my 05 caravan just developed a pretty significant oil leak out of nowhere. it seems to me like it's the rear main. is this covered under drivetrain waranty and is this a common issue? the van is an 05 with 49k miles.

 

Is the fluid dark or red? and do you have a 2.4 engine. The 2.4 engine do have a problem with the crankshaft walking in the block and will start leaking oil from either the front seal or rear main. If you have a 3.3 engine, no its not as common as the 2.4L. Call your local dealer and find out what your powertrain warranty has left.

 

^thanks, it's a 3.3 and I'm pretty sure it's oil, not trans fluid. I'm taking it to dealer tomorrow. pretty sure I'm still under drivetrain warranty.
I just wanted to make sure drivetrain warranty covers rear main leak?

 

so they say it's the rear main. I just have to pay $100 deductable on dt warranty.

 

Thats good, Because to do a rear main the transmission needs to be removed.

 

My '05 with the 3.3 (103,00 miles) is wet with oil at the engine to transaxle joint area. No warranty for me.

I wipe the pan, transaxle and everything I can off and the next trip it is wet at this end of the engine. It seems to get worse in colder weather and decreases in warmer weather.

It isn't transmission fluid (not pinkish/red) cause the level hasn't changed since I put a new filter in the tranny 20K miles ago.

I'm not a fan of oil aditives, but have been considering adding something or switching to Valvoline's Maxlife. I just changed to oil and have fresh 5W-20 Valvoline full synthetic oil in the pan.

Any positive or non-positive thoughts on "seal conditioners"? Thanks.

I known an automatic would be much heavier than my sons' Civic 5-sp that we changed the clutch on and the procedure would be basically the same by popping a ball joint, pull the one half shaft and (after disconnecting the fluid lines, wiring and leakage) pulling the tranny.