So I set out to replace my clutch and flywheel, I had originally intended to do the rear main seal at the same time until I saw what was involved and regrettably chose to worry about it when the time came, and of course it's leaking and the time has come.

I am 100% sure it's leaking around the upper oil pan, and I'm not able to determine if the rear main seal itself is leaking due to all of the oil from the lack of rtv sealant. Basically what I've found is that you pretty much have to drop the subframe or take the engine out in order to fix this...... As much as I hate to even put myself out here like this, is there a way to add/reseal just the rear main housing area without dropping the upper pan? I am not noticing ANY oil consumption, but I'm fearing that my brand new clutch/flywheel will be contaminated if I don't act now. I am not one to half *** anything but this is ridiculous.

 

 

It looks like its coming from the half moon oil seal. You'll have to drop the upper oil pan. While your at it you mind as well replace the front oil seal by the crank pulley.

 

If I were going to go through the trouble of pulling the engine and basically taking it partially apart, I just assume use it as a core for a built one or build it.... The issue is I'm kind of strapped for time and cash as this was supposed to be a weekend job which I figured would easily go beyond that since it always does, BUT, my other car decided to crap out AS SOON as I dropped the transmission on the g. so I'm basically screwed in this moment. Like I said I never make a habit of halfassery but I'm backed into a corner right now. There is no way to clean the hell out of the area and add more grey rtv or something more appropriate to that area and hope for the best for right now?

 

In my experience putting rtv on the outside to seal it will not help. The only way rtv will seal properly is when it between two surfaces. If you can't remove the pan now to fix it properly I would clean the area with brake clean and throw the transmission back in. Just monitor the oil from there. It also doesn't seem to be that bad of a leak unless you cleaned it up some already.

Just my .02

 

I haven't had an issue with oil consumption at all, in all honestly this is probably the best car I've had as far as that goes. I just would like to know that I at least tried to do something to make this better without making it worse, and as quick as possible. Other people have said they used different methods of applying a sealant to the outside of a leaking area with high 100's of miles with complete success, but none of them vq specific... motorcycle engines and other areas like valve covers (which just seems lazy), and as far as cracked oil pans using JB weld a domed washer and a penny on jalopnik lol. I know this is a bandaid on a stab wound but I can't just ignore it or do heart surgery. Ahh this sucks.

 

I would just clean it and put your trans back in then man.