Rear Main Seal Leak
 

Anyone know if this is covered under the extended engine warranty? Thanks

If you are referring to the 8yr / 100,000 extended warranty I am going to guess no. Mazda specifically covers 'Internal Seals' under this warranty. That would mean that there are some external seals in the engine they do not cover? Can the Rear Main seal be considered an external seal? If your not covered there is a shop located near you that I purchased my rebuilt engine from. Mazmart is the place to get one if you have to pay for an engine out of pocket. Also consider a new clutch & flywheel since your pulling the trans off anyway. If you haven't been to a dealer yet go and mention poor performance and the leak. Request a compression test and there is a chance it could fail which would = a replacement motor.

Thanks for the input. I am actually on my 2nd motor already. Got the new one less than 1 year and 4,000 miles ago. I think you are probably right about the engine core warranty. What makes a seal "external"? The rear main seal is between the rear housing and the flywheel, right?

I am outside of my general warranty, but still have my powertrain warranty. Plus, I should have a 12 month/ 12k mile warranty for the components swapped with the new engine.

the only way to be sure is bring it in and ask. ;)

Call the dealer or show up at the dealer and inquire.\
It shouldn't be leaking after 4000 miles.

To update - the dealer claims that it is not covered under the extended engine core warranty. Still waiting to find out if they will cover it under powertrain or replacement part warranties.

That raises another point. Any idea what could make this seal go bad? Heat or problem with an e-shaft bearing?

A mistake made during the rebuild of your 2nd engine?

Update - I was told that one of the e-shaft bearings was defective (bent?).

Orly! What E-Shaft Bearing? The only bearing is in the rear stationary gear. That's a Babbit Bearing. It's not even close to the seal. OK about an inch away. And the flywheel is what slides into the seal in that area.

Where did they come up with this conclusion?

I call shenanigans!

He said something about it being part of a counterweight. Does that help?

You have a manual Transmission. There is no counter weight unless you have an aftermarket light weight flywheel. He is referring to the sealing surface on the back of the flywheel. The part where it bolts to the eccentric shaft. It has the sealing surface on it. And this is where it's leaking from.
Who installed the flywheel? That is where I would looking and asking questions.

Automatic. Sorry, should have clarified earlier.

Then you have a counter weight. Same thing as the flywheel in the seal area.
Who put the replacement engine in your car? They're the ones I would be asking about fixing it on their dime. But it could have happened at the Re-Man facility too. Could have been a defective seal.

All in all I think Mazda should fess up and fix it for free.

You should be covered with a new engine comes a 1yr 12k mile warranty. I would call Mazda North America.

Seems like the problem has come back. Looks like the oil is leaking from the same location as before, so I am taking it back to the dealership service department that did the last repair. Last time they replaced a counterweight. The paperwork said that the flywheel was wedged on the e-shaft. Wonder if it is the same thing again...

yeah they keep f-ing up the replacment.

Well, they were not able to diagnose the location of the leak, so they put some dye in the oil. Told me to drive another 500 miles and bring it back in. Oil was all the way around the oil pan, so it may be an oil pan seal. That is what I thought it was last time, so who knows?

It could be a bad build from factory but ... my guess is the dealership who installed ur engine last time messed it up. Perhaps somebody overtighen something?

you'd think the dealer would just send it to a better shop.. lol

Get them to fix it for free, use "4000 miles" as leverage