Small pool of red liquid on Garage floor

[tvrbubblecar]

Left my P&J with Offords today for a service, new manifolds and an MOT

When I got home to sort round the garage (whilst the chim's away) I noticed some red liquid on the garage floor which feels oily.

It is roughly about a foot behind the gear stick

I will phone Offords on Monday but has else had this or knows what it is - Gearbox oil ?

Tried to do a search but the new google search doesn't seem as good as the old one

Hope its not going to be expensive as I am already in for a sizeable bill and budget is tight

cheers
Chris

[zippee]

Most likely to be power steering oil - presuming your car has PAS obviously!

[m1spw]

Ok, I kmnow this is a long shot, but...

In Final Destination 2 (the film), at the start a girl drives off and her dad sees a pool of red liquid on the drive way. He calls her to tell her that her transmission fluid is leaking out of her car.

Just an idea anyway

[tvrbubblecar]

Hi Zippee

Thanks for you advice on the manifolds - having the ACT SS ones fitted like yours

If gearbox oil is not red then it could be PAS....but would that leak at the back for the gearbox ?

My initial thought was transmission oil (a gearbox seal) but hope I am wrong

Chris



>> Edited by tvrbubblecar to say just read the bible - looks like Mobil ATF220 is used for both gearbox and PAS. Will wait until Offords check - thanks all
on Saturday 25th March 22:41

>> Edited by tvrbubblecar on Saturday 25th March 23:27

[forthright mc]

TVRbubblecar, i think i may have spotted your Chim this morning while i was up Offords.
is your Chim silver with mesh venting under the bonnet slashes?
went and had a look at their new Rosso pearl 400. what a lovely car! Simon certainly does pick some good'uns!

[tvrbubblecar]

Yes - that would be mine - crystal verdi (silver with green tint)

Enjoyed the drive over yesterday morning with the top off

This is my first visit to Offords but several people have recommended their service and the prices are much better that main dealers

[JR]

tvrbubblecar said:

If gearbox oil is not red then it could be PAS....but would that leak at the back for the gearbox ? My initial thought was transmission oil (a gearbox seal) but hope I am wrong

ATF (automatic transmittion fluid) is red. This is used for PAS systems. Rover LT77 boxes use it as well. Yours is a late year Chin isn't it? Should be on the T5 box. I don't know what that runs on. Common problem on the Rover boxes because the seals fail very early.

[forthright mc]

was over Offord way again this morning (mothers day lunch at the horseshoes) so i went over and had another look. that is a really lovely Chim you have there BTW! the mesh venting looks fantastic! i had a look underneath the car for you and i couldn't see any puddles on the ground but i did notice what looked like a little tube dangling from under the engine. not to sure if it is supposed to be like that but the the other Chims next to it didn't have anything dangling underneath them. might be worth investigating.


>> Edited by forthright mc on Sunday 26th March 14:13

[tvrbubblecar]

Forthright,

Thanks for the update - you really are keen on TVR's - appreciate you having a llok under the car

My oil pressure light (not the oil pressure gauge) is not working - I suspect the lead has come off so that may be whats hanging down - I am sure Offords will check it out when they do the service

I was going to have a look at the cars in the showroom on Saturday but my wife wanted to go shopping in Cambridge

I hope to have a look around when I pick the car up

cheers
Chris

[tahiti450]

Hi Chris, long time...

If the leak is really that far back, i.e behind the gear stick sort of area and in the middle then it can only really be the rear oil seal on the gearbox. JR has summed most of it up above. Generally the ATF type oils are red, as used for PAS, auto boxes and some manuals like the AR/LT 77. As said if youve got the T5 box then it ought to be using fully synthetic gearbox oil which is usually a boring straw colour, however different manufacturers do use different dyes (thinking - Duckhams Q engine oil- green etc) so its not conclusive. Are you sure it actually leaked in that spot rather than having been moved 'cos the PAS often leaks from hoses and unions and that is bound to be red.
Regards Alan.
Just checked your profile, a 2000 450 will be on the T5 box so I'd be surprised if it were filled with red ATF, if you check the lubrication plate under the bonnet it should state the oil type and spec, should be the same as my '99.

>> Edited by tahiti450 on Monday 27th March 23:57

[tvrbubblecar]

Thanks for feedback guys

Spoke to Offords today - yes it is a gearbox leak but they say not serious - we have agreed to leave it at present and I will keep an eye on the level

However....few other jobs need doing including replacing 4 gaiters

Manifolds turning up Friday or Monday so will have to wait another week until I pick it up

Its not til it gone you miss it

[Podie]

PAS on TVR's aren't exactly the best system I've ever seen... leaks do happen... there's a metal pipe which joins the plastic/rubber piping which is often the guilty party...

[forthright mc]

just to let you know they had the Chim up on the ramps when i was up Offord yesterday morning.
looked like quite a big job had the exhausts and several other bits off it!
hope the bill doesnt put too big a dent in your wallet!

[tvrbubblecar]

Thanks for the update......I think !!

Looking forward to getting her back

Chris