Rear Main Seal

[SureShot434]

I believe my rear main seal went and covered my clutch in oil :(

My clutch is less than one year old, but it's slipping so bad. Any ideas on how to go forward with this? I want to do the work myself but don't have a lift :(

She's out of commission until I get her fixed. Kinda bummed cause the car will be paid off next month. 2001 325i Sport

[derbo]

To do the rear main seal, you need to remove the transmission and flywheel. It is entirely possible to do without a lift but it will be difficult. Good luck! :) I would definitely suggest having a 2nd person to help you.

[brettbimmer]

Are you sure that it isn't a leaking clutch slave cylinder? I only ask as it seems odd that the rear main seal would suddenly start leaking in that kind of quantity that quickly. I would think that it would take some time for it to cause that much trouble. I guess if you were to check both the engine oil and brake fluid levels first that would help determine which is low. Anyway just a thought. Hopefully it is just a bad clutch slave cylinder as they are pretty easy to replace.

[LivesNearCostco]

Could also be transmission input shaft seal, if you smell/see reddish or purple transmission fluid instead of black/amber engine oil.

[llll1l1ll]

I wouldn't think the rear main would go that quickly. My bet is on slave cylinder.

[SureShot434]

I checked both levels and they are good. Doesn't look like I've lost any fluid out of either. Wtf?? I don't know what to do.

[SureShot434]

Bump

[TWong1200]

Is anything leaking on the ground? Have you gone under the car and checked to see if there are leaks? If you do see oil residue, you might want to try adding dye to the motor and using a black light to see if you can spot any of that dye.