Checking the rear main seal?

[Sicarius428]

Hello All. Is there an easy way to check the rear main seal without removing the bellhousing? I am about to install my T5 and was just thinking I should check that before I install everything. I have the clutch inspection cover off and it looks good so far... what am I suppose to look for? Thanks
Kevin

 

[JBeezy53]

Is there any oil coming from behind the flywheel?

 

[Sicarius428]

There is a drop haning off the bellhousing but I can trace it up the block and not the tranny... or so I think.
Kevin

 

[bill302]

oil leaking if area between bellhousing and motor is dry(no oil) with no dirt build up (dirt sticking to oil) you should be fine but you should know if you had rear seal problems because it would leak in driveway don't know about you but i always inspect under my car for leaks periodiocally and i even have a piece of waterproof laminate i park my car over so i can tell if i have a leak in my gravel driveway.

 

[bill302]

There is a drop haning off the bellhousing but I can trace it up the block and not the tranny... or so I think.
Kevin

need to be 100 percent sure it did'nt come from the rear seal if i wasnt 100 percent sure i would dig deeper until i was sure and if i still was'nt sure after getting to it and inspecting it i would replace it. good luck.

 

[_jb_]

I thought my rear main was leaking, but it turned out it was the lower intake seal. If you have the tranny out you might as well take the 20 mins and remove the belhousing anyways to see what's up.

 

[JBeezy53]

Yeah whenever I have a tranny out I take that extra time to check the rear seal. Every mustang I've owned I've had to change the rear main seal.

 

[HISSIN50]

Just be forewarned that if you replace a seal that is actually not losing much oil, there is a chance that the new one will leak more.

Good luck.

 

[Sicarius428]

I unbolted the inspection cover and jimmied a screwdriver to take a look with a flashlight and it looked really clean in there. There isn't any oil on the back of the flywheel or inside. The oil is coming from elseware... I have heard horror stories about trying to be preventative in maintainance and causing an issue with the rear main seal. Knowing my luck... that would be the case. Thanks for the replies.
Kevin

 

[DMAN302]

Ain't broke don't fix it mentality can definately apply to the rear main seal. If all appears OK then I would not dive into the project...several people have replaced perfectly good seals when the problem was something else completely. I was VERY close to pulling mine appart...problem ended up being an oil pan leak, a little inspection time saved me a HUGE headache.

 

[Sicarius428]

Seriously. Thanks for the help guys.
Kevin