Fluid On Transmission... RMS or VCG?

[Marioh]

Looking into a used purchase. Everything looked great, drove well, but noticed a bit of buildup that was visual on the transmission top (I assume it's the tranny, not sure how far back the engines go on these). It's a 6-speed manual. Didn't look fresh fresh, but didn't look that old either. Any idea on what the chanes are it's a VCG vs. the RMS and how confident I can be on either?

[a4lownslow]

Rear main seal will never leak on top of the transmission, that defies the laws of gravity so you can rule that one out.

Valve cover won’t really leak there either. It will leak More so on the passenger side where the engine slopes.

That leak is from the vacuum pump or timing chain cover gasket. Both diy fixes and pretty common


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[Marioh]

Rear main seal will never leak on top of the transmission, that defies the laws of gravity so you can rule that one out.

Valve cover won’t really leak there either. It will leak More so on the passenger side where the engine slopes.

That leak is from the vacuum pump or timing chain cover gasket. Both diy fixes and pretty common


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I was thinking the same thing about the RMS, but was confused if the VCG would spray that much oil onto it. The timing belt/pump/etc. was done 5k miles ago... I would assume the cover gasket is a pretty common job to include with that? Will look into the vacuum pump as a possibility. Huge thanks for the quick reply!

[Joshlc1988]

What he said! I had the same problem with both the vacuum pump an timing cover leaking. Now I have the same problem but from the front exh cam seal. None of which is a big deal breaker. The vacuum pump is a few hundred but the others is cheap.

[a4lownslow]

I was thinking the same thing about the RMS, but was confused if the VCG would spray that much oil onto it. The timing belt/pump/etc. was done 5k miles ago... I would assume the cover gasket is a pretty common job to include with that? Will look into the vacuum pump as a possibility. Huge thanks for the quick reply!

No problem! It’s definitely chain cover gasket or vacuum pump. Wouldn’t hurt to do the coolant flange while back there. Your valve cover is probably leaking too. All that can be expected with age.

And there is no need to replace the valve cover when doing the timing belt. Completely separate.

But It’s important to replace the bolts when doing the valve cover gasket. If not it will leak again because the rubber grommets will no longer provide the correct clamping force when torqued.


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[Marioh]

No problem! It’s definitely chain cover gasket or vacuum pump. Wouldn’t hurt to do the coolant flange while back there. Your valve cover is probably leaking too. All that can be expected with age.

And there is no need to replace the valve cover when doing the timing belt. Completely separate.

But It’s important to replace the bolts when doing the valve cover gasket. If not it will leak again because the rubber grommets will no longer provide the correct clamping force when torqued.


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Awesome! That's great to know. I should have clarified, my bad - I was asking if the chain cover gasket was common to do with the timing belt, not the valve cover gasket. Either way, sounds like whatever the fix will be won't be awful.

[a4lownslow]

Awesome! That's great to know. I should have clarified, my bad - I was asking if the chain cover gasket was common to do with the timing belt, not the valve cover gasket. Either way, sounds like whatever the fix will be won't be awful.

Plenty of information to guide with any of these repairs! Oh and the chain cover gasket is also not related to the timing belt.


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[Marioh]

Plenty of information to guide with any of these repairs! Oh and the chain cover gasket is also not related to the timing belt.


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Huge thanks again. :)

[Denio24]

may I ask how many miles you have?

[Marioh]

may I ask how many miles you have?

90k miles on the odo.

[Denio24]

I wonder why the engineers never designed that gasket to have rubber sealant on the metal gasket all the way around. Maybe that's why it's leaking?

[Charles.waite]

FYI you can get o-ring kits for the vacuum pumps on eBay.

This arrived Thursday and I’ll be rebuilding a used pump I bought from a friend.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F232205692818

That should be all you need. This seller has a video online with the rebuild steps.

[Denio24]

Well I just picked one up. I have RTV there at the moment but was looking for some of these. Thanks Charles.

[B7TitaniumA4]

FYI you can get o-ring kits for the vacuum pumps on eBay.


This arrived Thursday and I’ll be rebuilding a used pump I bought from a friend.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F232205692818

That should be all you need. This seller has a video online with the rebuild steps.

I bought this as well, waiting to find the time to do the chain service as well....