The rear main seal on My M38A1 was leaking

Post by **wesk** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:12 pm

Well like Harleys you'll never achieve absolutely ZERO seepage.

Classify the leak:
A-seep but no dripping or puddle overnight.
B-drip but puddle less than diameter of a 50 cent piece overnight.
C-noticeable leak if overnight puddle is greater then a 50 cent piece but smaller than the bottom of your coffee cup.
D-need to fix it leak if overnight puddle is larger than the bottom of your coffee cup.

In my humble opinion A & B are tolerable and not a big deal. C is annoying. D-needs work.

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:28 pm

With the gear oil, it was a slow drip (and it is below freezing, so that makes it even slower)/ After I cleaned off the overdrive and drained a little bit of fluid, it's down to a small seep (no drip). With the engine, it's a tiny drip. Like, as in less than the size of a penny, and only if it sits in the same place for awhile. The only thing that worries me, is that the drip from the engine, when I first brought it up, was more like "D" on your chart. A little less engine oil, I cleaned off the clutch with brake fluid, and I made sure the two fording valves were lubricated, and fully open, and the large drip hasn't come back.

Post by **wesk** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:59 pm

Looks like you resolved the rear seal drip you compared to my D. I can't help with your other leaks since you didn't classify them per my examples.

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:17 pm

wesk wrote:50 cent piece overnight.

Thought that went the way of the nickel Co-Cola.
I swear, the girls downtown now.. oops-sorry,
family forum-keep it clean.

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:18 pm

Well, gear oil being heavier, and the volume being less than engine oil, I would say it got up to a B, maybe a C. If it was overfilled, and the excess squeezed out, that might explain why it went down to a B. now I think it's more of an A. I'm mainly just wondering, if all that excess gear oil did damage, if that was really the problem, and if I should be ok now. With the engine oil, it seems to be a constant B now. Even with that new rear main oil seal. I wonder why it was leaking more before, and if I would essentially be pointless to put in yet another rear main seal. They are $14. An engine is quite a bit more!

Post by **wesk** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:30 pm

Too much gear oil results in foaming and leaks. The foaming may possibly create a tid bit more wear that would maybe be measurable over 100,000 miles or more. Brings to mind an old saying I heard my grand ma tell gramps. "Don't get your bowels in an uproar!"

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:05 pm

Yeah, I worry too much sometimes. The vehicle is running fine, it just leaks. The bigger than normal engine oil and overdrive leaks had me a bit worried.