1st timer

I changed my engine oil last week with mobil1 5w20 super 1000 and noticed oil leaks ever since then.I'm almost positive it's the oil so I went today and bought mobil1 5w30 super syn. I will check tomorrow for oil leaks.Why does 5w20 cost 50% less than 5w30? There also regular 5w30 and 5w30 super syn,whta's the diff?

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

synthetic oil is thinner and protects better but it will leak through small "gaps" that reg oil wouldnt.

fsttyms1

It shouldnt leak just because of what it is. Where is it leaking from?

1st timer

Don't know,I wiped everything down and will check tomorrow for leaks.Isn't mobil1 synthetic only?

1st timer

It's not the first time I use mobil1,i've been using it for the past 3 years with no problems.

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

in the same car?

is it leaking around the middle of the engine bay, bc if it is then its most likely your rear main seal, or you just spilled some when u were willing it up.

1st timer

Yeah the same car.What bugs me is that there was no sign of a leak prior the oil change.Will have to wait and see now that I went back to 5w30.

01tl4tl

do some research on what the oil numbers mean- and then go find the real source of your leak.

Mobil1 is now made with different formulas- the old good stuff--- is now called
hi mileage or extendsed use
and the new stuff with lesser quality base oil is mobil1

have to read the labels carefully on everything you buy!!

01tl4tl

I changed the oil on my recently aquired 20 year old motorcyle, and 50 miles later a small side o-ring type oil seal blew out.
Was it new oil caused the problem, or simply a rubber seal that had dried up and cracked during storage, then was put to use again?
Thats what it looks like, a worn seal. $3 new part- and remove some bolts to get at it.
Not some crazy internal overpressure from new oil caused yada....
like some online experts were quick to suggest~

1st timer

Checked the car this morning and.......STILL leaking!From the middle of the engine bay,between the tranny and motor.It's engine oil by the way.

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

your rear main seal has gone to shit. only way to replace it is to take out the trans, a lot of work for a seal that cost $7 or so dollars

01tl4tl

4 hours at shop labor 6 hours home labor with proper tools-
also need a big friend and heavy duty transmission jack --so its 450 pounds doesnt fall and kill you

01tl4tl

that seals only 7 bucks??- and I was telling people 10!

01tl4tl

you can remove the inspection cover-2 bolts- and the oil should drip right out of there

but no way to get at it without trans removal

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

yup $7.87 according to http://www.acuraautomotiveparts.org/...catdisplay.jsp

1st timer

Man i'm thinking of selling the car don't need this crap right now!!!!
I want to get the 03 A-Spec. But then again i'll probably run into problems again!!

derrick

5w30 is short from the manufacturer ... the hurricanes stopped production of 5w30 so it will eventually be back on the shelves (well, that's what the guy at Murray's in Detroit told me)

1st timer

Found one with 63k miles!!For 17k cnd $

rob-2

If you go back to 5/30 regular oil does it stop leaking?

fsttyms1

Its pretty common on the J32A2 so your not alone, mine does too (though im waiting till i need a new clutch before i waste my time on it). Try going back to the 5w30 which offers slightly better protection and what the motor was actually designed for

AlanW

And I believe the Hi-Mileage Mobile 1 says it has seal conditioners in it, which might help perserve the seals in our older engines...if you believe what they say, anyway.

1st timer

I went back to 5w30 and noticed some leaking yesterday but today so far has no leaks.I hope it stoppedI called the dealer today to get a price on changing the rear main seal and quoted me 8-9hrs of labour,that's insane for a 10$ seal. 10$seal=1000$ job!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rob-2

If it isn't broken...

1st timer

Does mobil 1 make non synthetic oil?? I was thinking of getting the high mileage mobil but what is considered high mileage? Mine has 80k miles.

derrick

Some will argue mobil1 is not a "genuine" synthetic, despite the label saying it is. (It's a matter of semantics and a court case they lost a few years back.) But if you are going on what the current agreed upon definition of synthetic oil, there is no non-synthetic version of mobil1 that I am aware of.

The high mileage mobil1 is the "old" formula of mobil1 ... which is more of a 'real' synthetic oil than the current formulation. You can use the high mileage one at any time.

1st timer

Cool,thanks.

01tl4tl

03 cars have problems of their own- watch for trans warranty limits and if timing belt recall was done

1st timer

Is there a timing belt recall for 00 TLs?

fsttyms1

no

SodaLuvr

Rear main seals only leak if the engine has been poorly maintained, according to my friend who's a master tech at an Acura dealership.

Chances are, there's nothing you can do at this point to stop the leak. 5w-30 won't make it leak slower, nor will it protect any better. You'll just have to have this repaired.

fsttyms1

Not all true. The J32A2 has a problem and its known by acura. But you are correct. If it is leaking there isnt any thing you can do

phee

iTrader: (5)

is your oil drain bolt properly torqued?

1st timer

Yes,double checked the plug and filter.

1st timer

I maintain the car very well.The leak semms to have stopped/slow down. I'll give it some time and see.

L3wD

Hey fsttyms Is there anything I can do to prevent it from leaking, so I can do it before I drop the engine in?

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

u really cant do anything except replace it with a new one.

1st timer

The dealer quoted me 9hrs of labour!!!!!!!!!!!

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

yup its about 6 or so hrs to take the trans out adn put it back, and it only take a couple of min to replace the seal

L3wD

No no what I meant is if theres anything to prevent it from happening

Right now i have J32A2 in my garage thats gonna be built then dropped into my TL so if there was something to fix it.. or upgraded seal or something then i'd do it now. but if not I'm still gonna change that seal before I drop the engine in

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

changing it is the only thing u can do.