reversing seal leaks

[tomswa]

My 90,000 mile 1978 sc has suddenly developed some sort of substantial oil leak between the transmission and the engine. I have to confess I have not driven it more that a few times in the last 8 months. I suspect a seal dried out or ????. I used to have a grand wagoneer that did the same thing but It got better the more I drove it. Any ideas here. I just hate to pull the engine with this mileage.

Thanks

Tom Swafford

[yelcab1]

Your car probably has the rear main seal leaking symptom. Leaving it sit for a long time does not help, but now it may be too late. If it gets better as you drive it, good. If not, you do have to pull the engine and tranny to fix it. At 90K miles, it is ... due for an engine out tune up, degrease, overall cleaning, and whatever else you may need.

[Jim Sims]

Are you sure it's a rear main seal leak? The oil pressure switch, breather housing gasket, breather hose and engine mounted oil thermostat o-ring are all located above the area of concern. These can develop oil leaks which can run down and look like a rear main seal leak. These leaks can be addressed by a partial engine drop. I doubt the leak will get better with use or time; instead you'll have more of a mess to clean up the longer you wait (that is if you keep driving it). Like yelcab1 said it's probably time to drop your engine and do some maintenance (valve adjustment is so much easier with the engine out) and cleaning. Cheers, Jim

[Superman]

I also doubt whether the rear main seal is leaking. My vote is oil pressure switch, breather hose, breather plate gasket or......my #1 suspicion.......oil thermostat 0-ring. All of these are on the top of the engine in the rear (nearest the tranny). Oil from these places will appear to be coming out the weep hole at the base of the tranny bell housing.