Oil coming from bellhousing plug.
10-13-2013, 08:02 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: California
Posts: 2
Oil coming from bellhousing plug.
So I just recently acquired an 04 automatic 40th Annv. Mustang and today when I got under it after driving , the plug was wet with what appeared to be oil. I wiped it down, drove another mile or so & there was only a little (maybe the eq. Of 3 drops) around the plug.
I searched a little and read that it could be:
Oil pan leak
Valve cover gasket leak
Rear main seal
Possibly a leftover mess from a sloppy oil change?
From what I've read, wouldn't the leak be a lot worse if it was from the rear main seal?
Are there any other possible causes for this small leak? And how could I figure out where exactly the leak is coming from myself?
Here's pics:
I searched a little and read that it could be:
Oil pan leak
Valve cover gasket leak
Rear main seal
Possibly a leftover mess from a sloppy oil change?
From what I've read, wouldn't the leak be a lot worse if it was from the rear main seal?
Are there any other possible causes for this small leak? And how could I figure out where exactly the leak is coming from myself?
Here's pics:
10-13-2013, 08:57 PM
#2
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ohio
Posts: 3,628
Most likely its either the rear main seal , or the oil pan gasket under the rear main.
That plug looks rubber to me , I would take it out and get under there with a flash light and see if you can see anything.
You could try to look down the back of the engine to see if the valve covers are leaking back there as well.
That plug looks rubber to me , I would take it out and get under there with a flash light and see if you can see anything.
You could try to look down the back of the engine to see if the valve covers are leaking back there as well.
10-14-2013, 11:46 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: California
Posts: 2
Most likely its either the rear main seal , or the oil pan gasket under the rear main.
That plug looks rubber to me , I would take it out and get under there with a flash light and see if you can see anything.
You could try to look down the back of the engine to see if the valve covers are leaking back there as well.
That plug looks rubber to me , I would take it out and get under there with a flash light and see if you can see anything.
You could try to look down the back of the engine to see if the valve covers are leaking back there as well.
In the first picture you can see a drop of oil coming off that plate & that is where the oil is dripping down.
The mechanic said the same thing you did, either it's the oil pan gasket or the rear main seal but he would have to remove the trans to know for sure.
Quotes me $300 for the rear main & said it would be about the same to do the pan gasket. $400 to fix both at the same time.
10-15-2013, 07:38 AM
#4
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 1,670
If the oil is red-ish its tranny fluid, if its brown it is motor oil. That plug is to get to the torque converter drain plug inside the bell housing. If you pulled the plug, stuck your finger or paper towels up there and didn’t get an oil then its not your tranny oil pump seal. You can check the back of your valve covers for leaks with a small mirror. The oil would travel down the back of the motor to the spot your looking at. There really isn’t a good/easy way to check the rear main seal or the back of the oil pan gasket without either pulling the motor or pulling the transmission. They are both common leak points.
$300/400 for this job is fairly cheap for a rear main seal and/or oil pan gasket job. I’d do both while your at it.
$300/400 for this job is fairly cheap for a rear main seal and/or oil pan gasket job. I’d do both while your at it.
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