Originally Posted by
m735is
Since the tranny has to come out to the rear main seal, that's why it's lumped into that repair. You'll be paying for the labor to remove the tranny twice.
If you mean an axle seal from the side of the tranny, then that's different and much easier to replace, but I hope you have oil left in your tranny at this point. Although you say third gear is starting to slip, so I would assume it's automatic and you would know the color of the oil it's leaking. And since I don't have much experience with Honda automatics (yet), I'm not going to give any advice on flushing the fluid.
Why do you think the head gasket is going? Because of the oil leaking around it? It could be, although there are other spots for the oil to leak from and look like the head gasket area. How much oil are we talking about here? A half quart needed every 500 miles?
You CAN retap the threads on the pan (if needed) or try a new plug. I've seen some funky cures for fixing leaky plugs that I assumed the previous owner had stripped from a oil change place.
I would say to get a definite list of where the oil is coming from, then work out a plan of attack. Anyway you cut it, you'll have to do the tierods, alignment and tires.
Yeah, I was going to see about a new plug for the oil pan just to see if that fixed it. I need a new pan gasket too either way.
The problem with doing the tranny at the same time I do the rear main seal is that that is another chunk of money. Now the consensus is to do a used tranny instead of a rebuild but there is no warranty with used trannies most of the time so that leaves me in a bit of a spot. So a lot of money with no guarantees. With a rebuild, I can get a 12 mo warranty of some type but then run the risk that whomever does the job knows what they are doing and did it right. So, even if I do the rear main seal and I hold off on the tranny. I still save a bit of money and hassle for right now.... I have to live with 3rd slipage for a bit longer but it's not that bad and I just think I could drag it out some. In either case, I'd imagine a tranny fluid replacement too.
The oil burn is about 1/2 qt every month or so roughly if I had to gauge. I dump anywhere from a 1/5 to a 1/2 a qt in when I check it. Here lately it seems to be maintaining for the most part. No smoking or anti-freeze into the engine / oil yet. Not that I can tell anyway.
The power steering leak I'm not too worried about. Just bothersome but I can fix that.
So really the rear main seal, the oil pan, the power steering and the tie rods are all I probably need or HAVE to do right now at this moment. The rest will be coming shortly, as in the tranny, but I can put that off for a bit. Well, maybe anyway.... And that keeps the bill down a bit or at least lets me take it on in pieces instead of all at once....