Rear Main leaking

[forddieseltweek]

Well my rear main seal started leaking pretty bad yesterday....... It has never keaked before and now it is leaking bad...not a drop or two but a littlse puddle..... Do I have to pull the engine to do this? or can I do it when I install the new clutch? TIA

[Action Rick]

Originally Posted by forddieseltweek

Well my rear main seal started leaking pretty bad yesterday....... It has never keaked before and now it is leaking bad...not a drop or two but a littlse puddle..... Do I have to pull the engine to do this? or can I do it when I install the new clutch? TIA

Look for oil leaking on the top of the motor first... if so, it will end up behind the motor where you see it now....

[MrJohnWayne]

check the hpop, lines and turbo pedastal first. They can leak badly and throw oil and make it look like a rear main.

[spburns]

7.3's are known for what looks like a seal leak. Most common is a bad O-ring on the top, behind the intake - a high pressure pump leak. It'll drain to the back of the engine and pool underneath the rear engine seal and usually only leaks after you shut the engine off. Same problem right through the 2003 7.3's. Bit of a PITA to repair, but a helluva lot easier and cheaper than a seal!

[jacksd3]

Has anyone used those oil additives that are specifically advertised to stop rear main seal leaks. I forget the brand name but I saw it on an episode of Two Guys Garage last month. They claim that the seals dry out and shrink causing the leaks and this can of stuff will restore the seal thereby stopping the leak.

[MrJohnWayne]

I could see how a seal could dry out if you let the vehicle sit for prolonged periods of time, but if it is a daily driver it won't dry out. It might wear out but not dry out.

I'll put $10 on it not being the rear main. Check up top like everyone else has already stated.

[jacksd3]

I'm with you guys. I doubt if it's the rear main seal and I'm skeptical about leak fixers in a can. But if on the off chance it is the rear main seal I'm guessing he will have to separate the engine from the tranny. At least that is what I had to do on another car I own. I had to drop the tranny to get at the rear main seal at the back of the engine. Pain in the butt but not hard to do.

[NOVAJOE105]

Yes the engine and trans have to be seperated to replace the rear main. I agree with the others that have suggested looking on top for the leak. i haven't seen many rear mains just let go on these enignes. If you are planning on replacing the clutch, I would go ahead and put a rear main seal in it while I had it apart. It's just a little cheap insurance.