Rear main seal question

[dan lee]

So I have a dealership who just quoted me $941 to change out the rear main seal.
He said the engine oil pan gets dropped and the transmission has to also be dropped or lowered.
I am pretty sure this is not correct on my 1998 Jeep TJ 4.0
Am I right?

 

[jgaz]

Whoever told you this is WRONG!
The oil pan does need to be dropped but the trans DOES NOT need to be pulled, dropped, lowered, etc.
I don't know how much time they said the job would take so it's hard to comment on price, but they may be basing their price on wrong info.

Read some of the various threads on here about this leak then go make sure that the leak isn't coming from the rear of the valve cover.
I almost had my self talked into changing the rear main until I checked the back of the cylinder head. 95% of my leak was cured by just changing the valve cover gasket.

 

[jgaz]

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/rear-main-oil-leak.4692/#post-64372

Read this thread from post #10 on a check your engine yourself.
Just my 2 cents

 

[DC0046]

Whoever told you this is WRONG!
The oil pan does need to be dropped but the trans DOES NOT need to be pulled, dropped, lowered, etc.
I don't know how much time they said the job would take so it's hard to comment on price, but they may be basing their price on wrong info.

Read some of the various threads on here about this leak then go make sure that the leak isn't coming from the rear of the valve cover.
I almost had my self talked into changing the rear main until I checked the back of the cylinder head. 95% of my leak was cured by just changing the valve cover gasket.

Just got a quote for mine. Under $400. About three hours and an oil change. There are a lot of video on YouTube.

 

[Germanshepherd]

bars leak ream main seal concentrate stopped my RMS leak 95%. I tried the AT205 stuff but that did not work. last oil change I used the bars leak and also switched from synthetic to dino 10w40. I get one very small drop every 4-5 days. prior to that I had about 5 drops a day.

 

[DC0046]

bars leak ream main seal concentrate stopped my RMS leak 95%. I tried the AT205 stuff but that did not work. last oil change I used the bars leak and also switched from synthetic to dino 10w40. I get one very small drop every 4-5 days. prior to that I had about 5 drops a day.

I didn't have a problem with mine until I switched to Mobil 1 from Dino oil. Just did an oil change and switched to Castrol Dino and used a quart of Lucas Stop Leak. Fingers crossed.

 

[Germanshepherd]

I didn't have a problem with mine until I switched to Mobil 1 from Dino oil. Just did an oil change and switched to Castrol Dino and used a quart of Lucas Stop Leak. Fingers crossed.

same thing for me.. had ZERO leaks and decided to use mobil 1 high mileage and started leaking within a week. was bone dry prior to that. maybe it cleaned out all the sludge too well and exposed some weak spots but for me it was no coincidence.
fingers crossed for both of us..so far so good.

 

[Serbonze]

Just got a quote for mine. Under $400. About three hours and an oil change. There are a lot of video on YouTube.

That's a great price. What kind of shop?

 

[DC0046]

That's a great price. What kind of shop?

Private shop here. Big operation. They quoted the job based on the book they use. Can't imagine it taking more than three hours labor at a commercial shop with a lift.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Keep in mind the transmission only needs to be dropped if a 1-piece seal is used. 2-piece seals eliminate the need to drop the transmission which is what was used to replace my previous TJ's RMS.

 

[dan lee]

So after I spoke with this guy from the dealership, and told him that there is no need to pull the transmission on this repair, he decided to lower his quote to $500 + materials. Not sure now if I want to use them

 

[Jerry Bransford]

So after I spoke with this guy from the dealership, and told him that there is no need to pull the transmission on this repair, he decided to lower his quote to $500 + materials. Not sure now if I want to use them

It cost me $150 plus the cost of the 2-piece seal to have mine replaced years ago.

 

[dan lee]

Jerry,

I know I could do the repair myself....I just don't want too! Getting to old to be on the concrete floor on my back for that long

 

[Germanshepherd]

Jerry,

I know I could do the repair myself....I just don't want too! Getting to old to be on the concrete floor on my back for that long

is your leak bad? why dont you try one of the stop leak products. I know some say its snake oil but so far its working for me and some others. nothing to lose but 10 bucks.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Jerry,

I know I could do the repair myself....I just don't want too! Getting to old to be on the concrete floor on my back for that long

I didn't do my RMS replacement. As said, I payed someone else $150 plus the cost of the seal to replace mine.

 

[dan lee]

The leaks not that bad, I am just anal about that kind of stuff

 

[Germanshepherd]

Me too. Fig

The leaks not that bad, I am just anal about that kind of stuff

Me too. Figured I'd try the cheapest way first.