And when it got to the point of coming out of the fill hole, the oil also started coming out of the read of the transmission where the driveshaft connects. The car wasn't completely level- both the front and back were jacked up and the front always ends up a bit higher due to the height of my jack points/location of the stands. Is this just normal (especially for a nose-high car), or is it indicative of a problem with the transmission rear oil seal meaning I should replace it?

And if so- is it possible to change it without draining the oil back out of the transmission (I should clarify that: without making a complete and utter mess and wasting $30 of RP gear oil...)?

 

unfortunatly u screwed yourself..

u need to get the car LEVEL.

u will have to replace the rear seal... it can be done byu having the oil level lower then the output shaft but u will still loose some.. if u are good and quick u can pull the seal and get the new one in without much waste..

then u need to refill the trans with the car LEVEL.. remember overfilling is just as bad as under filled.

Dave

 

I, personally, would never recycle oil.. no matter HOW recently you put it in... Once it enters the engine, it has only one more place to go.... the recycling company.

But yes.. your rear tranny seal is dead... pick up another one from mazdatrix.com

Probably wouldn't hurt to replace all of the rear gaskets.. Will need to drop tranny for all of them except the rear seal... and would help to do the rear seal since you'll probably need a puller to get it off.

 

Was the driveshaft installed?

 

LOL!! (not laughing at your question just laughing cause that is something dumb I could see myself doing......)

 

Yeah.. I guess that would be a good question to ask.

 

Well, it never really hurts to ask the obvious questions.

 

No, I was saying it was a good thing.. I SHOULD have asked the obvious...

 

I realize this is going to sound somewhat stupid, but how exactly do you level the car? And to what tolerance? When I realized the oil was coming out the back (after putting something under it to catch the oil) I lowered the front by a notch on the jack stands which considerably lessened the dribble.

It may not be recommended, but if I do have to drain the oil back out I'm going to catch it and use it to fill it back up again- it's just sat there and not moved so if it's not noticeably fouled I'm not going back out and spending $30 more to replace fresh gear oil. If it had been run I might think otherwise, but not in this situation.

I guess I'll have to find a good container to drain it into and try and replace the rear seal without totally dropping the transmission. I realize that isn't going to be easy, but dammit I just put the engine and transmission back into the car and it will be several weeks before I would be able to get the lift back to pull it all back out. So if it can be done while on the car, I'll do it that way.

And yes, I am kicking myself for not replacing it when I had it out of the car. I was hoping that since you have to drain the tranny oil before pulling it because otherwise it will come out the back when you have the tranny un-leveled from pulling it that perhaps this was just normal.

And no- the driveshaft wasn't installed.

 

well thier is your problem. the rear tranny seal, will seal to the drive line... install your drive line and fill it back up!!!!

 

Yeah.. wow.... If teh driveshaft isn't in it's like having a giant hole in the tranny.. Put the driveshaft in..... J-rat... that's hilarious...

 

Phew. OK, that's good to know... I suppose I should have thought of that, but I'd rather look a bit stupid and ask than waste (more) time & money. Though I suppose if I were really that worried about either of those, I wouldn't have bought my FC in the first place. :P

Thanks!

 

I never thought to ask sorry I just thought it was common knowledge.. yes thats is why it is leaking install the driveshaft get the car level and then put the fluid in untill it weeps from the check plug.. let the oil completly drain from the fill hole before u cap it off

Dave

 

My work here is done...