Hi all,

I know these pictures do not give you much to go on but I wanted to know if anyone who has had to replace their rear seal has seen this oil drip pattern.
I am shooting on the passenger side and seeing oil collecting under the bottom of the oil pan but cannot see any leaks above. I am thinking of thoroughly drying that seam (rear seal?) between the transmission and the engine (for the 45th time) and putting some talcum powder on to see if it is coming from there. Is there any better way to trace this leak? This area is very clean on the under side of the seal that I can get to but not of course up higher. Is there any mechanics trick for checking that out? I don't want to replace the rear seal if that is not the problem but I cannot think of anywhere else it might be coming from and I have been hearing that this is a weak spot on the car.

It is 1996 960 wagon with 125k miles.

Pictures below.

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee

Is there any way to put pictures up on my post? Looks like and are not doing it.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YZ3wv1Xl7pk/TlwX6Arw9LI/AAAAAAAAGnM/EDaRRfWt788/s512/100_2695.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1EePmrutXWE/TlwX1n5S9hI/AAAAAAAAGnI/Biyr4ZOakSM/s512/100_2694.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IIjoBS5A07g/TlwXwD863kI/AAAAAAAAGnE/BEh_CR67olI/s640/100_2693.JPG

Spook gives you good advice concerning the crankcase ventilation system.

If that system has been neglected for too long, it's possible to have oil leaks at numerous spots on the engine.

It's entirely possible that the oil leak will stop if you give the ventilation system a good cleaning. I've seen this before.

Be especially sure that the small ventilation hoses are not blocked by carbon or crud.
Also check the small hose nipple that screws into the intake manifold and make sure that it's not blocked.
If it is, you can use a small drill bit to clean it out....just don't drop it into the manifold!!

hope this helps
steve

Dear sasjzl,

Hope you're well. If the rear main seal has failed at 125K miles, then it is likely that the crankcase ventilation system has been neglected. If so, look for oil leaks elsewhere, i.e., around the oil pan, the rear cam seals (at the back of the engine), and the front seals (into the timing belt case).

The first thing to do is to clean, as thoroughly as possible, the engine, so that leaks will be more obvious.

You might tape white paper towels to surfaces, and see where oil drips. You can do this and then start the engine. With the engine running, the oil system will be pressurized, and oil will pretty quickly start dripping from the back of the engine, if - as you surmise, the rear main has failed.

I had a rear main seal go on a 940. I knew it had failed, before I bought the car. The car dripped oil behind the engine and just in front of the transmission. The repair - which I had done - wasn't horribly costly.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook