rear main seal or oil filter adapter plate

[992dr]

I was checking my lower control arm bushings and noticed some oil on my exhaust and some oil splatter on the front of my (EDIT) tranny pan. I also noticed some oil with a little build up (almost to a drip) on my oil filter.

How or what should I do to check to find the exact location of this leak?
I have been searching the net for a while and it seems that it could be one or the other. Either rear main seal or the oil filter adapter plate. Is it the oil filter adapter plate or oil cooler adapter plate?
I need some ramps, being low sucks when it comes to working on the rig.

I did put some Bar rear main seal leak repair in, just in case.

Any info/help would be much appreciated.
Thanks

 

[oldsalt]

If there was oil on the front of your oil pan I would say that you have a front seal leak not rear.

Get a couple cans of brakekleen and clean and dry the pan, cooler lines, filter, etc.
Let the car run for a bit but don't drive it then look for any leaks.
I say let it run without driving it because it sounds like you have a leak that is blowing oil on other parts of the vehicle.

You can also spray some aerosol foot powder on areas that you may suspect a leak. The foot powder will dry white and it will be easier to see the location of a leak.

 

[992dr]

I'm sorry, I meant to say the front of my tranny pan. I fixed that.
I put some Bar leak repair in and it has been holding up, still leaking a bit but not as bad.

I need to get under there and spray it down with some degreaser and clean it up to really get a good look at whats going on.

Does anyone have any helpful tips or tricks on replacing a rear main seal?

 

[SunlitComet]

Other than removing the tranny and flywheel assy just find a seal installation adapter/driver big enough for the seal. You can get it out with a small blade screwdriver.

 

[steamroller]

There's also a paper gasket behind the upper portion of the aluminum seal adapter that may or may not be leaking. Mine wasn't but I'm paranoid and replaced it and the oil pan gasket anyways since I had everything out. To replace that gasket you'll have to at least lower the pan down some. I haven't messed with a 2wd on these year trucks so I don't know how much a PITA it may be on that.

A 4" to 3" PVC pipe reducer bushing works well for a seal driver if you can't rent or borrow one local. None of the parts stores had one so I had to improvise. When I got done I fired mine up with the trans still out to check for leaks.

A couple other places to check for leaks are the oil cooler lines, the oil pressure sending unit on the block behind the distributor, the rear of the intake manifold and the valve cover gaskets.

 

[992dr]

Thanks for the info guys.

Steamroller,
Once the weather stays warm, I'll be checking those locations.

Thanks again

 

[992dr]

Well, finally got a nice day and some time to get under and wash it to see what was going on. Honestly, there's oil all over the place and I cant find out where its leaking from. I used scrubbing bubbles and sprayed the piss out of it and let it sit. Then came back with the hose and washed it down. Cleaned it up a bunch but cant seem to find the leak. I let it run for about ten minutes while I was under it and didtn see anything leak or drip out.
I did notice that oil was everywhere. I'll have to try to get some decent pictures.

Is there one particular location I can look at to see if it is my rear main seal?

What are other common locations that leak?

This is really aggrivating but, thankfully that Bar leak stop has been doing its job quite well.

Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks