I have an oil leak that I can't see the origin but I think that it is the rear main seal (350 Chev). The engine oil comes out of the hole in the bottom of the transmission inspection cover. It is engine oil not trans fluid. I don't think that it is the oil pan as there is no oil on the pan. I've been told to change the rear seal (2 piece) I can drain the oil. Then take the oil pan off. Take off the rear main bearing cap. Maybe have to remove the oil pump also. Then carefully push the top half of the seal out. Then push in the new seal. Put back together. Is this as easy as it sounds? Thanks, Bill
That's it... I have had em go real smooth..and have had em go real bad.....If ya have any other leaks, nows the time to fix them too.. Timing, front pan seal..etc..EVILT
Yeah, that's how to change the seal, ***uming it's an 86-older 2 piece design. Also, before you put the cap on, put some aviation type sealer on the cap to go across the area between the seal and the outer edge of the cap, otherwise it can leak between the cap and the block. Also it wouldn't hurt to pull off the flywheel cover, clean things off real good, run the engine some, and make sure where the oil is coming from before you take it all apart. Might be coming from the valve covers or the back of the intake....you never know.
The rear main seal on my 76 350 was so brittle it wouldn't push out, I had to remove the crank (replaced the bearings while I was at it) and pick out the old seal. So it can be a ***** of a job.
if you stager the new seal when installing (not lining it up with the cap parting line) no sealer needed and it wont leak no mo.
Even if you stagger the seal (I always do), you still need to put sealer on the cap (or the block, as Chevy suggests)....metal-to-metal does not seal well.
I hope that isn't the case. It is a newly rebuilt engine. It sat about 1 year after being built to being started. My builder said that sometimes when an engine sits it might leak. He said to drive it and it could seal. Not yeat but it's only been 150 miles. Thanks, Bill
That is part of the problem. I have the inspection cover off. I've checked the valve covers, oil pressure sender and manifold and can't find the leak. The oil ac***ulates in the inspection cover and runs out of a hole in the bottom. Also no oil on the oil pan. Thanks, Bill
one thing most guys forget about is the galley plugs in the back of the engine. sometime it'll leak from one of those & drive you crazy trying to find it. gm sells a flourescent dye to put in the oil that glows slime green when exposed to a "blacklight". just clean everything off,add dye, run engine for 10 minutes in the garage, shut it off & go dig your old blacklight out of the attic. shine it up the back of the engine & PRESTO!!! stevie wonder can see where it comes from...mel
I hope it isn't those plugs. The rear seal seems easier to fix! Thanks I'll look for that stuff. I know they put some in my daily driver to look for A/C leaks. Bill
fixing those plugs (or the cam plug, which can also leak on a new engine) requires pulling either the trans or engine, whichever is easier...usually they're both a pain. Also just to scare you, theres another plug on the back of the block, on top, accessible only when the left head is removed, that will leak oil down the side...usually oil from there doesn't get into the bellhousing area but it can.
While I had the inspection cover off and looking up for the leak I saw the cam plug and those other plugs. I hope it isn't them. I just had the trans out to put in a new flexplate. The car is a T bucket. I took the body off. Then slid the trans out far enough to get at the flexplate bolts. I DON'T want to do that again. Bill
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