Topic: Draiveshaft / Oil leak problem (Read 3590 times)

nixoro · « **on:** 14 July 2006, 11:56:14 »

Had a good look under my car yesterday to find the rear drive shaft coated in oil or something

The rear of the driveshaft unit seal there is no sign of oil its all on the front hope this makes sense.

Should I be worried?

Also I have been getting the annoying 'oil lack' coming up on the MID quite abit recently when parking on uneven roads and sloped drives. It looks like a possible sump gasket leak but not sure as when my car is parked outside the house there is no signs of oil on floor or anywhere else I park. But when I look around the edge of the sump its coated in thick nasty horrible stuff.

Does the gasket sound like the culprit?

On a good note I think I may have solved a rattle problem I have had since my clutch change, I found the heatshield near the centre exhaust join was sagging down and hitting the exhaust, new nut and washer and fingers crossed its sorted.

Any advice on the above problems would be most appreciated.

Salty · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 July 2006, 11:59:06 »

Does the oil lack stay out when parked on level ground?

I'd clean off all the old crud from round the sump, you might be able to spot a leak then.

nixoro · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 July 2006, 12:25:20 »

Quote

Does the oil lack stay out when parked on level ground?

I'd clean off all the old crud from round the sump, you might be able to spot a leak then.

Yeah was thinking of cleaning it lost the daylight though.

The oil lack goes when on the level.

I gues it could be the remainder from when the rocker cover was leaking.

Shall have another look tonight.

Cheers for the response.

Salty · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 July 2006, 13:19:30 »

From memory I think there is a low oil warning and the more serious oil lack, whats the oil level like on the dipstick?

nixoro · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 July 2006, 14:05:31 »

Quote

From memory I think there is a low oil warning and the more serious oil lack, whats the oil level like on the dipstick?

It had an oil change a month or so ago and that was the last time i checked, and it was spot on shall be checking it again when I get home from work.

Cheers for the response

Salty · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 July 2006, 14:42:06 »

I'd check it asap! better safe than sorry.

nixoro · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 July 2006, 10:56:46 »

Checked the car the other day to find the oil was still ok, but yesterday I took some mates to Heathrow Airport and half way down the M25 the 'Oil Lack' came on the MID, my thoughts are a leaking sump gasket as there was alot of crud around it when I last looked shall be sourcing a sump gasket for the weekend and will be doing a full oil change so fingers crossed this is my problem.

Back to the rear driveshaft unit leak has anyone got any Ideas on what this could be?

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 July 2006, 11:02:19 »

Input or output shaft.....

....if input shaft then it would be the pinion oil seal.

nixoro · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 July 2006, 11:04:25 »

The leak appears to be from the front of the unit as its coated.

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 July 2006, 11:47:38 »

Pinion oil seal then, if its realy bad then change it, if its only when the weather is hot and the car is loaded then just top it up and forget it.

nixoro · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 July 2006, 12:20:18 »

Quote

Pinion oil seal then, if its realy bad then change it, if its only when the weather is hot and the car is loaded then just top it up and forget it.

Cheers for the response

How do you go about changing the seal and topping it up just out of curiosity.

Roy

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 July 2006, 12:23:02 »

Level check and top up I will add tonight (got to do the estate)

Changing it is a whole different matter, not hard but, you need to be careful so as to get the bearing pre-load correct.

nixoro · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 July 2006, 12:28:07 »

Quote

Level check and top up I will add tonight (got to do the estate)

Changing it is a whole different matter, not hard but, you need to be careful so as to get the bearing pre-load correct.

Cheers Mark DTM

Just hope a change is not needed sounds lethal if done wrong.

Matchless · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 July 2006, 16:26:43 »

I suggest you get underneath with some Gunk or similar and clean the whole area of old oil and crap, then keep an eye on it for a while. Once it is clean then any fresh leak will be obvious and you can decide if a new seal is needed.

nixoro · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 July 2006, 16:47:41 »

Quote

I suggest you get underneath with some Gunk or similar and clean the whole area of old oil and crap, then keep an eye on it for a while. Once it is clean then any fresh leak will be obvious and you can decide if a new seal is needed.

Cheers for the advice pete

Shall clean it up tonight and keep an eye on it.

Its not dripping to the floor so it cant be too bad.

Finger crossed

Roy

nixoro · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 July 2006, 14:20:45 »

Can anyone tell me if sealant would be needed for the new sump gasket as I am seeking prices to get this job done at the weekend.

Just spoke to VX parts and they were unable to get me a price as they need the engine number is it visible with the bonnet open, Vx mentioned its on the Log Book but that's at home.

Cheers in advance

Roy

nixoro · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 August 2006, 11:39:13 »

Right as funds have been limited as of late, I have been doing one job at a time.

Having had a good look under the engine I still have an oil problem, rear driveshaft I have had checked and I have also cleaned it and I have been told not to worry about it.

When I had the engine tray off yesterday I had a good look around the oil sump pan and although there is oil on the seal I dont think this is my problem.

If the sump seal was leaking I would have thought the sump would be covered and there are signs of oil seeping from some where higher up the engine. Oil is not dripping from the engine to the floor.

On the right hand side of the engine there is something screwed into the top of the Sump pan with a connector on it not sure what this is, then further up you have the rear crank breather, thing is there is signs of oil behind the rear cambelt cover having run down the front of the engine block so I am suspecting it could be the Rocker cover leaking at the front, although the last time I removed the plugs the wells were bone dry.

Another which crossed my mind is the main crank seal panic if this is the case.

Can anyone Identify for me what is screwed into the top of the sump pan on the right hand side.

So many option as to whats causing the leak, need to get underneath and have a proper leak, at the moment oil/crud is on the aux tensioner and in that general area.

Anyone had this or has similar to this.

Cheers
Roy

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 August 2006, 12:07:35 »

Chances are that is the oil level sensor.

nixoro · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 August 2006, 12:29:53 »

Quote

Chances are that is the oil level sensor.

Cheers for that Mark, had a feeling it maybe that shall see if the haynes has any details, pretty sure the seal on that is good even though its coated.

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 August 2006, 13:11:00 »

Favourite is still the cam cover seal.....

nixoro · « **Reply #20 on:** 14 August 2006, 13:18:20 »

Quote

Favourite is still the cam cover seal.....

The best part is it was done about 5months ago but at the time I was given the green crap so this is possibly my problem.

Can anyone tell me the easiest way of getting rid ofn old oil/crud off the engine.

Would pressure washing do the job?

hotel21 · « **Reply #21 on:** 14 August 2006, 19:42:34 »

I bought 2 job lots of 1) carb cleaner and 2) brake cleaner off e-bay. Both in packs of 24, both biggish aerosol cans of name make cleaner. Allows me to clean/degrease exactly where I want, without too much fear of pressure washing something important.

Cost wasn't too bad. It was some time ago now, cannot recall exact price, but I thought it cheaper then than the motor factors!!

HtH

Broocie

edit to show where I got them... Doh!!

nixoro · « **Reply #22 on:** 15 August 2006, 10:55:31 »

Cheers for the suggestion Hotel21

I shall keep an eye out on Ebay but I need to get the leak sorted first before doing anything.

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Author Topic: Draiveshaft / Oil leak problem (Read 3590 times)