Came home last night and when I parked it I could smell something weird. Opened the hood and saw some white smoke coming from the back of the firewall. When I jacked the car up I saw this:



It looks like its coming from where the two bolts are. The oil was blown all the way to the engine oil pan and I first thought I had an oil leak. The transmission was replaced under recall about 50k ago.

Does this mean new transmission or just seal replacement?

 

Check your tranny's fluid level and condition. That stuff leaking appears rather funky.

Try cleaning the bottom of the motor and tranny.....then start the car back up. Check for any fresh signs of leakage. It may be something leaking from higher above ? Lay a piece of cardboard on the ground underneath the suspected leak to help pinpoint it's source.

 

I would locate the actual leak, by doing what 3.2 asked.

clean up the bottom and check again.
the cardboard trick will help you find where its dripping!

 

Its coming from the transmission side and runs all the way down the drivers side and thats where the oil is dripping.Tranny fluid, power steering looks good. Engine oil is a little above the first hole. I just cleaned the engine so its fairly clean. I don't see any leaks from above. Could it be the rear engine seal that is leaking?

It may actually be coming from that circular thing in the top left of the photo.

 

From higher above might mean the area where the spinoff filter is or the fill bolt. Might of got loose.

 

because we can see your engine over the internet.....

you'll need to find the leak and report back to us!

 

This is where it's leaking from:




Apparently it leaks more with time and engine movement.

 

Is your trans fluid brown on the dipstick, like it looks in the picture? It looks like engine oil to me, which is usually the rear crankshaft seal. Try a new pcv valve. Spend the extra few bucks, and get one from the dealer. At least one person on the forum cured his rear main seal leak this way.

 

The transmission fluid is light orange/red color. I am beginning to think that it is the rear seal. Interesting that replacing the PVC valve would fix a rear seal leak, but it's worth a try.

 

Blocked PCV valve will cause positive pressure in the crankcase, which could force oil through the seals.

 

You should be able to distinguish if its ATF or engine oil by smelling the fluid, they have distinct odors.
Or you can keep track of the levels on the both dipsticks.
Usually its the rear main seal on these cars.

Since its brown, does it smell like burned sugar ?

 

I did that and it didn't have any smell to it. Actually it was very sticky, but then remembered that I use amsoil and that's why it didn't have that sulfur smell that dyno oil has. I took it to a mechanic and he verified that it is the rear crankshaft seal which costs 16, the tranny seals 18 and 620 for labor.

 

Ok get that fixed asap, looks like the oil has been coming in contact with the down pipe and could cause a fire.

 

I'm going to install the new PCV tonight and drive it all day tomorrow and see what happens. If the leak is still there than come Monday, 700 it is.

 

Thats oil. Thats coming out from the inspection plate area. Your rear main has serious leakage. A new PCV valve probably wont fix that but here is to hoping.

 

My thoughts as well. I just finished replacing it and the old one seemed to work fine; just dirty and a buildup of carbon.

 

I want to add that to get the oil off of the undercarriage and exhaust system to wipe it down like you did and maybe use a heavy duty degreaser to remove the rest of the residue. Rinse thoroughly with water or an under carriage cleaner at a car wash.


Note: Once all the work is done.