RMS or oil pan leak?

Hi everyone, I Need to brainstorm some ideas on Where this leak might be coming from.

The motor was rebuilt about a year ago and only has a few thousand miles since then.

I remove the inspection cover, and the flex plate is bone dry. There is a buildup of oil and gunk near the rear of the oil pan directly below the rear main seal. I can’t tell if it’s the rear seal leaking and dripping onto the oil pan, or is it a failed oil pan gasket. I tried adding some gasket maker to the very corner to see if it was the oil pan gasket, but the leak continues.

I attach some photos, and you can see the very corner Of the oil pan where the oil likes to build up and drip onto the steering rack.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

Can you run a scope up? I have an active oil pan leak and had a rear main leak a few months back. They look extremely similar the only way I was able to tell was running a scope up to the rear main and seeing it was wet with oil.

 

I’m going to give Amazon a look and see if I can get a cheap inspection camera. Thanks for the idea.

 

I think RMS is culprit



Heavier oil build up on bottom of shield

 

Here is what I found with my leak.

 

I picked up an inspection camera from Amazon and it worked great. The seal does look new and is dry on the sides, but the very bottom portion closest to the oil pan does have an oil leak.

Thanks for all the help. Everyone, looks like I’m going to be doing a rear main seal in the near future.

 

Are you going to attempt it yourself?

just for reference I’m in Charleston SC (relatively expensive living cost) and was able to get it done for $850 included OEM parts. Had quotes up past 1.4k too had to shop around.

Decided very quickly it isn’t worth doing it myself, but if I had access to a garage it would be a different story.

 

I’m going to give it a try. I found a good video from Timmy the Toolman on YouTube and it doesn’t seem too difficult, just time consuming.

Harbor Freight has a sale on a transmission jack for $100 this weekend so I’m going to grab it. Add another $50 for a 36 inch extension, some ATF and a new RMS for another $100, I should be into the job about $250.

I haven’t dropped a transmission in about 15 years so this should be interesting .

 

Over the years, despite being a secular person, I've found that praying helps when fixing oil leaks. And it doesn't cost anything.

 

Manipulating the transmission seemed like the hardest part. I’d do the metal cover as well it’s an extra $50 or whatever. With a trans jack I bet it’ll be a breeze. Update back when you get it done! Good luck

 

just so we are on the same page, this is the metal cover you are talking about right?

https://parts.longotoyota.com/oem-p...0YWNvbWEmeT0xOTk1JnQ9YmFzZSZlPTItN2wtbDQtZ2Fz

 

Yup that’s it. I had that and the seal replaced

 

Ok cool, I’m adding that to my parts order.

it looks like it attaches to the oil pan, I’m guessing I’ll need to drop the oil pan and re-seal that as well correct?

 

Yeah I would. The shop just sealed over the back part of the pan and it caused the pan to leak so I had to drop it and reseal.

 

Couldn't you just remove the cover, replace the seal, FIPG the cover and reinstall - without having to buy the metal cover?

 

I figured it cheap insurance now that it’s all apart. The RMS was replaced 2000 miles ago and it’s leaking again, so maybe it’s part of the problem.

all the parts have been ordered and are being shipped. I’ll be doing this project in a few weeks and I’ll report back.

 

If I had to do this again I’d consider removing the transfer case first. Even with a trans jack and a bunch of ratchet straps it was pretty tough keeping the case from rotating the trans.

 

thanks for the tip. I’ll make sure to do that.

 

Just a little update.

I was able to get the transmission out today, which took about 9ish hours total working on it over the past week.

I’m going to give the transmission a good pressure wash and order a few more parts. This bushing from the transfer case shifter is completely disintegrated.

Just about at the half way mark!

 

I have made wood cradels to support odd shaped transmission/transfercases and straped or bolted one to the other then that assembly to the lifting device, sometimes its a motorcycle lift sometimes a floor jack and sometimes a stack 2 X 12's X 36" and just keep adding them under the platform.