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This looks like to me a rear main seal coming from where the block meets the transmission between the black plate but not entirely sure this picture was after about 10 mins after i wiped it down you can see the drip my question is should i be overall really concerned or just keep an eye on my oil levels daily as i need this car but don't have the money to get this fixed at the moment second question is would changing to a 10-40 with maybe some additive slow it down

 

what car and what engine is this?

 

98 civic 1.6L sohc mostly stock other than a few mods

 

Forget the additives or thicker oil.
Rear main doesn't control any pressurized oil, so no concern there.
If the leak gets bad enough, everything in the bell housing including
the clutch assembly can get saturated with oil.

Keep an eye on the oil level until you get the $$$ to fix it.
Good time to consider doing the clutch too.

 

^ I agree with him.

I'd throw some cardboard or something under it to catch the oil leaking.

It is something to think about, but I wouldn't be freaking out about it.

 

Rule out a leak from the oil pan gasket, distributor O-ring, VTEC solenoid, and valve cover gasket before you drop the transmission.

 

lol good idea.

 

OK but it most cases isn't it the rear main though if its leaking from that spot?

Just from what i know if it was a solenoid leak i would have oil on the side of the block or the pan gasket oil would be on the opposite side of where its at and if it was the valve cover gasket leak i would have oil on my hood. correct my understanding

 

Save the headache and replace the seal. It's much cheaper to do that than buying quarts of oil. What happens if you forget to add oil....engine failure. That will cost way more than that $10 seal.

 

 

Ive checked all other places and that's the only place that has signs of oil otherwise my engine bay is clean as far as my oil pan gasket can leak at the same spot i didn't know thats good to know. No i havent taken off the flywheel cover but looks easy enough to do (haven't done it b4) so i don't know if its leaking on engine side or transmission

 

BlackDB8, from previous experience, it is actually easier to just pull and remove the motor/tranny out of the car to get to that rear main seal. Removing and prying out the transmission is not easy, especially by yourself. If you haven't already, replace the timing belt, water pump, front main seal, etc. when the motor is out.

 

So i was looking around again and smelling the oil and swore it smells like transmission oil checked my regular oil levels again nothing has changed been busy but i'm starting to think its a transmission seal of some sort.. maybe a main shaft seal?