Pulled my transmission today to put a new clutch in and found what seemed to be a pretty good leak, good enough to light my clutch on fire (I think I find my overheating problem yay!). I am unsure if the leak is from the rear of the oil pan seal OR the rear main. Anyone ever had expereience with either of these? The inside of the bellhousing is about 1/16" to 1/8" thick with oil/grease/grime, and then rear of the oil pan and back of block where bellhousing was pulled is lightly covered. The transmission itself had about 1/16" to 1/8" thick of oil/greae/grime as well. I can see a film of oil at the edge of the crank, but can also see where the gasket seems to not fit so pretty. Maybe both? I am unsure.

On a side not, is it ok to get your transmission sandblasted? Its so dirty I can't stand it, but I also do not think I could clean it by hand without twenty hours of work.

 

NO YOU CAN NOT SAND BLAST A TRANNY

Did you make sure the oil wasn't coming from the intake ?

 

the leak is definitely not from the intake. I figured I couldn't, but it was worth a shot to ask.

 

My bet is on the rear seal. The real seal should be pretty easy to fix at this stage. Just pull the flywheel so you can gain access to the seal. The harder one would be the oil pan gasket. I did mine while on the car once before. The problem is its difficult to get the oil pan gasket on the car without removing the pan.

To get mine on the car I actually cut a 45 degree cut in the gasket and used some RTV on it. The cut was made on the passenger side about. If you do replace the gasket don't forget about using some RTV at the corners of the timing cover.

Good Luck

 

Do you run synthetic oil? Its great oil, but it leaks all over. I am putting a new motor in, my bell housing, and tranny looked just like yours, i bought a parts washer from harbor freight for 69.00, (had a lot of parts to wash) i left the bell housing soaking overnight, i just used engine degreaser on the tranny, put it on a set of jackstands and power washed it, then simple green, and power washed it again, i tie wrapped a plastic ziplock bag on the tail so i didnt get water in the tranny, tommorow i will finish it with brake clean, and a rag, what a PITA. I suggest you change the rear main seal, and pan gasket, they are not hard to do. Get the felpro blue gaskets, they are good quality.

 

I put the oil pan gasket in about 500 miles ago, seems like it seals ok. The rear main has about 138k miles so I am just going to replace it, already pulled the flywheel. I do run synthetic oil. One thing I noticed is that it looks like the input shaft on the tranny is skewed a couple thousandths one way. maybe thats why I have the leak

Does the HF washer work good? I keep thinking about getting one but have to weigh its usage of space versus its necessity.

 

That's what was the problem on mine. The type of symptoms you are describing sounds very similar to mine. While you have it all apart, you might think about replacing the input shaft seal on the tranny. It is pretty easy to get to (just take off the front plate of the tranny and it's right on the back side).

There are PDF files of the transmission manual around if you would like the reference (do a search). You mention that the input shaft seems a bit out of alignment? Maybe check the bearing in there as well to see if that may be a problem and contributing to the seal wear (if that is actually the source of your leak). Best of luck.

 

When you are changing the seal take a look at the area on the rear of the crankshaft that the seal should ride on. If the crank appears to be grooved there you may want to opt for the seal kit that includes the repair sleeve. Becareful when you install the repair sleeve as you can easily damage it. Read the instructions that come with it before you attempt it.

 

If the crank shows a seal wear ring,don't drive the seal in all the way in the housing. Leave it out a 32nd maybe a 16th or so and it will miss the wear.
A sleeve seal is damn near impossible to do right without the crank out on the ground.

 

thank you all for the excellent advice. I am pretty sure its the main seal. I would defintely say my input shaft is skewed to one side a few thousandths. A friend of mine walked in the garage, looked at the transmission and that was the first thing they noticed.

 

are you talking the shaft is closer to the side of the quill. it should have a little slop in it.

 

If you mean the splined shaft that reaches farthest forward, then yes, that is the one I am talking about. There is a slight amount of play from side to side if I push rather hard, but it is not perfectly aligned with the shaft that it comes through

 

I beg to differ.
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