Can you drive with a main seal leak?
Rear main seal leaks are so dangerous because it is possible for the leak to occur at a very fast rate. Due to the location, it is subject to high oil pressure. Critically low oil levels can lead to permanent damage to your engine, and if the oil light ever comes on, it is recommended you stop driving immediately.
Does a rear main seal leak oil?
Unfortunately, oil can easily leak from the rear main seal due to its placement at the back of the engine. The dangers of rear main leaks are twofold. For one, a leaky rear main seal will rapidly drain the oil supply.
What does it mean when the rear main seal is leaking?
The most common cause of rear seal leaks is age and/or high mileage. The seal can also leak due to the vehicle being stored for an extended period of time, or from running the engine low on oil. This causes drying and hardening of the seal leading to shrinking, cracking and tearing of the rear main seal.
Does a rear main seal leak oil or transmission fluid?
A rear main seal leak will cause oil to drip from the bottom of the bellhousing at the front of the transmission. If you have drips coming from in front of the bellhousing, locate those leaks, stop them and clean the engine. After a few hundred miles you can check again for leaks to see if you still have any.
How does an oil leak stop an engine?
It will cause the seals to soften and swell which MAY temporarily stop the oil leak. However, it will also effect every other oil seal and gasket in the engine. You will forever be chasing oil leaks.
What causes oil to leak from the rear main seal?
If your vehicle has worn main bearings, the crankshaft is able to move excessively inside the bearings which will stretch and move the rear main seal while the engine is running. This will allow oil to leak past the seal.
Can a gasket seal stop an oil leak?
Oil Leak Sealer Can’t Repair A Torn Or Worn Gasket. The way stop oil leak products work, depends on the brand you buy. There are some out there that claim to thicken the oil viscosity enough to stop the oil from getting by weak seals.
What to do if you have an oil leak in your car?
Once you notice the oil is low, add some oil to your engine and contact a mechanic, so they can determine the cause of the oil leak. Do not just add oil and forget about the leak, because this is a potential fire hazard. Another sign of an oil leak is the smell of burning oil. Oil leaking onto the hot parts of the engine gives off a distinct smell.
If your vehicle has worn main bearings, the crankshaft is able to move excessively inside the bearings which will stretch and move the rear main seal while the engine is running. This will allow oil to leak past the seal.
Oil Leak Sealer Can’t Repair A Torn Or Worn Gasket. The way stop oil leak products work, depends on the brand you buy. There are some out there that claim to thicken the oil viscosity enough to stop the oil from getting by weak seals.
What makes an oil leak stop product work?
The main difference between an oil leak stop product working or not, is if your seals have simply shrunk or are slightly deformed and need to be reconditioned, or actually have a hole, tear, or a chunk missing out of the gasket seal itself.
What can I use to stop a rear main seal leak?
Whereas the Rear Main Sealer is less concentrated and specifically formulated exclusively for leaking rear main seals. If you are not 100% sure where the vehicle is leaking or there seem to be multiple leaks then we recommend using BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak.