea, I've tried the Lucas gasket sealant and that worked for about 3 weeks. Now I'm back at square 1. But I don't think it leaks enough to get anything fixed. Besides, the leak didn't occur until I started using mobile 1. I normally use valvoline

KP11520

Sorry, I took "I have oil leaking from the transmission" literally. I have seen many call transmission fluid "Oil". It burns the same in a waste oil burner, only cleaner.Maybe the rear main seal could be a give away because these transmissions don't have a drive shaft. But I don't assume anything. I ask enough questions to make sure no assumptions screw anything up!

As you know, the transmission has to come out to replace the engine rear seal, so it's not undoable, but it is a PITA. However, if you park the car where it's on someone else's property. the leak might become a problem. But at 270K, it owes you nothing. You might actually owe it a few bucks! I think the other guys have filled in the blanks on how to handle the progression, if at all.

If the transmission leaks, that would be something that I'd suggest remedying sooner than later. Either way, keep those levels respectable!

MichMaxFan

My rms or uop was oozing as well. Auto Rx stopped it. Many months or a couple years later I tried 0w30 Pennzoil synthetic to help cold weather flow to quiet a little noisy timing chain guide to see if it would quiet it down.

Wrong. Leak returned. Switched to valvoline 5w30 maxlife. It's helping but not stopped it yet. Still irks me.

Zerodrag

iTrader: (1)

Speaking of oil leaks, make sure your oil pressure switch isn't leaking also as that is common and can get really messy if not addressed. .

Oh ya, i also suffer from the RMS leak for the last few years. Slow leak so won't fix it until the clutch needs to be changed out.