Oil on driveshaft (oil leak)

22nd July 2012, 17:34

Ok so i had noticed there was some oil on the bottom of me engine and bottom of gearbox but as nothing was going onto the floor i did not think to much off it to be honest

However after having the car up on axle stands at the front today i noticed the oil was a lot fresher and is red in colour so i assume its transmission oil.

Oil was then dripping a little on to the top of the driveshaft when i jack the car up again at the weekend i can post pics if need be but the leak was quite noticeable as some was dripping onto the floor.

Now looking at the Haynes manual i imagine its the oil seal where the driveshaft meets the gearbox that is shagged so needs to be replaced so if this is indeed correct how easy is it to take out as Haynes makes it sound difficult and refer to a balljoint seperator which of course i dont have so is there any alternatives.

Also is it common for any leak from there to be worse with the car raised as it was nowhere as near as bad as this before i raised it ?

Any help would be much appreciated

22nd July 2012, 18:16

You don`t need a ball joint seperator,just a long bar to act as a lever mate.

22nd July 2012, 18:24

Smell it. If its a cross between bubblegum and cat pish, its gearbox oil. But if its red, its more likely to be power steering fluid. Smell it and compare it to the actual fluid in the PAS resevoir.

If its dripping onto the driveshaft and the cars lowered, you might have rubbed through your PAS pipe.

22nd July 2012, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevo67

You don`t need a ball joint seperator,just a long bar to act as a lever mate.

So would a tyre lever work ? a little gift roadside assistance left on top of my engine on a car i used to have lol

22nd July 2012, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabbastard

Smell it. If its a cross between bubblegum and cat pish, its gearbox oil. But if its red, its more likely to be power steering fluid. Smell it and compare it to the actual fluid in the PAS resevoir.

If its dripping onto the driveshaft and the cars lowered, you might have rubbed through your PAS pipe.

Tbh when i first run my finger over it i thought it was PAS fluid due to the colour but the resevoir was fine the other day but i will trace back the piping just incase as car is lowered.

But i would not say its dripping onto the driveshaft it looks more like it is running along and then dripping off it hence why i suspect the oil seal.

22nd July 2012, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeeDawg

So would a tyre lever work ? a little gift roadside assistance left on top of my engine on a car i used to have lol

Maybe mate,we used to use a scaffold pole(cut down)

22nd July 2012, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevo67

Maybe mate,we used to use a scaffold pole(cut down)

I will give it a go at some point do you know if the are any guides kicking around for this as the old Haynes dont have many pics and im a bit of numpty without pics lol.

22nd July 2012, 20:57

I think there`s guide(but only for premium members)