moorebl

I have an oil leave comming from the upper between the motor and the trans where they meet. I have changed and re checked the plug and it’s dry as can be behind or in the vicinity of the Egr. Not overheating. Has 175k. Could the rear main seep from the upper location not sure. Please point me in the right direction.

Slumpertcivic

That’s way too clean to be a active leak above the joint.

The only time I have seen “oil” seep out of the top of the bell housing was when a torque converter cracked and just sprayed all the transmission fluid out coating the cracks so much they looked similar to that except all the way around and transmission fluid was dripping out bottom.

Pretty easy to pull the starter out and find out if it’s covered in something. Technically bottom access plate is easier, but pulling all stuff off to get to starter will help your field of view of everything it’s more likely to be.

moorebl

It’s motor oil not trans fluid though

Slumpertcivic

Exactly, I don’t expect your going to find the rear main seal capable of leaking in manner that results in the oil flinging around.

ThaChad

I have the same issue. Was there ever a solution?

BrotatoChip

Probably the cam plug.

ThaChad

It has a new head gasket, cam seal and cam plug. Still very slowly seeping oil out of the same part of bellhousing as in the pic.

BrotatoChip

Valve cover gasket, VTEC solenoid if you have one.

ThaChad

Valve cover gasket is also new. But the V-Tec solenoid is not. But the oil isn't on the back side. It's on the opposite side of the V-Tec.

BrotatoChip

There are not many sources of oil that high up on the passenger side. I'm spit balling here. Are you positive it's oil and not coolant?

Clean it really well then try to pinpoint where it's coming from. Post of pictures.

ThaChad

Definitely oil. Not trans fluid or coolant.
I just replaced the head gasket and all, this past weekend. Fired it back up yesterday afternoon for the first time again. And once it reached running temp. Started leaking at the bell housing again. Im lost now 🤷‍♂️ No oil source up that high. Other than the things we have mentioned already. And I cleaned and checked all across the very top of bell housing at bottom of head and everything was dry. Makes no sense to me. And would never imagine rear main seal could sling oil that bad. And still even exist at all lol.

Colin42

I'd still lean towards vtec solenoid. I've also seen it leak oil at the head gasket, but that's very rare

nimblemotors

I have the same problem. The valve cover gasket was replaced and there does not appear to be anything leaking unless its in the back where I can't see it.
I have read all about the cam plug leaking, and so I cleaned it all up and replaced it, and no oil coming from it. Then the vtec seal is the next suspect, but it is in the back, but I went ahead and replaced it,
and still no luck, there is oil coming out at that corner. It seems the only option left is the head gasket? Lots of work to replace that, so I'm looking for any suggestions.
Eric video shows it leaking, but it leaks from behind the exhaust manifold where the oil return holes are in the head(gasket) so if I remove the exhaust manifold, should see it leaking there?
It must run down along the head gasket to the back corner.

It is defintely oil. I just bought this car.

Appreciate any input and updates. So many threads people just disappear and no resolution of their issues.

TinyTiger

Did you replace both gaskets for the solenoid or just the larger of the two?

nimblemotors

"Then the vtec seal is the next suspect, but it is in the back, but I went ahead and replaced it,"

The one on top was not leaking, no evidence whatsoever that oil came from there.
I removed the exhaust manifold and it looked like oil was coming from the valve cover gasket. So I replaced that too,
and while it is better, it still has drip coming from that spot. The head gasket is really the only thing left, but its not bad enough to do all the work,
the mess in the engine seems to be from previous leaks.

TinyTiger

That's good I guess, only reason I asked is because I was having the same exact leak you had posted in the original picture and chased it down for months before realizing it was the vtec solenoid after all. Drips down the front and back and pools on the bell housing, thought it was rear main at first. Anyways, good luck brother I hope you get her situated.

nimblemotors

I agree that was a good guess on the source and why I replaced it.
I also shoved a papertowel in that area to see if it would soak up any oil, and to my surprise it did not seem to find any, indicating
the oil is coming from the front and running down to the back of the engine via the slight gap between head and block where the headgasket is.