I have an oil leak at the rear of the engine that starts after the engine has been off for approx. 15 minutes. Thought it was the rear main seal and replaced it, but leak still occurs. Doesn't leak when running. Engine is 302, that was rebuilt 3 years ago. Any ideas?
let me ask you this are you sure its engine oil? could be tranny fluid also could not have installed the rear main correctly just my .02 eddie
Yes it's oil. Put the lip of the seals towards the front, left between 1/4 to 3/8 inch overlap on seals and bearing cap,RTV'd where the Ford manual said to. Didn't try to put RTV between the two halves. Pulled apart again tonight. Seal looks o.k. Any chance the bolts that hold the flex plate can leak. Had transmission overhauled last year and when I got it back the starter was hitting the flex plate. Had to shim the bottom of the starter out approx. .064 inch. Think they may have pulled the flex plate and didn't put thread sealer on them.
It might be the oil pan gasket. Same happened to me and that was it. I pulled the engine to see where was the oil coming from and sure it was from the oil pan. It started just like you said then it was leaving pods of oil.
Thanks for the replies. Will check the oil pan gasket. Only other things I see below the bell housing is the cam plug, two oil gallery steel screw in plugs, and the flex plate bolts. If not the gasket, I will see about getting car high enough to pull th transmission to see where leak is coming from..but after 33 years with this car my enthusasim is starting to rachet down a notch or two.
A guy I work with had the same issue with his engine a few months ago. Turned out to be the flex plate bolts.
