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Re: Sounds like input shaft seal . . . (archive)
[ Follow Ups ] [ 7-series (E32) Message Board ] [ Msg. Board FAQ ]
Posted by gale on December 02, 2000 at 11:12:22:

In Reply to: Re: Sounds like input shaft seal . . . posted by victor trucco on December 02, 2000 at 10:12:59:

That's a catch 22. My 92 had 131k on it when I bought it & it had Mobil 1 in it & was leaking engine oil from several places around the timing cover & cam sprocket. I switched it back to dinosaur oil & after the 2nd oil change, all the leaks have stopped, & change every 3k.

What usually happens is over time, petroleum-base oils will build up a varnish behind the seals. Synthetic has superior cleaning properties & will remove that buildup, as well as being more viscous, & the leaks start. That tells me the dino oil in my engine is starting to build up crud again and that's not so good either. We all know the benefits of synthetic as a superior lubricant & how it prolongs life & reduces wear of expensive components, and given the choice, I'd rather fix the leaks & run synthetic. On the other hand, it's a royal pain to drop the tranny, expect a full weekend with someone helping, & who knows what might get upset in the process & cause further problems. Then again, changing it back to dino may not solve it completely once the leak(s) has started, and I cannot recommend seal conditioners & leak stopper either. Dexron III is a synthetic blend. I'm not sure of any synthetic content in Dexron II. If it's leaking profusely, get an estimate on having an independant shop replace it. While they're in there, replace the output shaft seal & the rear tranny mounts. They're fairly simple & relatively inexpensive & they'll be in there anyway. If it's just a few drops on the driveway, get a drip pan, keep your eye on the fluid level & take care of it when you perceive it to be more serious.


If it is the input seal, can I change the oil back to non-synthetic and remedy the leak or am I at the point of no return?

Once the transmission is out, how difficult is it to pull the seal and replace it?

Thanks,

Victor




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