Would I see oil on the clutch side of the flywheel? I have the old clutch off, it is definitely worn down to basically nothing. I see no oil on the clutch side of the flywheel.

I was gonna take the flywheel off but the bolts are on there pretty good. There wasn't that much oil on the bottom of the bell housing, nor do I have to add any oil between oil changes.

What I am trying to ask is would it be obvious that my rear main seal is leaking even with the flywheel still on?

 

It would be fairly obvious, there would be oil covering the block behind and under the centerline of the flywheel. Chances are it would be on the front of the flywheel as well, if not on your clutch.

 

you might be able to see between the holes on the flywheel if there is a leak of some sort from your rear main seal.

I dont think you should see any oil inside the bellhousing at all.

It wouldnt hurt to get off the flywheel. Something to keep the flyhweel still and a brake bar would do the job, then you could inspect for sure, and if anything put more RTV over it to prevent any leaks.

I'd say go the extra mile and check and replace if your really not too sure. Unless you want to drop the tranny again.

 

i DO NOT want to drop the tranny again. i will take the flywheel off tomorrow to make sure but hopefully the seal is good and i can just put my new clutch on and start reassembling.

i still have to do my outer boots too :/

 

Don't pull your old seal unless you are going to pull the engine. That seal has a compressed rubber gasket that can only be replaced by disassembling the lower half of the engine. I've already been through this, bought the most expensive rear main seal in my life, and wasn't even able to install it properly.

Rene

 

Which part are you talking about? Chaning a rear main seal is no more complicated than removing the three bolt, and replacing it with a new rear main seal. Seated properly, Sufficient RTV for a good seal and prevent leaks. It will also have the flywheel pressed agains it at about 69 ft/lbs once thats re intalled.

the lower half of the engine. . . are you refering to having to remove the upper oil pan? You certainly dont have to go thru that trouble just for rear main seal. Who told you that information?

 

I would be more concerned about getting ur flywheel resurfaced 1st....but only replace the seal if needed....and its not hard to do just have to make sure its seated right and RTV it like Deezy said

 

False.

It can be done, and I have done it. I will admit though it takes a little finesse, the kind that comes through experience of working on lots of different things and overcoming the challenges presented.

That being said, the rear seal comes as an assembled unit with the aluminum retainer. It is a pain to get the lip seal on the oil pan in place because the retainer is located with two dowels. Difficult but possible.

 

Installing the seal is fairly simple, taking out the old one was a PITA for me but like OLDNGIVOUT said you need a little finesse and experiance.

Mine was actually leaking and i believe for a while before i even noticed. I've known about it about 2 months before replacing it while doing my clutch but once i had the tranny off i didn't notice any oil on the flywheel or on the clutch. I only saw oil when i took of the flywheel and noticed just alittle around the rtv sealent. +1 on resurfacing the flywheel...

 

What is the easiest way to tell if your rear main seal is leaking? When I was getting an oil change once, the guy said there is a leak and it seemed like it was coming from the rear main seal but he wasn't sure. When I got another oil change later, the guy didn't mention anything. I haven't noticed any oil underneath my car when it is off and parked.

 

Look for drops of oil hanging at the mating surfaces of the engine and transmission. When the rear seal leaks, the oil drips straight down, while the engine is off.

When running, the oil is thrown around in the bellhousing of the trans, only to collect and drip out later.