ra64

have a 96 civic ex, manual transmission, 147000 miles with an apparent oil leak. there is a dime to quarter sized drop of oil under the car, slightly to the passenger side. Under the car, I see oil dripping off the bottom of what appears to be the transaxle. Mechanic thought it was the axle seal and replaced the passenger side axle seal.

any easy way to see if it is from the axle seal and the mechanic didn't replace it right?

could it be a transmission seal or something?

how can I tell if it's gear oil and not motor oil?

thanks.

Ruben19

u sure is not engine oil coming from the rear main seal or oil pan gasket?

ra64

I'm not sure it could be engine oil, how can I tell?

I don't think it's the oil pan gasket as that is on the other (drivers side). I'm not sure where the rear main seal is?

Ruben19

the rear main seal is located between the transmission and the engine block. this seal always go bad.
if you take some pictures where the leak is coming from be easier to help u

ra64

here is a pic, it's after I clean most of the oil off, but you can kinda see some of the residue.

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6082/dscf3411a.jpg

the oil was all over the left part of the pic, where the two metal pieces seem to bolt together.

Ruben19

well, the rear main seal area looks pretty clean. is your drain plug tighten? does it have the washer?
can you shoot pictures where the axles & transmission connect?

98civdx

what color fuild is it leaking?

ra64

clearish, slighting yellow/brown, certainly seems like oil but i'm not sure if it's engine or tranny.

98civdx

people often times use motor oil in trannys. I hate it, makes it a pain in the *** to to figure out whats leaking

ra64

here's the best pic I have of the other side, it's dark but you can kinda see the oil. I'll check the drain bolt next time I get a chance. does that look like it's coming from the axle seal?

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8950/dscf3428s.jpg

Ruben19

that looks like ur axle seal is the problem

ra64

here's a few more pics, just want to make sure i got it right.

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3985/dscf3444.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4576/dscf3445o.jpg

the first pic from above, you can the black plastic covering where the axle joins the tranny is covered in oil.

the second pic, you can't see oil that clearly but were there is the most oil is the bottom part, under where the line of bolts are. could it be leaking from here? is this the rear main seal or is that further towards the engine side?

and in the first pic, does the axle seal go under where the cv boot joins the black plastic piece or where the black plastic piece joins the transmission?

thanks.

98civdx

agreed, go back to the shop and tell them to fix it correctly this time.