Hey guys, new Honda owner and fan. Nice to meet everyone!

So to get right at it, I bought a 1998 Honda Civic eg with a D16Y + turbo installed, all the work was done a week or two prior to me picking it up. Motor wasn't new, roughly 100k km on it. Didn't notice and big leaks when I went and grabbed it. Parked it for a few days to get insurance and registration. Took it too work and drove it about 150 km today, I did drive it to my place from where I grabbed it, about 250km away. So in all I've thrown maybe a little over 400 km on. Haven't pushed it all that hard it does have some juice in her. My exemption of hard on a car might be different though to some.

Well I noticed a huge wetspot under the car as I was doing a walk-around an checking fluids after getting home tonight. There's fluid which I want to assume is transmission fluid because my engine oil level is fine, too dark for me to get at my tranny fluid level to see what it's at but I'll take a look tomorrow after work. I do have pictures after the current leak and it honestly seems quite bad. Stopped leaking when I got home and parked it though which is odd. It's just wet.

Anyone have any ideas on what it could be ? Done a bit of research and alot says rear main seal, but I've never done one nor has anyone I know, and if a person can find a lift are they a pain in the *** to do if that's what anyone thinks ? Could too much pressure cause it ? I know this turbo is running 15lbs of boost. Can't turn it down with hondata anymore as was said by cmf tuning in the city. So that's all I got so far. Any ideas or lending hands on how a person should honestly tackle something like this, keep in mind I'm 23, kind of broke - ish, but I have might have some people with a hoist who can lend a hand for a few beers.

* Found a bit of oil puddled on my intake manifold, aftermarket of course, will take a picture and add it on here tomorrow morning of the spot

​​​​​​​thanks for any help!

 

A rear main seal leak would be leaking engine oil... and you have already stated that the oil level is normal, so this would most likely eliminate the rear main seal as the cause of the leak.

There appears to be some type of sealant at the separation seam between the clutch housing and transmission case... so it is likely that the leak is coming from there. It has been liberally applied on the outside of the case... a crude attempt to stop the leak before you bought the car. Check the fluid level and fill to the proper capacity. Cleaning and drying the case will allow you to see where in fact the leak is coming from. Keep in mind that if you drive the vehicle, the leak will be as high up and as far forward as the wetness is. If it is in fact leaking at the case seam, the proper repair will be to pull the transmission, separate the case, re-seal with HondaBond and re-install the transmission.

Good luck.

 

Check the o-ring under the breather box. When it leaks it's often confused for a trans leak. It can be a slow leak that takes a long time to be obvious when checking the oil level.