Engine oil leaking into gearbox

[JezzaMac]

So I have engine oil leaking out the bottom of the gearbox on my DCI which has contaminated the clutch. It only happens when the oil gets hot and it's a health drip every second or 2.

I have changed the crankshaft seal and when putting the oil back in it used 3/4 of a litre less than what came out (I have new oil but bought the car with a knackered gearbox so making sure I can get it running before servicing it!) so I was hoping that it was just over filled and hence pushing oil out under pressure. However it's still dropping a significant amount of oil.

My question is... What do I do now? I can't remember how high the sump gasket is but is it worth changing that? Or do I rip the gearbox off again and check the crank seal?

 

[marinemackay2003]

Best bet is to take it off to see where it's actually coming from

but first I would drop the oil level just a little just enough to try eliminate the sump gasket weeping

 

[Chip-mk1]

Has the flywheel end crankshaft main cap been removed? They have silicon up them on the joint and TBH its quite easy to think you have done a good job of applying it and still end up with a leak, its something I now take a lot of time over.

 

[marinemackay2003]

http://imageshack.us/a/img580/2664/presentation1j.jpg

good point chip, forgot about that

 

[JezzaMac]

This isn't my picture but this is the only seal that I have replaced. Is this the one you mean chip?

 

[Jaff.]

have you put it in too far/not far enough?

did you drop the mains cap to do it? if so did you reseal the mains cap?

 

[JezzaMac]

have you put it in too far/not far enough?

did you drop the mains cap to do it? if so did you reseal the mains cap?

I put it in so that it was flush with the inside face. I'm not sure If that's too far/far enough.

Sorry but what is the mains cap?

 

[Jaff.]

The mains cap is the bit of metal bolted to the block underneath that seal

 

[JezzaMac]

The mains cap is the bit of metal bolted to the block underneath that seal

In that case no, I didn't remove that!

 

[Jaff.]

Then my guess would be (providing your dump is sealed) that you fitted it incorrectly (done it loads of times myself )

 

[JezzaMac]

Then my guess would be (providing your dump is sealed) that you fitted it incorrectly (done it loads of times myself )

Yea I read it was an absolute pain the the arse so I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't done right! It's the first time I've ever taken a box off as well so I'm on a steep learning curve!

Il order another seal and see if I can give it another bash! Any tips?

 

[Jaff.]

Make sure it's the seal before spending £20 on another one!

 

[JezzaMac]

Got everything off today, still not sure where it's coming from. Does it look like the seals not far enough in or.... Does anyone want to come and have a look that has more experience, cars near west Calder just now in the unit! Haha

 

[NorthloopCup]

^^^^^That seal doesn't look to be in far enough from those pictures mate.^^^^^

 

[AlexW]

As above, should be flush with the block

 

[JezzaMac]

Ok what would you guys do as it's the 3rd time the box has been off.

Would you:
A. Just push the seal a bit further in and replace the flywheel bolts and put it all back together.

B. Replace the crank seal and the flywheel bolts and put it back together

C. Replace the crank seal, sump gasket and flywheel bolts whilst it's apart then put it back together.

Cheers!

 

[NorthloopCup]

I'd go with option C mate tbh. You maybe would get away with pushing the seal in further, but there's no way of checking that it hasn't suffered any damage so it's not worth the risk imo.

Make sure you put a bit of sealant on the areas where the sump touches the main caps. You can see where I mean in your pics above mate.

 

[JezzaMac]

I'd go with option C mate tbh. You maybe would get away with pushing the seal in further, but there's no way of checking that it hasn't suffered any damage so it's not worth the risk imo.

Make sure you put a bit of sealant on the areas where the sump touches the main caps. You can see where I mean in your pics above mate.

I've gone with option B!!

I've read that the sump bolts can round pretty easy to round and I don't want that!

I'm gonna fit the new crank seal and flywheel bolts and hope for the best. I've got a new clutch that I need to stick in but I'm not doing that until I know it's not leaking so the box is going to have to come back off anyways!

Have you got any hints about how to actually get the seal in correctly without damaging it? Last time I found it difficult to get the inside edge in as it's narrower at the end your trying to fit first.

Cheers

 

[NorthloopCup]

I've gone with option B!!

I've read that the sump bolts can round pretty easy to round and I don't want that!

I'm gonna fit the new crank seal and flywheel bolts and hope for the best. I've got a new clutch that I need to stick in but I'm not doing that until I know it's not leaking so the box is going to have to come back off anyways!

Have you got any hints about how to actually get the seal in correctly without damaging it? Last time I found it difficult to get the inside edge in as it's narrower at the end your trying to fit first.

Cheers

Just use a couple of pieces of wood mate. Use them between the seal face and the hammer and apply pressure to the opposite side that your hitting. Then it's a case of keep following it round to make sure you hit each bit of the seal to get it in equally.

Sorry for the w**k description! It's actually quite hard to describe!

 

[JezzaMac]

Just use a couple of pieces of wood mate. Use them between the seal face and the hammer and apply pressure to the opposite side that your hitting. Then it's a case of keep following it round to make sure you hit each bit of the seal to get it in equally.

Sorry for the w**k description! It's actually quite hard to describe!

That's cool man cheers.

Is it possible to use the wee white thing that it comes on in the package to slide it over? Do you know the bit I mean?

Was also potentially thinking about cutting the top off a 2L bottle of juice and see what size it is compared to the inside of the seal to try make it a bit easier to slide down! Il be giving it a bash on Monday so here is hoping! Lol

 

[NorthloopCup]

That's cool man cheers.

Is it possible to use the wee white thing that it comes on in the package to slide it over? Do you know the bit I mean?

Was also potentially thinking about cutting the top off a 2L bottle of juice and see what size it is compared to the inside of the seal to try make it a bit easier to slide down! Il be giving it a bash on Monday so here is hoping! Lol

That white thing is there just to protect the seal in its packaging mate. You want to be tapping it on the outermost edges when you fit it as well mate.

 

[JezzaMac]

It's hard to describe what I mean but the narrowest point of the seal is on the inside edge that points inwards towards the engine. When fitting the seal does this narrow bit have to stay closest to the engine or does it need to kind of fold out when tapping the outside part of the seal?

 

[AlexW]

It needs to stay in, but as long as its the right seal, it shouldn't be that hard to get it around the crank. Just be careful with it.

 

[JezzaMac]

It needs to stay in, but as long as its the right seal, it shouldn't be that hard to get it around the crank. Just be careful with it.

Ok thanks. I'm going up to the unit today to get it all back together so here is hoping it goes smoothly and no more leaks!

 

[JezzaMac]

Still leaking, pretty f**king fed up with it now.

I've not really had a chance to see what it's dropping but it seems to be more yellowy/orange this time so suspecting it might actually be gearbox oil this time to mix things up abit.

Will have a better look at what it's dropping tomorrow when it's daylight.

 

[Cupman29]

Is it a new engine? Can't remember.

Edit, just noticed its on a dci. Ignore me then.

 

[NorthloopCup]

Still leaking, pretty f**king fed up with it now.

I've not really had a chance to see what it's dropping but it seems to be more yellowy/orange this time so suspecting it might actually be gearbox oil this time to mix things up abit.

Will have a better look at what it's dropping tomorrow when it's daylight.

Have a sniff of the oil - gearbox oil has a pretty distinct smell to it mate.

 

[JezzaMac]

Have a sniff of the oil - gearbox oil has a pretty distinct smell to it mate.

I did have a quick whiff but got a bit of a cold just now so will get a mate to smell it lol

Just the sight of oil on the bottom of the box just about made me freak out haha!

Will investigate more tomorrow. Kind of hope it's box oil as this would mean that I managed to get the crank seal on ok! But il wait and see what leaks tomorrow brings!!