Mazda 6 Forums banner

Oil Leak and what is the "flap" behind the oil pan?

17K views 15 replies 14 participants last post by  birddog165  
#1 ·
Sorry if this is a duplicate post. I searched but was unable to find anything similar.

So I am changing my oil in my '06 3.0L with Manual Trans. yesterday when the first thing I noticed was a little oil that appeared to be leaking from near the oil pain (to the rear of the oil pan). I have never noticed a leak in my garage, so it cannot be significant, but it is still troubling. The strange part is that it appears to be leaking from a very loose fitting rubber "flap" (for lack of a better word) that is simply held in place by a metal clip and hinged at the top. I pulled it off with very little resistance, but it seems to cover a hole in the bottom of the engine block that is the source of the oil leak. Anyone know what I am talking about? Anyone seen similar symptoms? What the hell is that flap and what is it covering?
 
#3 ·
That is more or less a dust cover. It just pops out....it is covering where the engine joins to the clutch/trasmission. If oil is dripping out of there it is likely from the rear main seal of the engine. It is also slightly possible that it could be from the input shaft seal for the transmission depending on how this model is designed, but I would say it is more likely from the engine.
 
#4 ·
That is more or less a dust cover. It just pops out....it is covering where the engine joins to the clutch/trasmission. If oil is dripping out of there it is likely from the rear main seal of the engine. It is also slightly possible that it could be from the input shaft seal for the transmission depending on how this model is designed, but I would say it is more likely from the engine.[/b]

If it's what I think you're talking about, oil also tends to run down that gap when you remove the old filter. It might not be a leak, but just residue from oil changes.
 
#5 ·
this is crazy I just found a leak in the same place going to get under it in the morning and clean it up so cab pin piont the leak i'll try to let yeah know what I find.
 
#6 ·
I've seen oil in some wierd places too, but I can't find any apparent leaks. Mazda replaced my oil pan gaskets , and also a rear main cam seal because of oil leaks, but the same thing graz described keeps happening. It's not from the filter.

The rubber gasket on the drain plug eventually starts to leak. This is what causes the back side of my oil pan to look wet. However, there are also areas toward the front of the oil pan that constantly have fresh oil on them. Especially near the transmission. Yet there are no leaks on the garage floor. I'm stumped.
 
#7 ·
I've seen oil in some wierd places too, but I can't find any apparent leaks. Mazda replaced my oil pan gaskets , and also a rear main cam seal because of oil leaks, but the same thing graz described keeps happening. It's not from the filter.

The rubber gasket on the drain plug eventually starts to leak. This is what causes the back side of my oil pan to look wet. However, there are also areas toward the front of the oil pan that constantly have fresh oil on them. Especially near the transmission. Yet there are no leaks on the garage floor. I'm stumped.[/b]
A lot of times, you won't see oil leaks on the garage floor because there's not enough to drip down off the engine. Many times, it simply gets blown backwards when you're driving.
 
#11 ·
at least you dont have cv axle grease flinging out your cv boot due to poor boot clamps. screw clamps installed soon+grease!
 
#12 ·
That kinda sucks. you could probably justify replacing the clutch if your going in to replace the seal. I wouldnt care if I only had 50K. If I was keeping the car for as long as i could i would just do it, who wants to drop the trans anymore than they have to.
 
#13 ·
Shot in the dark

Hey, I realize this was posted almost exactly 5 years ago and I would be lucky if you wwere even still on this forum but did anyone ever figure out exactly whats going on with this issue? Im having the exact same problem and I would love to know what Im getting into before I take the car in. Mine is slowly dripping on the drive way, and the rubber flap is so mis-shapen I removed it all together. Please tell me its not a rear main:confused:
 

Attachments

#16 ·
Hey, I realize this was posted almost exactly 5 years ago and I would be lucky if you wwere even still on this forum but did anyone ever figure out exactly whats going on with this issue? Im having the exact same problem and I would love to know what Im getting into before I take the car in. Mine is slowly dripping on the drive way, and the rubber flap is so mis-shapen I removed it all together. Please tell me its not a rear main:confused:
I've seen this little rubber guy being called a "driveplate access cover." Does anyone know where the heck to buy one?

The serial number is F53E-7A828-AB. I believe that might be a Ford number and specific to the 5-speed A65M-R (V6) manual transmissions. Other than that, I can't seem to find anything. (And yes, I did try Google, thank you).
 
#15 ·
I am still here...although with a new '14 Touring with a manual transmission...that I LOVE! I'll be keeping an eye on the same area when I do my first oil change...even though the Skyactiv is a completely different animal. Also, for what it's worth, I could only keep my last 6 for a whole 9000 miles before we realized 3 car seats wouldn't fit across the back seat. So, I never had the leak diagnosed or repaired.