How long should a rear main seal last in a modern car?

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction) 01/29/2019 at 11:24 • Filed to: None

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Mrs. addiction’s ‘14 MDX was just in for service, and they said the rear main seal is seeping at 130k... I’m kind of ticked about it - seems like it should’ve made it longer, but maybe I’ve been spoiled in the past (no issue taking her ‘08 CX-9 to 200k). Anyway, hopefully it’s just a minor seep and it stays that way for another couple years. Guess we’ll break out the cardboard for the garage floor to keep an eye on it for now - haven’t noticed any oil on the floor yet.

Arrivederci > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 11:59

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I don’t think there’s any set time, but you’d hope it would last longer than 5-6 years, depending on when your MDX went into service.  Conversely, that engine has probably logged a higher number of hours to get to 130k miles.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 12:02

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130k miles??!! Jesus, do y'all drive to the moon and back as your commute??!! It's only a 2014 car! Our '13 CR-V and Odyssey are at 48k and 55k miles, that's less than your car's even combined....holy hell we barely drive lmao

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Arrivederci 01/29/2019 at 12:11

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We bought it a couple years used with ~40k miles. I was definitely hoping to get more miles on it before needing a repair like this. We take long trips with it, but she also does more short trips than I do in my car. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 12:13

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230k+ on the 3.0 V6 in my Acclaim , never changed a rear main, front main when the oil pump went to hell, but the rear is still factory, doesn’t leak a drop.

132k on the motor in my van, never had a rear main done, no leaks.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 01/29/2019 at 12:13

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60 mile daily commute, not including side trips, plus it’s our family trip car. We’ve averaged at least 25k per year on her car for a decade (we did over 5k in just two weeks on a road trip last summer). 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 01/29/2019 at 12:14

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We put 30-40k/yr on our 2 vehicles. I’m the only one who commutes and my commute is only about 20 miles.

We do a lot of driving on weekends and after work though.

VincentMalamute-Kim > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 12:16

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Do you actually have visible oil on the bottom of the engine/transmission? Just to make sure they’re telling the truth.

Subaru dealer just told my friend her carbon caniste r is damaged and will fail emissions so it needs replacement for $400. I looked at it, no visible damage, told her go ahead with the emissions test, she passed, now she owes me $400.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 01/29/2019 at 12:21

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Exactly - seems way too early.

Hell, the main’s fine on my 125k mile BMW...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > VincentMalamute-Kim 01/29/2019 at 12:22

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I need to get under to check. I’d be pissed as hell if they were lying... hard to imagine that’s the case. 

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 12:24

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Thats when you know something is terribly wrong, when your BMW is being more reliable than your Honda/Acura...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 01/29/2019 at 12:24

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Well, let’ s not go that far...

Khalbali > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 12:38

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I'm honestly surprised you didn't have any issues with the CX9, I was a Mazda tech for a couple years and those were our money makers. Rear axle seals, transfer cases and timing cover all super prone to leaks, just about every one we saw over 30k needed at least one of those three fixed.

dogisbadob > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 12:41

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sorry, I had to :p

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 01/29/2019 at 13:01

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It makes me proud to see people putting tons of miles on their cars. My wife’s 2014 Crosstrek has 21k miles on it…and she just stopped commuting to work.

At this rate it might actually be cheaper to just take taxis everywhere, but it’s our family vehicle for getting around with the kid and the convenience factor is really all it has going for itself lol.

whatisthatsound > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 13:13

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sometimes 5k, sometimes 15k, sometimes never. this is in the m3w though so all bets are off.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Khalbali 01/29/2019 at 13:30

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Huh... Got a good one, I guess. I was talking about the main seal specifically - the transfer case did go near the end of our time with it . Replaced it, and sold it to my sister. Still chugging. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > whatisthatsound 01/29/2019 at 13:31

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Haha!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > dogisbadob 01/29/2019 at 13:33

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Haha - worth a shot, right? 

Shift24 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 13:39

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I would still check. I know people on the mechanics side of the industry and while not all of them, more than half   look for the easy money. If lets say that main seal is 8 hours labor but there is a trick that they know how to get it done in 2.5 hours, many will throw that repair in there to see if you bite. And many bite because they don’ t know better.

And even so they still get paid 8 hours for 2.5 hours of work. T hey can still show you the old seals if you ask b ut by the time you pick up your car they are already 3 cars past yours .

That is how some mechanics will gross 300+ hours in a month when there are only 184 hours in a 23 work day month

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Shift24 01/29/2019 at 13:41

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If there’s no sign of a seep, you can be sure I’m going to have a strongly-worded conversation with the service manager...

VincentMalamute-Kim > Shift24 01/29/2019 at 14:07

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Or even better - not replace the seal or the canister since they’re both fine and just charge for parts and labor - profit! See - our fine, hard work allowed you to pass emissions. And why you don’t see oil seepage.

Shift24 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 14:11

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While I agree that is the best way to get their attention and have them right a wrong , the dealership will just give them a slap on the wrist.

Remember the going rate for a   dealership, $100/hr, they only pay the tech $25/hr and maybe $30/hr with benefits , that other $70 is in their pocket. Plus you still have to pay that total lets say $800 for labor. (8x100) Which means they gross $ 560. Sure they have to pay off other stuff but there  isnt just 1 tech.

The s tealership, MAG , near me has all the luxury brands. #1 profit maker? BMW service center. Not sales, service.

VincentMalamute-Kim > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 14:14

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Not hard at all to imagine. I’ve got too many stories of completely fabricated stories of “urgent need for repair” by mechanics. Longvoyager posted his long list of unethical/incompetent mechanic experiences .

Just one more: Another friend had the low oil level light on her RX300 come on. Lexus dealer told her valve cover gaskets need replacement for $2000. I told her get a second opinion at an indie guy I trust. He found no oil leakage anywhere. Check the oil once in a while since her 150,000 mile car is starting to burn a little oil between changes.

And even if the gaskets needed to be changed, it’ll be $700, not $2000 . Her response was to buy a new car. Someone got a sweet deal on a well-maintained Lexus.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > VincentMalamute-Kim 01/29/2019 at 14:21

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I know there are plenty of shady mechanics, but for a place like this where we’ve been loyal customers, it seems like there’s more to lose than to gain from lying.

Shift24 > VincentMalamute-Kim 01/29/2019 at 14:23

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I do agree most would do that but some dealerships will actually check if you used a part. Though a way to get around that? Just take the new part and throw it in your box or car. I know some mechanics will drive the brand they work on just because they can get free parts.

Khalbali > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 15:03

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Well that makes a lot more sense lol, I was having a really hard time believing a CX9 did 200k without any of those issues. Got so good at the transfer cases I could do them in about 45 min, warranty was 2.2 hrs and customer pay was 4. Saw one that split clean in half once, got covered in burnt gear oil that took days to clean off my arm s and face.

Khalbali > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 15:05

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But I also never really saw a rear main leak on  those either.

shop-teacher > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 15:42

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Yeah, I’d be pissed too.  It’s only five years old.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > shop-teacher 01/29/2019 at 15:47

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Hopefully it proves to be really minor when I get under to take a look.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Shift24 01/29/2019 at 15:58

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I learned something new.  U nfortunately.

NKato > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 15:59

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A tip: don’t consider everything to be bullet proof. After 100k miles, things start breaking or wearing out. It’s why police departments start retiring their car between 100k and 200k.

DipodomysDeserti > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 16:00

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As the owner of several SBC 350s, a leaky RMS is how gou know there’s oil in the engine.

The RMS on my Jeep is starting to seep and it only has 75k miles on it. I’m  gonna leave it in until it’s time for a clutch or my TOB finally dies.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > NKato 01/29/2019 at 16:01

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I know - I just expected a little better from Honda/Acura. We were planning to take this one to 200k (and probably still will). 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > DipodomysDeserti 01/29/2019 at 16:05

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Haha!

E92M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 16:20

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I had the dealer do the timing belt in my 2009 MDX a few months ago. They said my power steering rack is leaking and quoted $24 00 to replace it. It is damp at one end, but leaks nothing on the ground. In 5 months I haven’t had to add any fluid, so guess how much I’m NOT  in a hurry to replace it.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E92M3 01/29/2019 at 16:24

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Yup. But I’m guessing any “luxury ” dealer has a certain percentage of clients that will drop whatever cash at the first sign of something starting to go wrong.

shop-teacher > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 16:29

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Yeah, hopefully it’s more of a seep than an out and out leak.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > shop-teacher 01/29/2019 at 16:31

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I’m guessing it’s a very minor seep at the moment. Hopefully it will stay that way for a while. 

shop-teacher > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 16:35

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Hopefully.  

E92M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2019 at 16:46

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Yeah, a lot of people w ouldn’t even question it or bother to have a look for themselves.

Shift24 > VincentMalamute-Kim 01/29/2019 at 17:33

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Yep there are some shady people out there. Also that is why you normally state right off the bat that you want to see the part. You can 100% play dumb and say you just wanted to know what the part looks like. At least then they have to come up with the used part, meaning they actually did the work.

pip bip - choose Corrour > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/30/2019 at 05:20

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only had one leak. wrecked my clutch

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/30/2019 at 08:42

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Bummer!