Howdy, folks, newbie here to the forum, but not to turning wrenches and doing my own work. Anyway, my first BITOG post:
My 2003 Honda Odyssey temporarily developed a leak at the rear main seal a year ago when I was driving to visit my folks in Georgia. I called Dealer Alternative in Fort Worth, Tx (excellent Honda repair shop, BTW), and spoke to the owner. He stated that he'd seen many problems with the rear main seals on these Honda V6 engines. Repair runs about $700 total because that FWD tranny has to be dropped.
I was near a Wal-Mart and I got a few quarts of their SuperTech 10W-30 "high-mileage" oil and topped it off - it was down close to a quart when I discovered it. At the next gas fill-up, I checked the oil and it had not lost any more oil . . . Hmmm, did the seal mysteriously heal itself, I thought.
I was using the Wal-Mart branded SuperTech Synthetic 5W-30 at that time and the oil had around 6,300 miles on it when the leak started. I'd been using the SuperTech for a while and changing at about 6,000 miles. But on that trip I went over the 6,000. I decided to wait until I got to my parents' home to do the next change at around 6,500 miles. When I got there I changed the oil, again using the SuperTech synthetic because I'd brought exactly 4.6 quarts with me for the oil change.
Well, on the way back to Texas, no oil leak. So I decided to wait. I closely monitored the van for leaks, and a few months later it started leaking again - with about 6,200 miles on that oil. I changed it, again with SuperTech synthetic (had it already in the garage), and the leak stopped. I've since started changing my oil every 5,500 miles and I don't have any leak issues.
Recently I changed the oil and I've switched to Mobil 1 5W-30. I'm going to monitor the leak situation and change the oil at 8,000 miles or at the first sign of a leak, which ever comes first. Yes, I know this isn't exactly a scientific experiment but I want to see if the Mobil 1 is any better, at least from the leak perspective.
After lurking on this site and reading a few of the UAOs, I’m guessing that the SuperTech oil viscosity is breaking down and perhaps getting thin enough to slip past the seal. But, after learning that Mobil 1 5W-30 is more like a “thick” 5W-20, I’m waiting to see if it starts to leak before the 8K mark.
At the point of the oil change I’ll probably get a Blackstone analysis just for kicks.
Any comments?
Thanks,
Keith
My 2003 Honda Odyssey temporarily developed a leak at the rear main seal a year ago when I was driving to visit my folks in Georgia. I called Dealer Alternative in Fort Worth, Tx (excellent Honda repair shop, BTW), and spoke to the owner. He stated that he'd seen many problems with the rear main seals on these Honda V6 engines. Repair runs about $700 total because that FWD tranny has to be dropped.
I was near a Wal-Mart and I got a few quarts of their SuperTech 10W-30 "high-mileage" oil and topped it off - it was down close to a quart when I discovered it. At the next gas fill-up, I checked the oil and it had not lost any more oil . . . Hmmm, did the seal mysteriously heal itself, I thought.
I was using the Wal-Mart branded SuperTech Synthetic 5W-30 at that time and the oil had around 6,300 miles on it when the leak started. I'd been using the SuperTech for a while and changing at about 6,000 miles. But on that trip I went over the 6,000. I decided to wait until I got to my parents' home to do the next change at around 6,500 miles. When I got there I changed the oil, again using the SuperTech synthetic because I'd brought exactly 4.6 quarts with me for the oil change.
Well, on the way back to Texas, no oil leak. So I decided to wait. I closely monitored the van for leaks, and a few months later it started leaking again - with about 6,200 miles on that oil. I changed it, again with SuperTech synthetic (had it already in the garage), and the leak stopped. I've since started changing my oil every 5,500 miles and I don't have any leak issues.
Recently I changed the oil and I've switched to Mobil 1 5W-30. I'm going to monitor the leak situation and change the oil at 8,000 miles or at the first sign of a leak, which ever comes first. Yes, I know this isn't exactly a scientific experiment but I want to see if the Mobil 1 is any better, at least from the leak perspective.
After lurking on this site and reading a few of the UAOs, I’m guessing that the SuperTech oil viscosity is breaking down and perhaps getting thin enough to slip past the seal. But, after learning that Mobil 1 5W-30 is more like a “thick” 5W-20, I’m waiting to see if it starts to leak before the 8K mark.
At the point of the oil change I’ll probably get a Blackstone analysis just for kicks.
Any comments?
Thanks,
Keith