Oil leak from unknown part - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

belkins · 02-14-2005, 05:20 PM

Okay, here are the specifics:

2002 Honda Accord V6
- 4 door
- automatic transmission

I've got an oil leak that I figured was a loose oil filter since I recently changed the oil. After putting the car up on jacks and nosing around it was obviously not the oil filter or the drain plug.

Looking around I found where the oil leak was and this is where it gets weird!

Where the transmission and the motor bolt together there was what appeared to be a steel plate amongst all this aluminum. I thought it was steel simply because it had a rusted appearance. After pondering it some more and tapping on it and examining the edges with a pick it was PLASTIC!!!

Well, it doesn't matter if it's plastic or not but the main point is this appears to be the source of the oil leak.

Does anyone have any ideas what this might be? I spoke to the local Honda service department (of course they weren't a lot of help to a do-it-yourselfer) and the parts department couldn't locate the part on their diagrams.

I figure there is probably a gasket behind this piece that needs to be replaced but since I need the car to get to work I didn't want to start disassembling things just yet.

Thanks for any ideas as to the mystery part.

belkins

cpugamerbb · 02-14-2005, 06:22 PM

There is a seal located between the transmission and the engine. If this seal goes out, oil will leak from it. I'm not exactly sure why there is a plastic cover there, probably to help with aerodynamics under the car or something. Unfortunatly, you need to pull the engine to replace the seal.

belkins · 02-14-2005, 07:24 PM

Ugh! I was afraid of that. I'm assuming that seal is probably the rear main?

Thank you for the response.

Nimisys · 02-15-2005, 07:28 PM

the plastic cover will be a cover for access ot the torque converter bolts. remove the cover and take a flashlight and look in the bellhousing. often a leaky rear main seal will result in the bellhousing be splattered with oil. if its dry inside the bellhousing, it is probably the oilpan seal leaking (somehting hondas have been notorius for). there is engine dye you can get that is UV reflective if you really feel like pinning down the leak.

edit: also it tends to be both cheaper and easier to pull a transmission to replace a rear main seal than it is to pull an engine.

02-14-2005, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
belkins Tilted Location: Salt Lake City	Oil leak from unknown part Okay, here are the specifics: 2002 Honda Accord V6 - 4 door - automatic transmission I've got an oil leak that I figured was a loose oil filter since I recently changed the oil. After putting the car up on jacks and nosing around it was obviously not the oil filter or the drain plug. Looking around I found where the oil leak was and this is where it gets weird! Where the transmission and the motor bolt together there was what appeared to be a steel plate amongst all this aluminum. I thought it was steel simply because it had a rusted appearance. After pondering it some more and tapping on it and examining the edges with a pick it was PLASTIC!!! Well, it doesn't matter if it's plastic or not but the main point is this appears to be the source of the oil leak. Does anyone have any ideas what this might be? I spoke to the local Honda service department (of course they weren't a lot of help to a do-it-yourselfer) and the parts department couldn't locate the part on their diagrams. I figure there is probably a gasket behind this piece that needs to be replaced but since I need the car to get to work I didn't want to start disassembling things just yet. Thanks for any ideas as to the mystery part. belkins

02-14-2005, 06:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
cpugamerbb Possible StuD Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico	There is a seal located between the transmission and the engine. If this seal goes out, oil will leak from it. I'm not exactly sure why there is a plastic cover there, probably to help with aerodynamics under the car or something. Unfortunatly, you need to pull the engine to replace the seal.

02-14-2005, 07:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
belkins Tilted Location: Salt Lake City	Ugh! I was afraid of that. I'm assuming that seal is probably the rear main? Thank you for the response.

02-15-2005, 07:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Nimisys Crazy Location: San Diego	the plastic cover will be a cover for access ot the torque converter bolts. remove the cover and take a flashlight and look in the bellhousing. often a leaky rear main seal will result in the bellhousing be splattered with oil. if its dry inside the bellhousing, it is probably the oilpan seal leaking (somehting hondas have been notorius for). there is engine dye you can get that is UV reflective if you really feel like pinning down the leak. edit: also it tends to be both cheaper and easier to pull a transmission to replace a rear main seal than it is to pull an engine.