Bad Leak At The Rear

[Drg racr]

I got the motor back in my Explorer. I took it for a drive, and noticed a huge puddle when I got back. I thought it was my rear main, but I don't think so now. I pulled the starter today, and the inside of the bellhousing is clean and dry. If it was the rear main, I would think it would be spraying oil all over the flywheel and TC. So, I'm thinking I must have pinched the oil pan gasket somehow. The oil is dripping right down the really long Torx screw at the back of the pan.
Am I going to have to pull the motor to get at the oil pan gasket?
There was a plastic strip that goes into a groove on the rear main cap. I didn't use it, because it looked like the oil pan gasket sealed that up anyway. Could that be my goof?

 

[AllanD]

The plastic strip is a "key" that keeps the seal from walking out of the pan.

Yes, you have to pull the engine to get the pan off.

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[Drg racr]

Oh, gotcha. I pulled the motor back out, and it was the rear main seal. It was pushed right out of the block and rubbing against the flywheel. I don't know how that happened, it was sealed into place pretty well.
I hope to have it back together later today and try it again.

 

[96_4wdr]

if the seal walks out again, purchase new seal, Felpro upgrade Teflon ring the best

dipple the seal seat in the block and pan with a hard sharp center punch in 3>4 locations around the circumference of the hole surface inside.
or lightly stake the seal in with a center punch on the outside edge of the seal hole in block and rear bearing/seal cap to hold the seal in place