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Odd question. If it's already leaking then it didn't "last" any longer than when it first started. By that I mean, a mechanic would consider the seal to have already "failed."
That being said, they do normally get worse over time. It will often start out not leaking except when the engine is running. Then it may get worse and leak onto the pavement while the vehicle isn't running. When that starts to happen, the concern is that you will run the engine while it's low on oil and cause other damage. However, personally I have driven with a rear main leak for years and just check the oil level once a week. This is a problem however if you live in an area or work in an area that frowns upon oil in a parking lot / garage. Also, there is the small chance (so I'm told) that it can fowl up other parts along the drive chain - although I've never experienced that personally.
Here are the things I would consider:
1. How old is the vehicle? If it's going to die likely in another 25k miles, I wouldn't recommend spending a ton of money fixing the rear main.
2. Fixing the rear main, 90% of the time requires an engine pull and a good 8 hours from a mechanic, often costing you more than $1,000. Is it worth it for something that may not turn into a huge issue for quite some time?
3. If you decide it is worth it, you may want to consider rebuilding the entire engine. As far as labor, you might be surprised that the labor cost to put a rebuilt or new engine in isn't that much more than replacing the rear main seal.
4. Is the leak bad enough that you are losing 10% or more of your oil a week? If so, you might be risking an engine seizing (because you ran it out of oil) which basically means new engine time. You might want to consider getting rid of your car, or getting a rebuilt / new engine.
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∙ 12y ago
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