Mystery oil leak. Rear main seal?

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

G'day all,
Just noticed a small leak today on the car. Not much comin out. Enough to stain the little guard plate underneath but no drips on the ground. From other posts this may be the rear main seal. The car has done 138000km with no issues with that so far. Speaking with a mechanic on the phone it sounds like a massive job with the gearbox having to come out and all. Has anyone ever seen the cost of one of these replacements?
Cheers.
http://s16.postimg.org/hmh9ofsud/image.jpg
http://s23.postimg.org/s582m11cb/image.jpg

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

As per suggestion from some people I've cleaned all the oil off so I can see a bit better as to it's origin.
Got a quote for a rear main seal repair and it came in at $985!! Here's hoping its leaking from somewhere less expensive!

[Jarchie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jarchie]

Hi Jimmy,

Wondering what the outcome was for this? Was it the rear main seal in the end?

I've got a similar thing going on and came across this post.

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

Hi Jimmy,

Wondering what the outcome was for this? Was it the rear main seal in the end?

I've got a similar thing going on and came across this post.

************************************************** *****
I think it ended up being grease flung from the universal joint, and no oil leak at all... from memory of another post elsewhere.

Some folk don't seem to grease universal joints correctly.

You need to clean the uni joint as best you can with a rag first, and be sure to wipe the grease nipple itself so you dont push dirt into trhe joint when greasing.., then pump grease while the uni joint is unloaded (able to turn easily) until there is a slight crack sound and pump no more, and wipe away any excess grease. If you leave excess grease insitu it just becomes a dirt magnet and also gets flung around ....thats' what I've been told anyway.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

Well said Brogers. Yeah you can see the moistened stain all around the Uni joint. Must've been pumped with wayyyyyyyyyyy too much grease when you see that goop flung elsewhere. When regreasing it should only take 3 pumps approx with a 450g cartridge grease gun to refill the joint at the next service interval. On the 3rd pump do it nice and slow and as soon as you hear the crackle... Stop! Wiping of the nipples before and after is text book procedure. Once again, well said Brogers.

I reckon old mate's mechanic pumped it about 9 times too many. I'd hate to think how much he pumped into the slide yolks because you don't get the obvious sign that it's full like you do with the Uni's.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

1kd-ftv rear mains don't leak.
When rear mains leak it runs down not sideways.

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

Hi Jimmy,

Wondering what the outcome was for this? Was it the rear main seal in the end?

I've got a similar thing going on and came across this post.

Sorry for the late reply. It was the grease flung from the U joint in the area. I cleaned it up and no more evidence of such!