Engine rear main seal apparently leaking

Old 11-27-2017, 09:54 AM
  #1  
2006 NBP TL MT6/ 02TL-S
Thread Starter
 
AlanW's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Little Rock, AR
Posts: 916
Received 47 Likes on 41 Posts
Engine rear main seal apparently leaking

I have noticed a significant oil leak apparently coming from the rear of the engine. I am going to remove the little inspection plate between engine & trans to get a better idea. Saturday I cleaned up the oil on the bottom of the engine to be able to see where it was coming from, and it was around the little plate.

Any idea what a rear main seal job will cost and do you think it would be worth a try to add some engine stop leak?
Old 11-27-2017, 10:14 AM
  #2  
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
 
justnspace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 86,295
Received 16,260 Likes on 11,971 Posts
i mean, an indie mechanic pulled my original motor and installed a junk yard motor for $650.
and that's essentially how to replace the rear main seal...pull the motor.
Old 11-27-2017, 10:21 AM
  #3  
Burning Brakes
 
nats007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Orlando, FL
Age: 41
Posts: 809
Received 176 Likes on 136 Posts
Originally Posted by AlanW
I have noticed a significant oil leak apparently coming from the rear of the engine. I am going to remove the little inspection plate between engine & trans to get a better idea. Saturday I cleaned up the oil on the bottom of the engine to be able to see where it was coming from, and it was around the little plate.

Any idea what a rear main seal job will cost and do you think it would be worth a try to add some engine stop leak?
If definitely try to find the source of the leak first and determine how bad the leak is. Rear main does suck and hopefully it's not that. I thought my oil pan was leaking on my RSX and it turned out to be another location (and much cheaper repair)
Old 11-27-2017, 04:52 PM
  #4  
Moderator
 
Skirmich's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Baja, México.
Age: 35
Posts: 6,509
Received 1,016 Likes on 867 Posts
Originally Posted by justnspace
i mean, an indie mechanic pulled my original motor and installed a junk yard motor for $650.
and that's essentially how to replace the rear main seal...pull the motor.
On the MDX is way easier to pull the trans.
The following users liked this post:
justnspace (11-28-2017)
Old 11-28-2017, 08:49 AM
  #5  
2006 NBP TL MT6/ 02TL-S
Thread Starter
 
AlanW's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Little Rock, AR
Posts: 916
Received 47 Likes on 41 Posts
I wonder if a trans shop can unbolt & move the trans enough to access the seal without having to drop the subframe & totally remove trans?
The following users liked this post:
justnspace (11-28-2017)
Old 11-28-2017, 08:53 AM
  #6  
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
 
justnspace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 86,295
Received 16,260 Likes on 11,971 Posts
many ways to skin a cat!
Old 11-28-2017, 09:12 AM
  #7  
Senior Moderator
 
thoiboi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SoCal, CA
Posts: 46,869
Received 8,575 Likes on 6,626 Posts
engine stop leak = recipe for diss assed her.


Try and replace the PCV valve to see if it helps.
Old 07-09-2019, 09:56 AM
  #8  
4th Gear
 
Russhood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: TN
Age: 64
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Rear seal leak

I purchased by 2003 in 2006. They to to replace the rear seal, it lasted 3 years. It still has a leak and I dont think it could be repaired. I have put all kind of products in to stop it but it has 250k miles on t now and we use it as an extra car and drive in the weekend.
Old 07-10-2019, 09:38 AM
  #9  
Instructor
 
ddswv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Fairmont, WV
Posts: 106
Received 25 Likes on 15 Posts
Alan:

I will try to scan my invoice for the rear-engine seal replacement on my 2010. My torque convertor was replaced due to surging, and that fixed that, but I lost 1-2 mpg every since, later they had a software update for the transmission.

Anyways, when they did the torque convertor they chose not to replace the $15-40 rear engine main seal and it later failed. It seems like it was $1200 to 1800 labor to replace and it was covered under my extended Acuracare warranty. They did not remove engine, they were able to separated the transmission and engine. (May have dropped transmission). I'll try to find the paperwork and attach it here.

Thank-you,

Doug.
Old 07-10-2019, 08:50 PM
  #10  
Instructor
 
ddswv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Fairmont, WV
Posts: 106
Received 25 Likes on 15 Posts
Alan:

My receipt just reflects warranty, does not show the actual costs & labor. I know it was in the $1200-1800 range if it'd been out of warranty at dealership. Sorry I don't have more info.



Last edited by ddswv; 07-10-2019 at 08:53 PM. Reason: fix picture
Old 07-30-2019, 03:54 AM
  #11  
Intermediate
 
Illustro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 40
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Is the leak noticeable on the dip stick, are you constantly adding oil? I have driven years with vehicles in the past that had RMS leaks. I would compare prices of acura, Honda and reputable independent shops.
Old 07-31-2019, 05:58 PM
  #12  
2006 NBP TL MT6/ 02TL-S
Thread Starter
 
AlanW's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Little Rock, AR
Posts: 916
Received 47 Likes on 41 Posts
I figured out what caused the RMSeal to start leaking was a plugged up PCV valve which I had failed to think about changing in all the regular maintenance I had done on the MDX since buying it.
At the last oil change back in August 2018, I switched to Mobil 1 5W-30 High Mileage Synthetic formulation (from M1 5W-30 Extended Performance synthetic) The High Mileage formulation is supposed to have more seal conditioners to help higher mileage engines.
Over time, the leaking got less & less. Last week I cleaned the last of the oil spot on the driveway under where it parks. I have not seen any new drops of leakage yet in a week.
So I guess you could say it worked!!
REMEMBER TO CHANGE YOUR PCV VALVE
The following users liked this post:
ddswv (08-06-2019)


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:20 PM.