Oil leak

[dkmech]

I seem to have a slight oil leak on my car. It's not big. And i think its coming out of the gearbox (the bottom of it is wet with oil). I have noticed a slight difference in gear changes too... They seem to be a bit sharper (not in a good way) - as if there are corners that something gets snagged on. It does get better after things warm up, so it might just be the colder weather.

I looked at the haynes manual and an oil change doesn't seem to be too difficult - so i am guessing it shouldn't cost much (i cba to do it myself). Now the question is - can anything be done cheaply to stop the leak? I doubt its just the drain plug thats leaking - although it might be (say the rubber seal deteriorated). Can i just keep topping it up in future?

Its a 92k 1995 Peugeot 106 1.1 petrol so i doubt i'd be spending money on it if the gearbox failed, but if that can be prevented at reasonable price it might be worth doing.

Does anyone know how much a gearbox oil change would be (kwik fit don't do them)?
And some general advice on what i should be doing is welcome.

Thanks

P.S. I am pretty sure its not engine oil as thats still at good level.

[Shad]

It's far more likely to be engine oil. Oil of any form will find its way to the lowest point which is usually either the sump or the bell housing. Oil from your gearbox should smell different, unless you've just got normal engine oil in there.

Filler and drain plugs use metal washers as opposed to rubber ones, so they won't perish. However if the washer has been reused more than once it will be past its best (you can get away with flipping it over once).

Clean all surfaces with some cloth so there's no oil showing and take the car for a drive. Then, check around the rocker cover, head and sump gasket for oil weeping out. Also check around the bell housing, drive shaft seals and shift linkage. These are probably the most likely points for an oil leak, although I'm not familiar with your engine

Depending on your gearbox and how accessable the filler plug is, changing the gearbox oil should take about half an hour.

[dkmech]

Cheers for that, i'll attempt a closer inspection to see where its coming from. Dad's laying a brick driveway at the moment so i might have to park my leaky car outside or above a tray

[dkmech]

Right, i had a wee look and took some photos. First of all the leak:

Looking underneath we can see that the sump and the gearbox are separated and the botom of the sump is dry, whereas the gearbox is the bit thats dripping (not saying this means its the culprit)

A full size image of this is here
Now for the full frontal under bonnet shots. Too graphic (and big) to just show here so i will link them:
1
2
3
As you can see there is some moistness there, but nothing dramatic. Opinions please.

P.S. I can't really look better under the car at the moment.

[Shad]

Neither the top nor the bottom look particularly oily to me. Is that after it's been cleaned?

Can't really tell a lot without having a good nose around really. Best to get it a bit higher (got any ramps?) and get under there.

How are your other levels; coolant, brake fluid, clutch or power steering fluid if applicable. Sometimes a few of these combine and make a leak look worse than it is

[dkmech]

Can't see the coolant level coz of the cruddy coolant container. But. Brake fluid level is fine. It has no power steering. It falls as droplets in two places (as can be seen in the 1h leak) which then merge. I'd think that if it was just generally leaking from random places it would probably all come to one point (but this may be wrong).

I have no ramps or axle stands.

Oh, and no, it hasn't been cleaned.

It passed the mot at the end of november and the garage didn't mention anything. They wouldn't necessarilly i suppose, its not an mot issue, but i'd've thought they might.

I just don't want to pay lots to take it to a garage for a nose around (and especially as they might just "find" stuff since i am worried about it). And at the same time i don't want to bleed the gearbox dry and break it.

[Shad]

Where abouts are you? Perhaps a kind Hexus reader can come and have a gander

[dkmech]

I am in Swansea. I think Butuz is the closest car nut to me, but his fuel costs would probably be higher than a new gearbox for my car

[Konan555]

There was me sitting there wondering why the sump was on the left and the gearbox was next to it. Talk about getting stuck in your ways!

Anyway, like Shad says, it looks a bit like the point the oil's collected at rather than a leak (my rear diff's covered in engine oil )

It's not something silly like a leak from the oil filter is it?

[dkmech]

No, the area around the oil filter looks fine and dry. Its on the side where the sump is (obviously) so the oil wouldn't travel there. I think i need to note how much oil i have and see if it goes down at all over a week or so. If it does - its engine oil and can be topped up. If it doesn't - it might not be leaking fast enough.

[Konan555]

Check the tranmission levels to be on the safe side

[dkmech]

Not 100% sure how to do that though. It says where the plugs for it are in the manual, but i think the bit about levels was something like "fill with recommended amount". I'll check when i get home. I am sure its in a bloody awkward place too...

[Konan555]

Originally Posted by dkmech

I am sure its in a bloody awkward place too...

And no doubt painfull aswell.

I can get to my front and back diffs, but the box is a total bastard.

[5lab]

yeah check all your transmission fluids, and check the seals are good on it. does look like a transmission leak to me. try putting paper under it to check its oil (not coolant)

[dkmech]

Right. I had a more thorough nose around the Haynes manual. It does seem like a gearbox oil leak, not engine. Well, not from oil filter or sump plug anyway as those would get the sump wet. Haynes seem to think it's likely to be gearbox oil from the seals at inboard ends of the driveshafts. They don't seem to be explaining where the plug is and how to check for oil. Looks like i'll have to call in and get a quote for getting the seals renewed. I'll do try to put some paper to see what its like.

[Shad]

I suspect replacing those seals may come close to or even exceed the value of the vehicle. Depends on exactly which seals obviously (if they are on the driveshaft inner CV joints then not so bad), but it will probably mean splitting the bell housing and taking the diff out etc. Lots of labour unfortunately. DIY would be excellent fun though