What happened to my Rear Main Oil Seal?? HELP!!

[chrisfrye]

I just bought, a few months ago, a 1g Eagle Talon TSI AWD and now I need help. I've had a lot of suprises with this car but so far nothing I couldn't handle.. Well I've had this oil leak thats gotten progressively worse over the past couple thousand miles/couple months. Taken it to two local mechanics, told me it was my Rear main and it would cost around 800 bucks to replace. I have a friend who runs a performance shop in DC and I took it to him, he confirmed it was my Rear Main Oil Seal, and we looked up the shop time for an automatic tsi awd, sure enough 8.3 hours! I know the seal itself can't be that expensive. I don't know what to do now, I've already put so much time and money into this car I'm not going to give up now. But, there's no way i could pay 700 dollars for this job. I have a Haynes shop manual, and I read the sections on how to replace it, at least a few times, and they make it sound easy. But how easy is it? And would it really take a mechanic 8 hours to do? I don't pretain to know a lot about engines and cars, but I have not come across anything mechanical that I haven't been able to figure out. So could I do this myself, any good suggestions? I've been trying to find a friend or mechanic that doesn't have to work at a shop for shoptime to help me out with this. I pay good, but not 85 dollars an hour good. I am in the DC metro area. Last questions I have are about the consequences of letting this oil seal leak. How long can you ride with it leaking? What are the possible outcomes of it continuing leak, anything serious? I'm not going to let my oil get low, and I frequently change it. But if the seal continues to deteriorate, could I lose alot of oil at one time, say 3 quarts? I've known a couple cars to do it, but couldn't proove it was the Rear Main. Thank you for your help!

With Peace,
Christian Frye

 

[Sean485]

Replacing the seal requires dropping the tranny, thats why it takes so long. Once the tranny is out of the way it should be fairly easy.

As for long term effects if it is leaking bad enough it will destroy the clutch and you will be hoofin it

The seal should only be a couple bucks, if you can find a place to do it its something you should be able to do yourself in a weekend.

 

[chrisfrye]

I know that I have to drop the transaxle amoung other things to get to the oil seal, I just wasn't sure if it was out of my league. I have to get the clutch after i remove the trans, so I guess I'll check that out then and replace if nesecarry. How long do you think that leak would take to get to my clutch, and then are there any further repercussions with a slipping clutch? I forgot to mention I did throw in some oil stop leak right after I got the car home and noticed an oil leak. I dont think it did much though. also are there anymore problems that could arise from this leak? I am just a really paranoid person. I guess. I have to find a place to do this and someone to help, so that might take a while. Are there any better instruction sets or diagrams or something to help me how to do this? All i have is a Haynes repair manual. I appreciate the Help guys.

Christian Frye

 

[blackGSX2g]

Your right, the part is cheap as hell...I picked mine up for like $12 from Mitsu. As far as the job, its not that its that hard..the toughest part is getting the tranny off. It gives you an opportunity to put a fresh clutch and TOB in there. Once you get the flywheel off, it only takes like 15-20 to swap out the seals. Give yourself a whole weekend and you should be fine.

 

[chrisfrye]

What are you referring to when you say TOB? I called this mitsubishi dealership and they weren't sure which seal I was talking about. Would there be a different name then Rear Main Oil Bearing Seal?? Thanks

 

[chrisfrye]

Also, should I plan to replace the clutch, or can I wait to see what it looks like, or happens.. I don't know but there a few hundred bucks and I dont really want to have to drop that if I dont have to. Also are automatic clutches different from a manual transmission clutch? I was looking at the ACT 2100 since it seems to be reputable. I dont really want to get this apart and find out i need a new clutch, and have to wait a several days for it to be shipped here. But i would feel it slipping or something, correct? The tranny seems to be in good condition, the only thing known in it's lifetime was recently they had to "service the overdrive". Thanks!!

 

[Dream On]

When he said TOB i believe he's referring to the throw out bearing.

 

[Turbo Talon DL]

What are you referring to when you say TOB? I called this mitsubishi dealership and they weren't sure which seal I was talking about. Would there be a different name then Rear Main Oil Bearing Seal?? Thanks

THROW OUT BEARING

 

[blackGSX2g]

Also, should I plan to replace the clutch, or can I wait to see what it looks like, or happens.. I don't know but there a few hundred bucks and I dont really want to have to drop that if I dont have to. Also are automatic clutches different from a manual transmission clutch? I was looking at the ACT 2100 since it seems to be reputable. I dont really want to get this apart and find out i need a new clutch, and have to wait a several days for it to be shipped here. But i would feel it slipping or something, correct? The tranny seems to be in good condition, the only thing known in it's lifetime was recently they had to "service the overdrive". Thanks!!

Yea, TOB is throw out bearing. Sorry, do you have an auto or a manual? Automatic transmissions dont' have the clutch disc/flywheel setup, they use a torque converter. I've never taken apart an auto, but taking off the tranny of a manual is basically the same as an auto.

If it is a manual, you would inspect the clutch disc much like you would inspect brake pads in that you look at how much is left on it. You would also inspect the surface condition of the pressure plate/flywheel and have them resurfaced/replaced if necessary. If they look good, you don't need to replace it...but if it goes out in the future, you have to drop the tranny again.

 

[Defiant]

I don' t know if it could have caused it, but you say in your mods that you have a crankshaft pulley. Is that one without a harmonic balancer? That could ascerbate a seal problem.

But first, automatic or manual transmission?

 

[chrisfrye]

First I have an automatic transmission :-( I know.. I'm not entirely sure what how autos work with the torque convertor, but since it doesnt use the traditional clutch, could it affect something else? TOB? and Secondly I didn't replace it with an underdrive pulley, as i researched about the harmonic dampeners, and crankwalk.. Any more thoughts and idea's would be greatly appreciated.

Christian Frye

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

Pulling an A/T vs M/T makes the job even harder. The AWD A/T is so much heavier than the M/T.

 

[chrisfrye]

Okay so an important question now is whats going to happen if i let this oil leak go? My father owned a hundai and he let his rear main oil leak(he believes what was leaking) go for a little while and driving down the freeway one day it went completely out and he lost all of his oil instantly, and before he had a chance to pull over he dropped his entire engine. Had to replace the whole thing.. and I really dont look forward to that happening.. what do you guys think? thanks!

 

[phalanx]

yeah if your going to have the tranny off you might as well get a high stall torque convertor. And being that the tranny is out and easier to work out might as well do the end clutch/seal and shift kit mods.

 

[DianeGrill]

I just found out my 1998 GS-T, auto trannny, has to have the main oil seal replaced. Is this something common on these cars?

 

[paranoidTSi]

Ha, same thing happened to my DSM, it happened after the shop replaced one of my axles don't know what that has to do with it, but anyway...It went away on its own and I really don't know how it happened.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

it happens after a lot of miles/years no matter what car it is. always change rear main seal with every clutch job. as stated it is only a few bucks and few minutes behind the flywheel your done with it. you auto guys don't have clutches to replace, so it does not get done until it starts leaking and then your surprised at how much a 10-15 dollar part can cost you. if it leaks bad enough you won't be able to put oil in it fast enough and yes, you could loose an engine. although i would think it rare for the rear seal to leak more than about a quart or so a week and you should be able to stay on top of that well enough.


jim