2002 QX4 Motor Oil Leak

[Israelpr]

My qutie has a minor motor oil leak. I made a new gasket for the bottom oil pan (correctly) but continues to leak. I later found out that it has an upper pan. Took it to mechanic and said that it's not the upper oil pan because there is "no evidence of an oil leak" from the upper part of the motor. He said that the leak is from a seal inside the "transmission casing". Labor is about $1000 bucks and the actual seal $20 bucks. Does this sound right? He's right, there's no leak from the top of motor and the leak is coming out of a small grove upon the lower oil pan. Need some opinions here. Thanks.

[AceEngineer]

If the mechanic is correct about where the leak is, then his estimate while a little high is in the ball park. Most likely he thinks it is the rear main seal, which requires removal of the transmission and transfer case to replace. Have you tried a seal sweller (engine oil stop leak)? If that works, the only problem is you have to add the seal sweller every time you change oil, or the seals shrink back down and leak again.

AceEngineer

[Towncivilian]

Rear main seal replacement on our VQ35DEs is an expensive matter. Mine costed about $1200 at AAMCO. My upper pan gaskets were leaking too and that costed $400ish on top of that.

[Israelpr]

Thanks guys....I feel much better, thought I was being taken for a ride. You guys are a blessing and this website a great tool. Thanks again.

[Buzzman]

You can buy a lot of oil for a thousand bucks.

[NismoPick]

You can buy a lot of oil for a thousand bucks.

lol. Good point.

My rear main seal is leaking pretty bad. My driveway slopes up into my garage, so everytime I drive in or back out I get a nice trail of oil. I also have to swap out the cardboard on my garage floor about every two weeks because it's so oil soaked.

I plan to replace the rear main seal myself one day when I get fed up with checking the oil every few days... I've done plenty of transmission pulls, but it's NEVER fun, nor easy.