cdelena

A week ago went on a very spirited back country drive with a couple other owners and there was a lot of high rpm with two sessions about 10 minutes each in third and fourth always in VTEC. During the second session I smelled burning oil but it quit after we slowed.

Checked the car once home and found I was down about a quarter quart so I topped it off and checking found the PCV valve was not free so I ordered one and forgot the whole thing. Today I realized I have a small puddle of lube under the car and found it came from the vent hole between the engine and transmission (can see where it blew back on the header). Have driven a week and maybe 150 miles since I smelled burning so this is obviously ongoing.

I guess this could be the rear main seal or even a front seal on the transmission. The lube on the floor was pretty clean but I doubt I could tell one from the other. Anyone else go through this? (only about 70K miles on the engine and trans).

Plan to watch oil level and confine driving to short in town trips for now. Still have a small leak after another 25 miles... what do you think the odds of just blowing the seal and creating a big leak is if I keep using the car?

Any experienced advice?

cdelena

A very experienced mechanic has suggested this was brought on by the PCV valve failure and the odds are not good that the seal will stop leaking. I am sure not thrilled about pulling the transmission again but apparently have little choice. Will watch (an hope) to see if leak subsides the new valve.

This appears to be a warning to all that the PCV valve can be more than a minor maintenance item... high rpm and poor crank ventilation can be a big issue.