Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: tunnie on 05 September 2006, 17:33:46

Title: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: tunnie on 05 September 2006, 17:33:46
My diff is leaking  :'(

Noticed it on my grandparents bricked driveway, its not leaking much, very small drops. Although it looks bad from the photo underneath with the flash on! - I circled the bit which i suspect is leaking:

(http://tunnie.co.uk/omegaforum/misc/IMGP0378.JPG)


This is the leak, very small had to cirle it from the car being parked there for 2 days:

(http://tunnie.co.uk/omegaforum/misc/IMGP0379.JPG)

Over a period of time, if the car had been parked for several days the leak is pritty small.


What stuff can I get to clean the diff up, with my Grandfathers Pug 806, his mobile mechanic used some kind of spray underneath and it got rid off all the oil and crud. What can I use to clean it all up and idenify the leak better? - And should i be worried?  :-/
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: nigsey1600e on 05 September 2006, 18:06:25
My diff is doing exactly the same and with the same amount of oil also :(

i think mine must be the front bearing seal that has gone/leaking, i wolud have thought the only cure would be to replace the seal but i would have thought that would big job involving undoing the main nut  posibly alltering the bearing preload which i suposed to very difficult to reset.

 if the leak is only minor like mine i would sugest just keep a eye on the oil level every now and again and top when nessarary,

as for cleaning try some GUNK engine degreaser and a stiff brush or even a soak with some penertrating fliud and a jet wash that should shift the oil.
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: tunnie on 05 September 2006, 18:17:39
cheers, i have only noticed it since my grandparents go their new drive!!

But the amounts are so small, think Jaime has some GUNK, someone reccommended WD40?
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: TheBoy on 05 September 2006, 19:00:11
Yeah, try a bit of gunk on it to clean it up...

I have some here, you're welcome to borrow it...
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: tunnie on 05 September 2006, 19:29:39
Quote
Yeah, try a bit of gunk on it to clean it up...

I have some here, you're welcome to borrow it...

Cheers mate, my grandparents are a little annoyed at the stain on there brand new driveway. Might get some GUNK myself to clean up the mess i made!  ::)
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: TheBoy on 05 September 2006, 19:46:17
There is special stuff for lifting oil stains out of drives, though when oil soaks in it can be a problem...
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: nigsey1600e on 05 September 2006, 19:49:20
My nice block paving driveway has about 6ft wide gearbox oil stain that is very soaked in, so far nothing has shifted that >:(
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: Matchless on 05 September 2006, 21:18:06
Quote
My nice block paving driveway has about 6ft wide gearbox oil stain that is very soaked in, so far nothing has shifted that >:(

Thats why Mark and I used clay pavers for our drives, oil cant soak in like it does on concrete.
Have you tried the oil patch cleaner that Wilco sell? scrub it in, leave for a bit then wash off. shifts most things but leaves a clean patch which shows up the rest of the drive.
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: MartinP on 05 September 2006, 21:21:39
have heard that "cat litter" is very good for oil stains
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: Matchless on 05 September 2006, 21:22:57
To clean the diff I would use Traffic Film Remover from MachineMart, use it in a garden sprayer then wash off with hose.

If it is the pinion seal I have written a guide for this but not posted it yet as needed some photos but could post a text version for you.
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: nigsey1600e on 05 September 2006, 21:40:41
Quote
have heard that "cat litter" is very good for oil stains

very true we use a industrial version at work for oil spills/leaking machines etc.
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: nigsey1600e on 05 September 2006, 21:44:10
Quote
Quote
My nice block paving driveway has about 6ft wide gearbox oil stain that is very soaked in, so far nothing has shifted that >:(

Thats why Mark and I used clay pavers for our drives, oil cant soak in like it does on concrete.
Have you tried the oil patch cleaner that Wilco sell? scrub it in, leave for a bit then wash off. shifts most things but leaves a clean patch which shows up the rest of the drive.

i have not tried that silly really as wifey works at a store i wolud get discount.

i have started to turn the blocks/bricks over 1 by 1 to show their clean face  :-/
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: tunnie on 05 September 2006, 23:34:23
Quote
To clean the diff I would use Traffic Film Remover from MachineMart, use it in a garden sprayer then wash off with hose.

If it is the pinion seal I have written a guide for this but not posted it yet as needed some photos but could post a text version for you.

Thanks Pete, just Froogled it and come back with some good prices. Generally seams to be used for hi-pressure washers.

Do I need to dilute it before spraying it, if so what kind of mix to water? 50/50?

Cheers
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 06 September 2006, 06:53:30
Quote

i have started to turn the blocks/bricks over 1 by 1 to show their clean face  :-/

I was going to suggest that......if its a new driveway....you will be able to without it noticing.

The blocks Tunnie, are only sitting on fine sand and are put in place with a wacker plate.
Get the block out, turn it over and , sprinkle some fine sand in the hole, put the block back in and tap it back down with a block of wood. Once level, sprinkle more fine sand around the outside edges and sweep away the excess.

Jobs a goodun  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: Matchless on 06 September 2006, 08:56:12
To shift old oil etc just apply neat by brush or sprayer then leave to soak in for a while before washing off with garden hose.

Its worth putting down a plastic sheet etc to protect the drive while you do it.
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: nixoro on 06 September 2006, 11:25:14
My rear diff has been leaking in the past, I have cleaned it up and touch wood it doesn't get any worse, no signs of any further leak or oil droplets. Yours does look pretty bad even my centre box has the nice oil patch on the pipe.

Mot time tomorrow so hopefully it will pass, have cleaned the pipe up aswell and sprayed so it doesn't look too bad.

Hope you get it sorted  :)
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: tunnie on 06 September 2006, 11:54:24
** Update **

I put a tray underneath the diff last night, and this morning there was seamed to be a lot of oil.  :'(

It was about size of a 50 pence piece, the oil was not very dark it was orangey brown colour on my finger.

Pete suggested Traffic Film Remover, does anyone know where i could get this from apart from Online?- I'd like to get it sorted today.

I doubt Halfrauds would do it, searched their site but its rubbish as you know.

Any other ideas were i could get it from?
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: tunnie on 06 September 2006, 13:02:46
Ok now found some, I can get it from a HSS Hire shop in town.

It generally seams to be used in hi-presure washers, I don't have one of those, how effective would it be from a handheld spraying thing, gardening type ones?

Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: nixoro on 06 September 2006, 13:06:08
Quote
Ok now found some, I can get it from a HSS Hire shop in town.

It generally seams to be used in hi-presure washers, I don't have one of those, how effective would it be from a handheld spraying thing, gardening type ones?


I shouldn't think using one of these would make any difference and would probably help with access to the problem area aswell.

Its got to be worth ago even if it doesn't work.
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: Matchless on 06 September 2006, 14:06:49
The traffic film remover is from Machine Mart....they have a shops all round the country including one in Bristol.
A garden sprayer is what I suggested you use to apply it.
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: mr des on 06 September 2006, 14:22:39
just spray on engine degreaser or oven cleaner leave a while and clean off ez
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: Andy B on 06 September 2006, 19:51:33
A diff leak must be a 'chararistic', I've noticed today that mine is too, although not as bad as Tunnie's  :( (Had the penetrating fluid out in preparation for next weeks visit to Drury Ln Oldham)
Title: Re: My diff is leaking :-(
Post by: Matchless on 08 September 2006, 14:39:40
Pinion oil seal replacement is now covered in the Maintainance section....enjoy.