Oil spots on clothing from washer. Is the transmission leaking or perhaps another problem? Washer is about 5-6 years old

The problem may be the seal on the transmission failing. If this happens, grease from the transmission (necessary for it to function) will leak and float (recall from science class that oil is less dense that water) up into the washer. As the grease enters the tub, it stains your clothes.
Washer Transmission Replacement Whirlpool Kenmore Top Load Washing Machine...

Washer Leaks Water GE Top Load Washer Tub Seal Replacement Part WH02X10383

your top transmission seal is leaking oil out of the transmission,and its getting forced up thru the tub seal this condition is called "back-wash" you need to remove the tubs both inner and outer to access the seal,it takes time

Your transmission is leaking oil. It's probably 10 to 15 years old for the transmission to be leaking. It can be replaced but it's not a small job. Part 320 in this diagram is your transmission. http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=5224109&diagram_id=22255027#d22255027

Transmission is leaking oil. I would replace.

Spots on clothing in a washer are usually caused by a reaction between detergent and fabric softeners, but to check and see if these spots are petroleum based (oil), try removing the spots with solvent. If the spots will come out with solvent, but not with soap and water, then it could be transmission oil that is leaking into the tub and this is very bad news. This was a common problem on the older GE and Hotpoint washers. Sorry to hear about the problem that you are having and I hope this helped. Best wishes.

the top seal in the transmission is bad causing oil to get inside you will need to replace the trans but it will be cheaper to buy a new washer

if it is a ge,maytage ,the oil in the transmission will leak only in the spin cycle and it come out like spots on cloth and u need a new transmission

the transmission seal may be going out leaking oil

if its an old ge it needs a transmission seal

Problem Solved !!!
Ok, I had to stop and tell everyone about my latest experience. When we moved here we bought the nice Whirlpool front load washer and dryer set. I Love them....still don't understand how my clothes get clean with so little water, but love them. ..................That is until lately. I was really upset about a total of 4 white blouses that looked to have some kind of light splattered stains on them after washing. I would try to wash them again with a stain remover sprayed or scrubbed on the spots, but they wouldn't come clean. I gave up and considered the blouses ruined. I told William what was happening and he called the repair man out because he thought it might be some kind of part in the machine that was leaking oil onto the clothes when they were washing. The guy came out and told William that there wasn't anything that could go into the washer tub and get onto the clothes. He then looked around in the washer and at the little detergent dispenser drawer. He suggested that we use 1 cup of Clorox and 1/4 cup of dish washer detergent (cascade with dawn degreaser crystals) on a hot to medium water temperature and turn it on a complete wash cycle to make sure that we didn't have mold and mildew setting up in our machine. After he left, I proceeded to do what he told us. I though.....the blouses are probably ruined anyway. I had tried to get out all the spots to no avail, so what the heck......I threw them into the mix too! Would you believe they came out clean, very bright white (instead of yellowed or dingy from continued wear) and the washer smells as sweet as it did when it was new. Why didn't they tell me about this when I bought it ??????????? I plan on putting the detergent mix in the washer every couple of months and throwing in all the whites that I can find to take advantage of the cleaning effect on the whites. (I thought that maybe some of you had gotten stains on white clothes that you would like to get out too)