Might have gearbox oil leak - help please!!!

[hotwire]

Can anyone tell me what a red watery liquid leak is? This is occurring at front end of car just underneath the windscreen area in position and slightly towards the nearside. The liquid just doesn't seem like oil when I have left paper under the car. Noticed first leak on Saturday last week and haven't had anything for the best part of the week until now. I've checked the clutch, the brake fluid and engine oil.

If anyone has encountered this problem before and had it fixed, can you let me know how much this might cost.

Many thanks

[raw-sewedge]

Sounds like Gearbox Oil. ATF is normally red, if it's a drop then just keep an eye on the level and top up as necessary.

>> Edited by raw-sewedge on Thursday 1st September 20:12

[hotwire]

Thanks for your reply. It's more than a drop. First show was about 6 inches round (and that wasn't on paper); second lot (tonight) was on paper but bigger. It just seems really think and not really oily but has a slight shade of pink red. Don't have a ramp, so unfortunately can't get underneath and waiting for my "bible" to turn up so not sure where everything is located.

[GreenV8S]

Dunno, maybe PAS fluid?

[hotwire]

Thanks for your reply, but I don't have PAS.

[raw-sewedge]

Gearbox oil in early Griffs with the LT77S is Automatic Transmission Fluid or ATF and is like piss. It's really thin but the gearbox, pump etc is designed to run on it.

It's also often red so I'd hazard a guess it's from the box. How's the gearbox sound perform?

The box takes about 2.5Ltrs of fluid so the rate you're loosing it sounds worrying and it's probably dropping it while your driving too.

I had to change my gearbox recently, an exchange unit is about £350 but then you need to fit it.

You need to get it on a ramp ASAP and find the source. Good luck

[griffter]

hotwire said:

Thanks for your reply. It's more than a drop. First show was about 6 inches round (and that wasn't on paper); second lot (tonight) was on paper but bigger. It just seems really think and not really oily but has a slight shade of pink red. Don't have a ramp, so unfortunately can't get underneath and waiting for my "bible" to turn up so not sure where everything is located.

See if it's dripping from the bolt attaching the exhaust bracket to the bell housing (where the gearbox and engine join), or the bolt next to it (identical, but not bolted through the exhaust bracket). The bolts screw in upwards and so you're looking for bolt heads which are parallel with the road surface. As you look from under the front of the car they're quite distinctive as the lowest point of the gearbox - and hence the place where drips collect and from where they drip. Even if you don't know what you're looking for you'll find them. As you say, it's roughly in line with the base of the windscreen, and slightly to the passenger side. From the side of the car, lean under and dab the drip (if any) with kitchen towel. If it's red it's almost certainly gearbox fluid. You might get away with a 'leak fix' type additive, but realistically it's probably going to be gearbox out - if it's that serious. Mine drips a bit, but not enough to worry about between services. Peninsula said not to worry, despite my perfectionist protestations.

[Number 7]

On the assumption that you have the Rover box, they are prone to leakage from the point at which the selector shaft enters the housing. It's only sealed with a tiny O ring, which deteriorates with age / heat, coupled with the v. thin atf causes leakage. As long as you keep the box topped up, its nothing to worry about mechanically (if that's where its coming from), although does make a mess of the underside of the car / drive / garage. Its a box out job and dismantle to change the O ring, which costs about 50P, so not worth doing unless something else wrong with the box. I've have the box extension machined to take a proper oil seal, which cured the problem. BTW, Castrol SMX is the stuff to use in the box, although its also coloured red, but slightly thicker. I've also used thin engine oil (Mobil 1 5-50)_ without probs.

7.

[hotwire]

Thanks for all your replies....much appreciated. I am going to try and get it up on a ramp at the weekend.