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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

rear main seal

  • Thread starter Thread starter sodaking663rd
  • Start date Start date Aug 19, 2006

sodaking663rd

New Member
Oct 11, 2004
47
0
0
annapolis, md
Aug 19, 2006
#1
  • Aug 19, 2006
  • #1
hi all. i have my car for sale and a guy came to look at it. he looked under the car and once he looked underneath the car he didn't seem interested any more with purchasing. i looked underneath after he left and noticed the rear main seal is oily...my mechanic told me this years ago and said it wasn't a big deal but just was letting me know.

i guess my question is, what problems does a leak of a rear main seal cause? i check my oil regularly and the level is always fine. it is not leaking much at all. is this indicative of abuse or just bad luck? i've heard these engines are infamous for the leak however. also, would you NOT buy a mustang if you saw it had this problem?
 

GT40XStang9

Thanks to Tim, I get off pretty easy.
Founding Member
Feb 26, 2001
25
33
89
Scotland UK
Aug 19, 2006
#2
  • Aug 19, 2006
  • #2
A leaky rear main can cause premature clutch failure.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Aug 19, 2006
#3
  • Aug 19, 2006
  • #3
If that is the reason for someone to walk away from a car, it wasnt meant to be (he wasnt truly passionate about your car).

WHen buying a 5.0, one assumes the RMS leaks a little by default.
 

Aaron

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 5, 2003
95
40
38
Buffalo, NY
Aug 19, 2006
#4
  • Aug 19, 2006
  • #4
Yup - mine leaked for 3-4 years before I fixed it about a week ago when I re-did my clutch. As long as your oil level isn't affected, I wouldn't worry too much. Just keep a watch on your oil level and you will be fine.
 

The Shape

Founding Member
Jan 11, 2002
2,224
8
49
East ARKANSAS Delta
Aug 19, 2006
#5
  • Aug 19, 2006
  • #5
If I looked under a 5.0 fox and the rear main WASN"T leaking I would be suprised. Mine has leaked the whole 5 years I have owned it. My rear main seal and intake leak combined don't leak enough for me to add more than half a quart in a 3 month period so I just ignore it.

As long as it isn't gushing oil I wouldn't even worry about it. If a rear main leak scared him off then 5.0 ownership probably isn't for him.
 
8

89stangWhiz

Member
Sep 28, 2005
104
0
16
Mechanicsville, MD
Aug 19, 2006
#6
  • Aug 19, 2006
  • #6
GT40XStang9 said:
A leaky rear main can cause premature clutch failure.
Click to expand...
+1
My clutch failed within the first year of owning my car. However, for all I know that was the original clutch and not totally because of the oil leak.
The Shape said:
If I looked under a 5.0 fox and the rear main WASN"T leaking I would be suprised. Mine has leaked the whole 5 years I have owned it. My rear main seal and intake leak combined don't leak enough for me to add more than half a quart in a 3 month period so I just ignore it.

As long as it isn't gushing oil I wouldn't even worry about it. If a rear main leak scared him off then 5.0 ownership probably isn't for him.
Agreed.
Mine has leaked the whole time I have owned my car too (also a bit over 5 years). Never enough to worry about it.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 

ALMOST STOCK

Founding Member
Sep 23, 2000
1,250
41
88
CA.
Aug 20, 2006
#7
  • Aug 20, 2006
  • #7
Besides the clutch issue, I've always hated seeing 2-4 drops of oil in my driveway or a friend’s driveway when I’m leaving with the car, but that's just me.
 
J

jason89gt

Member
Feb 16, 2003
86
1
8
hobart indiana
Aug 21, 2006
#8
  • Aug 21, 2006
  • #8
COULD IT BE THE OIL PAN GASKET THAT IS WHERE MINE IS LEAKING FROM? THANKS JASON
 

TRWXXA

Member
Jan 18, 2003
190
1
19
RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!!... Made you look.
Aug 24, 2006
#9
  • Aug 24, 2006
  • #9
When a 5.0 stops leaking oil, you know that there is no oil in the motor.
 

tunedin302

I AM the law!!!
Jul 29, 2004
1,251
2
36
Pennsylvania
Aug 24, 2006
#10
  • Aug 24, 2006
  • #10
ALMOST STOCK said:
Besides the clutch issue, I've always hated seeing 2-4 drops of oil in my driveway or a friend’s driveway when I’m leaving with the car, but that's just me.
Click to expand...

+1 - it just personally drive me nuts to see my car leaving any type of fluid on the ground even if it does not cause a mechanical issue.
 

bubba-dough

Active Member
Dec 28, 2004
1,044
2
38
Indiana
Aug 24, 2006
#11
  • Aug 24, 2006
  • #11
Hummm....a used car that leaks some fluid.....that is just unheard of, lol. Any used car is gonna leak something unless its still on a fresh rebuild.
Really the guy must be looking for a used Mustang that doesn't exist.
 

Strype

Cuthbert catcher
Founding Member
May 11, 1999
61
34
104
Huntsvegas, AL
Aug 24, 2006
#12
  • Aug 24, 2006
  • #12
TRWXXA said:
When a 5.0 stops leaking oil, you know that there is no oil in the motor.
Click to expand...

:Word:
 
7

71swing

Member
Aug 18, 2006
199
0
17
Omaha,NE
Aug 25, 2006
#13
  • Aug 25, 2006
  • #13
Don't worry about it unless its effecting the clutch performance. You need to find a mustang lover to sell too. A year ago i sold a 89 hatch on consignment
This car had every mod you could think of, it was built for fun and speed. After i sold it and got my check the kid who bought it tried to viod the check and return it to the dealer that sold it for me, because it didn't have a heater.

I had removed the heater and air conditioner because it was pure performance car, But the kid didn't want to drive a car in the winter without a heater. I told the salesman to bad, cashed my check and told him good luck driving a rear wheel car with that horespower in six inches of snow.

It did make me mad that i spent all that time in building the car to go fast for some kid to drive it in the winter. Moral of the story is if it's not a mustang lover they don't understand what they are getting into.All they see is a cool looking car. AMEN.
 
J

jete

New Member
Jul 23, 2006
57
0
0
Lexington Kentucky
Aug 25, 2006
#14
  • Aug 25, 2006
  • #14
TRWXXA said:
When a 5.0 stops leaking oil, you know that there is no oil in the motor. [/QUOTE
Every single 302 I have had has leaked... a econoline, 2 f150's, 2 mustangs, and a lincoln
Click to expand...
 

Mr. Rustypwnz

Advanced Member
Jun 1, 2005
1,761
63
69
indianapolis/ valdosta ga
Aug 25, 2006
#15
  • Aug 25, 2006
  • #15
WERD!!!
 

Lash

New Member
Jul 19, 2006
36
0
0
Pewaukee, WI
Aug 25, 2006
#16
  • Aug 25, 2006
  • #16
lol...this thread made me feel better about my leak.
 
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