RX-300 Oil Leak 1k to fix?
09-10-04, 10:53 PM
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RX-300 Oil Leak 1k to fix?
I have a oil leak at the bell housing. It seems to be seeping out of the sheet metal covering the bell housing. What are the chances this is a main rear seal leaking oil? I'm 95% sure it's oil. It smells and is the color of oil. Any idea of the cost, if it is a rear main seal?
09-11-04, 09:25 AM
#2
Out of Warranty
Yikes! A challenge for those of us skinned-knuckle types . . .
Welcome to ClubLexus Whitestrok, I hope someone here with direct experience can be of help to you.
A grand to drop the pan and slip in a new main seal is probably a good deal in today's inflated repair market, considering that's fairly serious surgery in most vehicles. If you've got oil on the bell housing and it didn't come from another source; spilled oil when filling for example, or seepage from somewhere up on top, you may have lost the rear main seal.
If you want to attempt a DIY solution, there are online resources for special tools, such as those at http://www.etoolcart.com/browseprodu...--SP62300.HTML that might be helpful. Google lexus engine rear main seal. Has anyone out there actually done this? How difficult is it?
There are oil additives that claim to be able to swell the rubber to stop these leaks, but I've never had much luck with them as a long-term fix. Maybe someone can recommend a good product to try, but I tend to run a little low on bravery when it comes to adding strange concoctions to an expensive engine.
Then there's my theory of motor maintenance that applies to most DIY projects as well: I do what I do best to earn money to pay a guy to do what he does best, thus saving money on ruined parts, busted tools and emergency room fees. I save frustration, money, and pain - and everybody's happier with the professional result!
Good luck!
A grand to drop the pan and slip in a new main seal is probably a good deal in today's inflated repair market, considering that's fairly serious surgery in most vehicles. If you've got oil on the bell housing and it didn't come from another source; spilled oil when filling for example, or seepage from somewhere up on top, you may have lost the rear main seal.
If you want to attempt a DIY solution, there are online resources for special tools, such as those at http://www.etoolcart.com/browseprodu...--SP62300.HTML that might be helpful. Google lexus engine rear main seal. Has anyone out there actually done this? How difficult is it?
There are oil additives that claim to be able to swell the rubber to stop these leaks, but I've never had much luck with them as a long-term fix. Maybe someone can recommend a good product to try, but I tend to run a little low on bravery when it comes to adding strange concoctions to an expensive engine.
Then there's my theory of motor maintenance that applies to most DIY projects as well: I do what I do best to earn money to pay a guy to do what he does best, thus saving money on ruined parts, busted tools and emergency room fees. I save frustration, money, and pain - and everybody's happier with the professional result!
Good luck!
09-11-04, 04:10 PM
#3
Lexus Connoisseur
Re: RX-300 Oil Leak 1k to fix?
Originally posted by Whitestrok
I have a oil leak at the bell housing. It seems to be seeping out of the sheet metal covering the bell housing. What are the chances this is a main rear seal leaking oil? I'm 95% sure it's oil. It smells and is the color of oil. Any idea of the cost, if it is a rear main seal?
I have a oil leak at the bell housing. It seems to be seeping out of the sheet metal covering the bell housing. What are the chances this is a main rear seal leaking oil? I'm 95% sure it's oil. It smells and is the color of oil. Any idea of the cost, if it is a rear main seal?
09-12-04, 01:07 AM
#5
Lexus Connoisseur
Re: Mileage
Originally posted by Whitestrok
It's a 2001 RX-300 and It's got 93,500. Has anyone had luck with oil additives that claim to stop OIL LEAKS?
It's a 2001 RX-300 and It's got 93,500. Has anyone had luck with oil additives that claim to stop OIL LEAKS?
09-12-04, 07:29 AM
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Looked at valve covers
I've taken off plastic motor cover and every thing that's viewable looks dry. (i.e. valve covers). On the rear of the motor is the valve cover and rear main seal the only spots for a leak?
09-12-04, 09:31 PM
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WOW it workks
$3.99 Bar"s Oil Stop Leak. Drove RX 300 for 2hours and looked under car, to my amazment no leak. This is to good to be true.....Someone pinch me.. Wonder how long it will last?
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09-12-04, 11:01 PM
#8
Lexus Connoisseur
It's just a quick fix., if you're leaking oil that badly, you need to get those seals replaced before you run into more problems down the road.
09-17-04, 05:41 PM
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Bar,s
Engine has resumed leaking oil, but at a slower pace. I changed oil and added Auto-RX . I was scared Bar's stop leak would ruin the rest of the seals.
09-23-04, 05:31 PM
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Re: Yikes! A challenge for those of us skinned-knuckle types . . .
Originally posted by Lil4X
Welcome to ClubLexus Whitestrok, I hope someone here with direct experience can be of help to you.
A grand to drop the pan and slip in a new main seal is probably a good deal in today's inflated repair market, considering that's fairly serious surgery in most vehicles. If you've got oil on the bell housing and it didn't come from another source; spilled oil when filling for example, or seepage from somewhere up on top, you may have lost the rear main seal.
If you want to attempt a DIY solution, there are online resources for special tools, such as those at http://www.etoolcart.com/browseprodu...--SP62300.HTML that might be helpful. Google lexus engine rear main seal. Has anyone out there actually done this? How difficult is it?
There are oil additives that claim to be able to swell the rubber to stop these leaks, but I've never had much luck with them as a long-term fix. Maybe someone can recommend a good product to try, but I tend to run a little low on bravery when it comes to adding strange concoctions to an expensive engine.
Then there's my theory of motor maintenance that applies to most DIY projects as well: I do what I do best to earn money to pay a guy to do what he does best, thus saving money on ruined parts, busted tools and emergency room fees. I save frustration, money, and pain - and everybody's happier with the professional result!
Good luck!
Welcome to ClubLexus Whitestrok, I hope someone here with direct experience can be of help to you.
A grand to drop the pan and slip in a new main seal is probably a good deal in today's inflated repair market, considering that's fairly serious surgery in most vehicles. If you've got oil on the bell housing and it didn't come from another source; spilled oil when filling for example, or seepage from somewhere up on top, you may have lost the rear main seal.
If you want to attempt a DIY solution, there are online resources for special tools, such as those at http://www.etoolcart.com/browseprodu...--SP62300.HTML that might be helpful. Google lexus engine rear main seal. Has anyone out there actually done this? How difficult is it?
There are oil additives that claim to be able to swell the rubber to stop these leaks, but I've never had much luck with them as a long-term fix. Maybe someone can recommend a good product to try, but I tend to run a little low on bravery when it comes to adding strange concoctions to an expensive engine.
Then there's my theory of motor maintenance that applies to most DIY projects as well: I do what I do best to earn money to pay a guy to do what he does best, thus saving money on ruined parts, busted tools and emergency room fees. I save frustration, money, and pain - and everybody's happier with the professional result!
Good luck!
10-23-04, 04:07 PM
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Rear main oil leak repair
I just had this repair on my car along with 2 other leaks from over drive box?? Cant remember now. Any way Aamco did the repair & the cost was $690. Unfortunately I took it in them in the first place to check the transmission as it was lurching when going into gear. They found nothing wrong with it, but found the leaks. 4 days later my transmission went all the way out & my rx is in the shop right now & the repair is going to be $4800. I guess the transmissions are not meant to be rebuilt.
10-27-04, 09:41 PM
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Leak stopped
Auto RX is the real deal. My leak has stopped for 3weeks now. It was hard to put out $40. for 2 treatments of possible snake oil, but I'm glad I did. It is suppose to get rid of sludge to, well see. As I have plenty.
11-17-04, 09:37 AM
#14
Lexus Champion
FWIW, I had tranny top gasket leak in one of my previous vehicles. I didn't do jack because the car had over 200,000 miles on it. Not worth a $400 repair bill (the part was $15, the rest was labor and markup.) I just kept topping off the ATF fluid at about 1/2 qt. per month. After 4 months, the leak stopped on its own.
Sometimes, ignoring a problem actually makes it go away. (Disclaimer: try this at your own risk.)
Sometimes, ignoring a problem actually makes it go away.
(Disclaimer: try this at your own risk.)