2007 Suburban Rear Main Seal Leak Help

[JeepinPenguin]

Hey everyone - noticed oil puddles pooling up under ol' Mudhorn and crawled under and couldnt really trace the source. Checking the color of the oil it almost looked more like transmission fluid than actual oil. As I am no mechanic I decided to just take it down to my local shop where I have all the truck maintenance done, and just heard back that its a rear main seal leak. OUCH! I knew from my friends Jeep that this is not a little task and it will be costly. They quoted me at about $1800 to do the job. But I was thinking, is there anything else I should have them check or replace while they're in there since they will have the trans pulled and everything? Other issues I may be able to get ahead of? Is this the time to regear? Other engine issues to be check - maybe a tune up? Mudhorn is a 2007 Suburban with ~135k miles on it.

All thoughts and opinions welcomed!

 

[nitro_rat]

Many times it's the oil pan gasket leaking back there, not the rear main itself. Rear mains do leak though and it's best to replace the seal and carrier at the back of the block, Dorman sells it as a kit. I'd also do the front seal on the transmission while it's out.

So rear seal and housing, oil pan gasket, trans front seal...

 

[Overlandtowater]

Defiantly the whole rear main plate it has the rear main seal and the plate that covers the rear of the camshaft. that is where mine was leaking and not the rear main itself, oil pan gasket, check the oil pressure sending unit and other sensors at the top of the engine while the trans is out, relocate the vent lines to the top of the firewall if you go through much water, while the pan is out just take a look at the pickup screen, since the front diff will have to be dropped to get the pan out if you have any leaks now would be the time to repair those. And to drop the front diff you will need to disconnect the tie rod so might as well check now and see if you have any play and replace those while your at it. …..JUST MY $0.02

 

[JeepinPenguin]

@dirtdobberoffroad @nitro_rat thanks you guys. I really appreciate the advice. I'll be sure to ask those questions when I take it back in and make sure they give it a full look over while they have everything out. Really sucks but I guess it is what it is.

 

[Mekcanix]

on my 09 Sierra 1500 with 5.3 I had 2 leaks one was valve cover which was the bad one, and the other was the O rings for the block where the oil cooler lines comes out. I am with The other guys if you have trans out spend the extra time and a bit of cash because cursing "why the F didn't I do that while I was in there?!?!?!" Is a curse I have said a few times in the past. But not any more LOL