Rear main seal - 2003 Ram 5.7

[BigWaylon]

Anybody close to Charlotte have the skills and ability to replace the rear main on an ‘03 Ram 1500 4WD w/ 5.7L Hemi?

 

[BowWow]

…….. just to be 100% sure, if you've had an oil change recently and spilled a little oil while changing the filter, it can run back along the oil pan an appear to be a rear main leak. If it's been more than a month, probably not the case.

 

[BigWaylon]

…….. just to be 100% sure, if you've had an oil change recently and spilled a little oil while changing the filter, it can run back along the oil pan an appear to be a rear main leak. If it's been more than a month, probably not the case.

This is a box about 2’x4’ that I’ve been sliding under the truck for the last week. Pretty sure it’s not spilled oil at this point. I’ve added 6qts in the last 2-3 weeks.



It went from not dripping a single drop in the 13 years I’ve had it, to that within a week or so.

 

[BigWaylon]

It’s dripping from here, as well as from the oil pan.

 

[BloodRunsThicker]

Not a fun job.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[BowWow]

Yup.......you be right on dat one.

 

[Schattenreiter]

Are you sure it is not the oil pan leaking. Had a leak under my truck that shop said was the valve covers. Had that fixed then it started running funny. Turned out be the intake manifold leaking.
Fixed that then noticed I was still losing oil. Now they say pan gasket is leaking too.

 

[Burt Gummer]

Take it to Gastonia and let someone in @Mike Overlay ’s shop do it

 

[BigWaylon]

Are you sure it is not the oil pan leaking. Had a leak under my truck that shop said was the valve covers. Had that fixed then it started running funny. Turned out be the intake manifold leaking.
Fixed that then noticed I was still losing oil. Now they say pan gasket is leaking too.

I’m not sure of anything, yet.

 

[BigWaylon]

I’m not sure of anything, yet.

And I’ll add to that...anybody willing to help me give it a once over to see if it’s something other than the rear main seal? I do some of my own work, and have ramps I can put the front on, but I’m not 100% confident in my ability to locate the issue.

There is some oil dripping off where the drain plug is, but it’s coming from somewhere other than the plug. The frustrating part is the first sign of a leak was oil dripping from the low point of the pan at the drain plug. I was due an oil change, so I bought a new plug/gasket as an easy fix or at least to eliminate the possibility it was the plug. Goodyear said they didn’t see any oil coming from anywhere else. And within 2-3 days I started having this increased volume of oil.

 

[BowWow]

…. get a flashlight and look for where the wet spot begins. You know you have a leak near the inspection plate..... work your way back or up from there. While its running, use a flashlight and look around...… if it's leaking that bad, you should be able to track it down while it's running. That's almost pouring oil...…. I had an oil pressure regulator crack, it was a really bad leak and oil was everywhere from the bottom, just had to keep looking upwards. However theres a chance it could be the rear main..... but I've never seen one go from not leaking to pouring. If it's the rear main and you are somewhat mechanically inclined, it's plenty doable, but it can be a day of work.