[inv4zn]

Hi RS,

So my 07 Accord has an oil leak - rear main seal. It's been going on for about a month now, and every night there's a pretty decent sized patch of oil, and it seems to be getting a little worse, although this may just be my imagination. Oil level has not gone down at all since discovery.

It's a $10 part to replace, with 9.5 hours of labour...so I want to put it off until late winter is possible. :okay:

Now question - is it safe to drive on for extended periods of time? I know highway driving puts more stress on the car, and I'm wondering if such effects can cause a catastrophe with the type of leak I have.

Planning to go down to Bellevue or such, so it's not TOO bad.

Any input is appreciated!
TIA

[fliptuner]

Highway driving generally puts less stress on a car. Less braking, cornering, stop and go, engine stays at operating temp. Mechanically, as long as your oil is topped up, it should be okay.

From a safety standpoint, oil leaking on a hot exhaust is a fire hazard.

[i-vtecyo]

So many cars now a days have oil leaks and to me its now normal.. keep an eye on the oil level and check on every gas trip. Also keep a jug of oil in your car in case its needed for top up. Finally check the pcv valve to see if its functioning normally. if its stuck closed, more pressure inside the engine... im sure u know what happens after over a short period of time..

[lilaznviper]

i would suggest you have bcaa just in case your car does break down.

[GabAlmighty]

You can drive with any size oil leak you want, just depends if you're going to stop and check/top it up.

[thumper]

So many cars now a days have oil leaks and to me its now normal.. keep an eye on the oil level and check on every gas trip. Also keep a jug of oil in your car in case its needed for top up. Finally check the pcv valve to see if its functioning normally. if its stuck closed, more pressure inside the engine... im sure u know what happens after over a short period of time..

^this. the POS work truck i used to drive at an old job had this problem (failed pcv valve). it was pissing oil out of the RMS at the tune of 1 litre every 2k kms. had to keep spare oil in the truck and keep topping it up whenever the oil pressure light came on in the dash.

[Manic!]

Just spray the leaking area with flex seal!!!

FLEX SEAL? - Stop Leaks Fast! Liquid Rubber Sealant In An Aerosol Spray! - YouTube

[fliptuner]

OP, if your oil level is the same, are you sure it's not the front seal of the tranny?

[Lomac]

From a safety standpoint, oil leaking on a hot exhaust is a fire hazard.

*cough*

https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/236_40067225079_535_n.jpg

[bensta]

if you really want to play it safe, go to any lordco get a can of rislone rear main seal repair.

normally im 100% against a "repair in a bottle" but the amount of it ive sold and the positive feed back makes me feel safe to recommend it.

[inv4zn]

OP, if your oil level is the same, are you sure it's not the front seal of the tranny?

Got it diagnosed by both my regular mechanic, as well as Speed Syndicate...both said rear main seal.

Anyway, I drove down and back up, checked about 4 times during the day, and when I came home it was very barely lower. I did buy some no-leak while I was down there.

Thanks for the help everyone! Now time to save..:okay:

[Timpo]

may carry extra oil to top it up and add engine oil stop additives?

http://barsproducts.com/ckeditor_assets/pictures/21/content_bar_s_leaks_concentrated_rear_main_seal_10 40.jpg

[inv4zn]

Definitely will.

I think this is the first time I've ever thanked you...:troll:

[thumper]

i'm not denying that this stuff works, but i have to wonder what it will look like inside the engine if you were to tear it apart... is it just an additive that causes the seals to soften up and swell to stop leaking, or is it some gummy thing that plugs everything up?

they sell high mileage oils that advertise as being able to stop leaks like this as well, but i know little about them. might be a very high viscosity or something...

[Prolowtone]

It Causes the seals to soften up and expand. i never use the stuff, i mean it might not be to bad use it once and get your seal changed and oil asap.. but use it over time and you will start to say bye bye to other seals (Front main, cam seals, valve stem seals etc.)

The stuff you put in the radiator on the other hand for stuff like head gasket repair will start to gum up the engine and cooling components a bit faster then normal....

[Gridlock]

Totally fine.

My old work truck used to leak like the exxon valdez. When I parked on site, I had to put a pan under to keep from staining the driveways.

I'd be driving along and you'd hear the lifters ticking more and more until it sounded like a sewing machine..time to top up! Open up the fill port and smoke would come out of the valve cover.

And she ran fine.

If I can literally drive the shit out of an Isuzu, then you should be fine on a smallish leak that just started.

[Timpo]

Definitely will.

I think this is the first time I've ever thanked you...:troll:

:okay:

[Timpo]

i'm not denying that this stuff works, but i have to wonder what it will look like inside the engine if you were to tear it apart... is it just an additive that causes the seals to soften up and swell to stop leaking, or is it some gummy thing that plugs everything up?

they sell high mileage oils that advertise as being able to stop leaks like this as well, but i know little about them. might be a very high viscosity or something...

from what i understand, high mileage oils are usually advertised as a step between conventional and synthetic oil.

high mileage engines usually need more protection, but for people who do not want to pay for synthetic, you have an option to go for high mileage.

so not for oil leaks...

[fliptuner]

I wouldn't bother with the additives if you're going to replace the seal.

As Prolow said, sure it might soften/expand the leaky seal but it's going to do that to every other seal too. Plus, you don't know how the additive is going to effect other internal engine parts like bearings.

Throw down some cardboard and keep an eye on the oil level til you get it fixed, imo.

[Timpo]

LUCAS ENGINE OIL STOP LEAK, QT. (http://www.buylucasoil.com/viewitem.asp?itemid=10278)

"Leaking engines are usually older engines. LUCAS ENGINE OIL STOP LEAK is not only a leak stopper but also an excellent additive for worn engines. The user can expect less engine noise, higher oil pressure and less oil consumption as the Lucas additives fill the space between the worn parts."

http://www.buylucasoil.com/img/ENGINE%20OIL%20STOP%20LEAK%20%20QUART.jpg

[inv4zn]

The engine is at 140,xxx km...so it's not TOO high mileage.

Too add or not to add..lol

[Timpo]

The engine is at 140,xxx km...so it's not TOO high mileage.

Too add or not to add..lol

According to Castrol, engnines with 120,000km or more is considered high mileage.

[The_AK]

According to Castrol, engnines with 120,000km or more is considered high mileage.

No shit a company pushing high mileage oil would say something like that

[dared3vil0]

120,000KM is high mileage? Try doubling that...

[thumper]

The engine is at 140,xxx km...so it's not TOO high mileage.

Too add or not to add..lol

subjective. not knowing the history of your car, 140k kms of abuse could be enough to ruin a lot.

[i-vtecyo]

The engine is at 140,xxx km...so it's not TOO high mileage.

Too add or not to add..lol

for an 07 it seems a bit high. average kms an average person puts per year is 10k, but the previous owner/u have doubled it. front main seal failure is a bit quick imo.. either previous owner over filled the engine oil countless times or a faulty pcv valve causing it too much pressure inside.

[MTV Cribs]

I don't know how you drive but 10,000km a year is super low. I drive that much in my summer car. The average Canadian drives an average of 20,000km-25,000km a year.
Posted via RS Mobile

[?NR]

if it's not pissing out and losing 2+ liters over a short span of time, should be okay for awhile. As others have said, keep an eye on the oil level consciously. Keep spare oil in trunk.

In my old CRX I just thought of it as a constant oil change, and just top it up when lifters get noisy :lol

[inv4zn]

I bought it at 110xxx, 16 months ago. I think I'm right about average, as was the owner before me.

Car was in good condition, serviced by dealership with full records to show, etc.

The ONLY thing that MAY have happened, is that I'm lowered, and I hit my subframe...or what I thought was my subframe. It may have been the engine/tranny, and just knocked the seal loose. That's a pretty big if though, as it wasn't a bad hit at all.

[i-vtecyo]

I don't know how you drive but 10,000km a year is super low. I drive that much in my summer car. The average Canadian drives an average of 20,000km-25,000km a year.
Posted via RS Mobile

u just shattered my bubble. i dont have any friends and got no places to be :alone:


I bought it at 110xxx, 16 months ago. I think I'm right about average, as was the owner before me.

Car was in good condition, serviced by dealership with full records to show, etc.

The ONLY thing that MAY have happened, is that I'm lowered, and I hit my subframe...or what I thought was my subframe. It may have been the engine/tranny, and just knocked the seal loose. That's a pretty big if though, as it wasn't a bad hit at all.

do you plan on keeping the car for along time? and is urs an auto or manual? if manual, just replace rear main when u do clutch. if its auto then just replace it when u have money or time unless it becomes a big issue.

Oh an one more thing.. are u using synthetic oil?? if u are, try switching to conventional oil unless the car spec requires synthetic because synthetic loves to slip thru worn seals/gasket due to the thinnest.

[J____]

I had a good sized leak in my 1996 benz when I had it and went on a long trip to banff and back from vancouver. By the time I was back, the leaky oil trailed under the car all the way to the back of the rear bumper. Car was smoking after a long stretch from the oil burning off on the exhaust. The leak was minor enough to not have to top up, but large enough to trail that long during highway driving. Same deal with your situation, $10 part but 8 hour labor, had to pull the engine partially. Drive was fine but I wouldn't do it again, if oil's getting everywhere like on my old car, could possibly fuck up other components of the car if left long enough

[meme405]

10 000km/year is not average. 10000 is the low end. 45000 is the high end and anywhere between 20000-25000 is average.

[inv4zn]

do you plan on keeping the car for along time? and is urs an auto or manual? if manual, just replace rear main when u do clutch. if its auto then just replace it when u have money or time unless it becomes a big issue.

Oh an one more thing.. are u using synthetic oil?? if u are, try switching to conventional oil unless the car spec requires synthetic because synthetic loves to slip thru worn seals/gasket due to the thinnest.

No plans to sell, but still don't know, obviously. It's an auto :okay:

I'm using conventional as well haha

[fliptuner]

Have the V6, auto tranny issues been resolved on the '07's?

[Prolowtone]

I don't know how you drive but 10,000km a year is super low. I drive that much in my summer car. The average Canadian drives an average of 20,000km-25,000km a year.
Posted via RS Mobile

:badpokerface: since i got my truck 4 months ago i have put 14000km on it.

When i go to drive to work next week it is going to be roughly 1823km 18.5 hours according to google :okay:

[inv4zn]

Have the V6, auto tranny issues been resolved on the '07's?

No issues yet, knock on wood.

That being said, my '00 auto had 260xxx on it and it was still solid, original tranny.

[doritos]

my accord is 220k km is that really high yet? all these problems occurring lately. I recently fixed some gaskets leaking and dripped down to my exhaust burning. It was getting worse, and whenever turning on the heat, the oil vapors would be seeping into my cockpit burning my fuckin eyes and give me headaches. Anyways, its safe as long as it doesn't get onto your exhaust.

[Purely]

^ which year/model?

[doritos]

^ which year/model?

04 v6 exl 2dr

[Phil@rise]

If your oil level doesnt appear to be going down are you sure its an oil leak and not some other leak?

[inv4zn]

Yup, definitely oil haha.

As said, diagnosed by mechanic as well as Speed Syndicate.

[Puck Luck]

Highway driving generally puts less stress on a car. Less braking, cornering, stop and go, engine stays at operating temp. Mechanically, as long as your oil is topped up, it should be okay.

From a safety standpoint, oil leaking on a hot exhaust is a fire hazard.

I'm thinking highway driving would encourage the leak to worsen. High revving = more oil pressure pushing at the seal.

*cough*

https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/236_40067225079_535_n.jpg

I know oil and gas can potentially cause fires but, i'm thinking more often than not, car fire are caused by electrical? I've seen gas and oil drip on exhaust, it smokes like crazy but haven't seen it catch fire. Anyone have stats on this?
Although i did drip gas on a distributor once. Some must have leaked into the cap...good thing we had working fire extinguishers near by.


It's a $10 part to replace, with 9.5 hours of labour

9.5 hours to re&re a 07 accord trans? seems awfully generous. If i got paid 9.5 for a 07 accord trans, i'd have the mortgage paid off.
just curious, this a v6 or 4 cyl?

i wouldn't recommend the stop leak additives for reason's already said by Prolowtone.
Go ahead and make the trip to WA. Just check the oil every time you fill up

[inv4zn]

^It's a V6 auto.

I'm not a mechanic, but my understanding is that the entire subframe needs to be removed, then the engine, then the tranny.

Already made the trip haha - didn't have any problems. I'm just more alert now to changes in the car...lol

[Puck Luck]

Hope your shopping trip was fun.
My wife, her sister, mom, my sister etc are heading down to Bellevue Seattle area for a girls shopping weekend next weekend. Leaving just me and the boy to look after ourselves. :cry:

the entire subframe comes down along with most of the front suspension and the steering rack. (Although the rack can be left in the car, its and absolute b*tch to do that way. The advantage of that is, p/s fluid won't drip on my head. I've tried both ways)
The trans is removed but not the engine. It stays in place using a brace or "hanger"