still leaking after rear main seal and gasket replaced
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
still leaking after rear main seal and gasket replaced
Hi:
I have an RX300 year 2000 now running 235k miles.
I took the plunge to get rear main seal replaced after living with the oil leak for quite some time. Main idea was to keep the car running 2 more years.
There was some leak from gasket also and that was also replaced by the dealer.
After I brought the car back home and drove a couple of days, I am noticing something leaking again. It is not the typical dark color liquid but of lightly blue color. I am taking the car back to the dealer. Getting wary that I might have gotten myself into that proverbial spin of fixing one thing after another with an old car.
Any idea what could be the issue now? I am going to take a better look under the car today but my earlier look did not show anything obvious.
I read the forum posts and there was one where it talked about possible transmission leak also.. hope not in my case :-(
What should i check?
Thanks for any help in advance!
And Happy Holidays to everyone who can take off some time now!
I have an RX300 year 2000 now running 235k miles.
I took the plunge to get rear main seal replaced after living with the oil leak for quite some time. Main idea was to keep the car running 2 more years.
There was some leak from gasket also and that was also replaced by the dealer.
After I brought the car back home and drove a couple of days, I am noticing something leaking again. It is not the typical dark color liquid but of lightly blue color. I am taking the car back to the dealer. Getting wary that I might have gotten myself into that proverbial spin of fixing one thing after another with an old car.
Any idea what could be the issue now? I am going to take a better look under the car today but my earlier look did not show anything obvious.
I read the forum posts and there was one where it talked about possible transmission leak also.. hope not in my case :-(
What should i check?
Thanks for any help in advance!
And Happy Holidays to everyone who can take off some time now!
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
yes, i thought of that, but this looks different than that. it's definitely lighter color than the usual oil leak. i will take another look at it today.
#4
A bad PCV can cause excessive crankcase pressure build up leading to oil leaking at seals (especially on high-mileage engines which would have more "blow by").
Also, if you just switched to a synthetic oil, that could cause some leakage too.
If the dealer just repalced the seal, he probaly changed the oil too - that might account for the lighter colored oil (new oil versus old "dark" oil) but not "blue" fluid. Have the dealer add some "leak detector" (florescent dye) to the engine oil. Drive a round for a couple of days then have the dealer recheck for leaks, The dye will show up with a black light (UV light) and it will be unmistakable that it is engine oil.
Transmission oil is red.
Also, if you just switched to a synthetic oil, that could cause some leakage too.
If the dealer just repalced the seal, he probaly changed the oil too - that might account for the lighter colored oil (new oil versus old "dark" oil) but not "blue" fluid. Have the dealer add some "leak detector" (florescent dye) to the engine oil. Drive a round for a couple of days then have the dealer recheck for leaks, The dye will show up with a black light (UV light) and it will be unmistakable that it is engine oil.
Transmission oil is red.
#5
Moderator
Color (visual)
Viscosity (pinch and spread thumb and index finger)
smell
Taste (nah just kidding)
Are the standard tests and the my favorite is check the level of all fluids and check again after few hours. The level that dropped is most likely what you are loosing.
Fluids that can drip:
Condensate from AC
Wiper washer, use or a break in the lines or cracked reservoir.
Coolant ... usually comes out as steam
Engine Oil
Transmission fluid.
Hydraulic (brake) fluid.
Read diff (AWD models)
CV joint grease.
Battery acid
Salim
Viscosity (pinch and spread thumb and index finger)
smell
Taste (nah just kidding)
Are the standard tests and the my favorite is check the level of all fluids and check again after few hours. The level that dropped is most likely what you are loosing.
Fluids that can drip:
Condensate from AC
Wiper washer, use or a break in the lines or cracked reservoir.
Coolant ... usually comes out as steam
Engine Oil
Transmission fluid.
Hydraulic (brake) fluid.
Read diff (AWD models)
CV joint grease.
Battery acid
Salim
#6
Moderator
Color (visual)
Fluids that can drip:
Condensate from AC
Wiper washer, use or a break in the lines or cracked reservoir.
Coolant ... usually comes out as steam
Engine Oil
Transmission fluid.
Hydraulic (brake) fluid.
Read diff (AWD models)
CV joint grease.
Battery acid
Salim
Fluids that can drip:
Condensate from AC
Wiper washer, use or a break in the lines or cracked reservoir.
Coolant ... usually comes out as steam
Engine Oil
Transmission fluid.
Hydraulic (brake) fluid.
Read diff (AWD models)
CV joint grease.
Battery acid
Salim
#7
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
A bad PCV can cause excessive crankcase pressure build up leading to oil leaking at seals (especially on high-mileage engines which would have more "blow by").
Also, if you just switched to a synthetic oil, that could cause some leakage too.
If the dealer just repalced the seal, he probaly changed the oil too - that might account for the lighter colored oil (new oil versus old "dark" oil) but not "blue" fluid. Have the dealer add some "leak detector" (florescent dye) to the engine oil. Drive a round for a couple of days then have the dealer recheck for leaks, The dye will show up with a black light (UV light) and it will be unmistakable that it is engine oil.
Transmission oil is red.
Also, if you just switched to a synthetic oil, that could cause some leakage too.
If the dealer just repalced the seal, he probaly changed the oil too - that might account for the lighter colored oil (new oil versus old "dark" oil) but not "blue" fluid. Have the dealer add some "leak detector" (florescent dye) to the engine oil. Drive a round for a couple of days then have the dealer recheck for leaks, The dye will show up with a black light (UV light) and it will be unmistakable that it is engine oil.
Transmission oil is red.
I am sitting at dealer shop and they are thinking its some residue oil ( yes they did the oil change when replacing the seal). I will. ask them about running the dye test. Thanks very much.
Trending Topics
#8
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Yes, its oil. Its not red. Has thr typical oil smell. My mistake earlier thinking it was blue because something else on the driveway and the rain discolored it.
I am sitting at dealer shop and they are thinking its some residue oil ( yes they did the oil change when replacing the seal). I will. ask them about running the dye test. Thanks very much.
I am sitting at dealer shop and they are thinking its some residue oil ( yes they did the oil change when replacing the seal). I will. ask them about running the dye test. Thanks very much.
#9
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
OK..so the guy says its leaking from top valve gasket because they twisted it too hard.. the consultant couldn't explain well but the bottom line is they didn't do the job right the first time!! 'We will take care of it.. here is a loaner car' etc..but now I am thinking did the mechanic did something else wrong:-(
#10
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
OK..so the guy says its leaking from top valve gasket because they twisted it too hard.. the consultant couldn't explain well but the bottom line is they didn't do the job right the first time!! 'We will take care of it.. here is a loaner car' etc..but now I am thinking did the mechanic did something else wrong:-(
They claimed that this time ran the car and left it sitting long enough and checked for no leaks, that they don't think there will be any more oil leaks. I have taken it back home now and will be watching for a week to see if that is true. If anything changes, I will update. Thanks for all your suggestions.
#11
Moderator
Good that they took care of your RX
Salim
Salim
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post