Lude Generation

I'm 99% certain that the oil is coming out of the hole shown in the photo below:



This is the underside of the bell housing, looks like where the gearbox joins onto the engine. Obviously I can't tell whether it's engine oil or MTF that's leaking.

I suspect it's the main seal? Or rear main crankshaft seal, or whatever it's called? Am I totally wrong or are there any other likely culprits?

What does it look like above the gearbox? Around the VTEC solenoid, distributor area? It is possible for oil to go into the top of the gearbox housing and drip out of the bottom.

I have pretty much the same leak on mine. The suspicision is it's the crankshaft rear main oil seal. The other possibilty was that it was the sump gasket, but the a7 (in my lude) doesn't have a sump gasket, and provided whoever used Hondabond, that is very unlikely to leak apparently.

I assume you've checked it's not coming from the head (dizzy side) and running down the block?

Merlin wrote:What does it look like above the gearbox? Around the VTEC solenoid, distributor area? It is possible for oil to go into the top of the gearbox housing and drip out of the bottom.

This. Vtec solenoid gasket, cam end plug, even rocker cover is more likely. But you are correct there is a rear main seal at the box end of the engine.

Merlin wrote:What does it look like above the gearbox? Around the VTEC solenoid, distributor area? It is possible for oil to go into the top of the gearbox housing and drip out of the bottom.

Totes bone dry. Had an OCD session in my engine bay yesterday (Japfest prep) and all looks fine from above. I replaced that cam end seal thingy near the VTEC solenoid last year which was leaking.

I forgot to say that after the above photo was taken, I degreased the area and had another look the following day (post driving) and it's more evident to me that it's coming out of that hole as it doesn't seems to be coming from higher up.

ive just been underneath my lude wiping away some oil from the same spot - my leaks are coming from the top end - rocker cover gasket, vtec solenoid, cam end cap and distributor it all runs down over the top of the gear box or finds a way between the block and box runs inside the casing and comes out and collects at that point.

I always have oil all arond the underside of my gearbox and surrounding area too, but my oil levels never drop to any great degree, so I just live with it.

Mine did this for along time and it was my main crank shaft oil seal, bitch of a job for such a small seal plus I put a new clutch in whilst the box was out.

damon wrote:Mine did this for along time and it was my main crank shaft oil seal, bitch of a job for such a small seal plus I put a new clutch in whilst the box was out.

Exactly what I'm having done. I can warrant the cost easier if both are being done at the same time Fitting a lighter flywheel too

Main crankshaft seal leak looked exactly the same on my white lude buddy. That would be my guess.