Argh my motor has developed quite an oil leak at the back of the motor where it joins to the trans. Smelt a burning oil smell before (even though my nose is clogged from the flu) and did an inspection and there was oil sprayed over the cats. Has anybody done this rear seal before? expensive? annoying? (i'm hoping the motor doesn't have to come out, but i spose either the transmission or motor might have to.....) anyways anybody know what's involved?

I think just your transmission can be removed to get at the rear main seal.

Yep, box out, 2 hour job, for a 2 minute insert of a 20 buck seal, while its off, do the front seal on the box as well.

are you sure its engine oil?

Ah cool thanks guys. While i'm at it i should ditch the auto and shove in a real trans haha need the cash though....

Oh Yeah it's definately engine oil, noticing the level drop on the dipstick for the motor, and it's not red in colour and the transmission fluid is not dropping (although it does have a few bubbles on it's dipstick).

Before you pull the tranny out to do the rear seal have a good look around the sump gasket around the trans area..

I had a leak that just started up and it was quite bad with the oil splashing back onto the exhaust and when I gave the car a bit of stick smoke would sometimes piss out from it (looked and smelt terrible)..

So I bit the bullet and pulled the trans thinking rear main, but after doing that it was still pissing out.

I finally found that the sump gasket had split right back near the trans cover so the oil leaked down as tho from the rear main. I wasn't gonna pull the donk to do the damn sump gasket so I just smeared some silicon around the split and so far no more leaks..