Well I googled around and searched on here for this and didn't see anything. I have a slight bit of I think oil coming out of the hole below the rear driver side engine mount on the flywheel housing. It doesn't drip on the ground or anything but runs down the housing, just started yesterday. This hole doesn't seem to be threaded or anything? It is some kind of weep hole? Inside of the flywheel housing is 100% dry. Rear main doesn't appear to be leaking. Above and in front of this is dry. This is my first Detroit and nothing about this leak makes any sense to me currently. I could get a photo in a bit if needed. Is this a common thing? Thanks.
Detroit 12.7l flywheel housing oil leak?
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by KFF, Jun 16, 2026.
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My current theory is that hole is just full of old grease and crud and it has been hot out and it is melting out of there. I don't think that hole goes to anything. Let me know if I am wrong. I am going to try to flush the hole with degreaser and one of those pipe cleaning tools. It doesn't really feel like oil, to thin and it doesn't smell like diesel or coolant. Best I can tell it also isn't hooked to anything. But I am completely new to these engines. I was worried but I think it is nothing. Really appreciate you always responding to me with my idiotic questions.
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If that so called “weep” hole is threaded, throw the right size bolt with silicone and see what happens. Betting that the leak is coming around the rear of the head.
KFF Thanks this. -
Sure looks like a rear main to me
jaffles, KFF and Diesel Dave Thank this. -
This was my original plan I was trying to fit my finger in there but couldn't really. I gotta clean it out and get a good light on and see. My first thought is it wasn't threaded. I don't see any wetness anywhere above it or in front of it at all. But when I clean it off it does come back after a few hours.Diesel Dave Thanks this.
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This was my original plan I was trying to fit my finger in there but couldn't really. I gotta clean it out and get a good light on and see. My first thought is it wasn't threaded. I don't see any wetness anywhere above it or in front of it at all. But when I clean it off it does come back after a few hours.
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Inside with the clutch and flywheel is completely dry though? Would that be typical? I would think there would be oil in there?
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There's a lot of clutch dust inside that could soak up a small amount of oil.
One thing for sure, if that hole is going into the flywheel housing, and oil is coming out of that hole, theres only two places it could come from, and one of those is very unlikely.
There's a slight possibility your flywheel housing could be cracked and oil is migrating down the crack. I've never seen one crack that would leak like that one is.
If you're 100% sure it's coming from that hole, it would have to come apart to know for certain.KFF Thanks this. -
I will clean it up really good and investigate more. I really appreciate your feedback. This is what I was worried about. The trans was literally just out of it.....I will see if I can poke all the way through that hole and see if I can see it on the other side. Either way isn't good. I suppose rear main isn't bad compared to a cracked housing.Big Road Skateboard Thanks this.
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I see it's a 60 Series. If you did have to do the rear main, I'd also go ahead and pull the rear structure and reseal it.KFF Thanks this.
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