Thread: Rear main seal, maybe????

The oil dripping there can have come from anywhere, Give the engine and gearbox a Good clean with degreaser and a pressure spray (I use the local car wash) and then look to see where the oil is originating from.

Originally Posted by Barkz71

Hi all , have a small oil leak on my 02 Td5 D2. It seems to weep around the rear of the motor where it joins the auto, now i cant see exactly where its coming from. Is there some way to tell if it is a rear main other than motor out? Also while I was under there I saw a plug hole on the bottom of the auto where it connects to the motor which is tapped but no bolt or plug in it, is there something missing? Cheers Brett20190224_090440.jpg20190224_090450.jpg

Nothing missing it is where the Timing Pin fits when required. Nick

I had/still have a similar issue that resulted with oil drips in the same spot.

I traced the oil leak from the foam insulation on the firewall just behind where the half moon is on the rocker cover gasket.

It appeared my rocker cover gasket had been leaking for sometime, so much to the point that when the foam behind it was pressed/squeezed or such a fair stream of oil would run out and when traced, it ended up right there at the bell housing connecting.

I changed the rocker cover gasket and am leaving the foam to 'drain' over time.

Hope this gives some insight.

As Trout said,give it a good wash down,then checkin a week or so.

They also leak from rocker cover gasket,rear camshaft plug,and if you are extremely unlucky,head gasket.

I'm still chasing one from the back of the motor, replaced rocker cover gasket, Cam plug is ok, new gasket on fuel pressure regulator, only thing left i can see is head gasket.

Rear main seals are usually pretty good. More likely it's coming from above or even the sump gasket. ..could be anywhere unfortunately🙄

Did you check the back of the valley? Had a leak there that looked like a rear main seal fail, oil was coming out the inspection cover on the bell housing and all over the join between the engine and the transmission. Easy to check with a small inspection mirror on a stick.

Shell

Thanks guys, Dozer2 that sounds exactly like my prob.👍👍