Gear oil leak

[sueant08]

Morning.
I have a Fiat Ducatto 100 multijet 2.2ltr. 15 years old, 67,000 miles. I've had it from new. It's a manual transmission.
I had to have a new clutch fitted a few months ago. Now I have a significant oil patch on the drive from the centre of the engine (possibly been there a month).
I have taken it to my usual garage who have said it's gear oil that is leaking.
They said the driveshaft seals are leaking, the right one a lot, the left only slightly.
I asked if the leak is anything to do with the clutch having been replaced (this garage have been known to leave the odd cap off things in the past) He said no.
I'm now googling drive shaft seals and gear oil leaks and I can't find the connection, or more specifically, how will a new seal cure a gear oil leak?
Also, if it was the driveshaft seals, wouldn't the oil patch be to one or both sides and not in the centre?
Sorry, if I'm being thick but I seem to be paying this garage quite a bit of money one way or another these days and garages that fit my van height are few and far between, so I'm feeling very suspicious and vulnerable. Thanks in advance.

 

[mistericeman]

Drive shafts will usually have been removed to split the gearbox from the engine...on a front wheel drive.

Entirely possible to damage them by removing/replacing the drive shafts....

Also entirely possible that they were slightly hardened and prone to leaks at that sort of age with a vehicle that isn't in constant use...

To be honest if I'd have been doing it I'd have probably replaced the seals at the time as a precaution as they're not usually expensive of difficult to do.

Convincing your garage that it's their fault might not be easy though.

 

[n brown]

i would suggest a mobile mechanic . i don't think it's too big a job to do on a driveway. my guy comes and assesses , explains my problem and gives me a price that he won't go above .

 

[sueant08]

Thank you Mistermiceman.
That makes perfect sense and I don't really mind paying to replace them tbf, but I do need to know the gear oil leak will be fixed.
So, will replacing these seals fix the gear oil leak?
Does gear oil go to these parts in great quantites, enough to leave a patch about 12in round on the floor?
I can't see how this will cure the leak if the oil patch is in the centre of the engine positioning (or are the seals very high up ie close to centre).

 

[sueant08]

i would suggest a mobile mechanic . i don't think it's too big a job to do on a driveway. my guy comes and assesses , explains my problem and gives me a price that he won't go above .

Thank you. I'll look into that. I'm in Leicestershire if anyone has any recommendations.

 

[sueant08]

Drive shafts will usually have been removed to split the gearbox from the engine...on a front wheel drive.

Entirely possible to damage them by removing/replacing the drive shafts....

Also entirely possible that they were slightly hardened and prone to leaks at that sort of age with a vehicle that isn't in constant use...

To be honest if I'd have been doing it I'd have probably replaced the seals at the time as a precaution as they're not usually expensive of difficult to do.

Convincing your garage that it's their fault might not be easy though.

Thank you Mistermiceman.
That makes perfect sense and I don't really mind paying to replace them tbf, but I do need to know the gear oil leak will be fixed.
So, will replacing these seals fix the gear oil leak?
Does gear oil go to these parts in great quantites, enough to leave a patch about 12in round on the floor?
I can't see how this will cure the leak if the oil patch is in the centre of the engine positioning (or are the seals very high up ie close to centre).

 

[mistericeman]

Thank you Mistermiceman.
That makes perfect sense and I don't really mind paying to replace them tbf, but I do need to know the gear oil leak will be fixed.
So, will replacing these seals fix the gear oil leak?
Does gear oil go to these parts in great quantites, enough to leave a patch about 12in round on the floor?
I can't see how this will cure the leak if the oil patch is in the centre of the engine positioning (or are the seals very high up ie close to centre).

I can't answer IF it will cure the leak unfortunately (without looking at it and where its leaking from)
BUT the gearbox is mounted on the end of the engine (remembering its a transverse engine,) on the passenger side (uk vehicle)
So one drive shaft goes in on the passenger side...
And the other from the drivers side much more central to allow for the, gearbox being offset if that makes sense...
And yes it's possible to get a decent amount of oil coming out.

 

[sueant08]

I can't answer IF it will cure the leak unfortunately (without looking at it and where its leaking from)
BUT the gearbox is mounted on the end of the engine (remembering its a transverse engine,) on the passenger side (uk vehicle)
So one drive shaft goes in on the passenger side...
And the other from the drivers side much more central to allow for the, gearbox being offset if that makes sense...
And yes it's possible to get a decent amount of oil coming out.

Ah, thank you for that. It now sounds feasible and I can rest easy.
I used to have a very logical, methodical brain and was very hands on with simple mechanics and DIY etc.
But now, since the dreaded menopause, my brain just won't fit the info together, well, not enough to make sense of it.
It's a terrible situation to be in - I'd have preferred to be incapable and blissfully unaware my entire life than to be in this half useful mental limbo I'm now in

 

[mistericeman]

Ah, thank you for that. It now sounds feasible and I can rest easy.
I used to have a very logical, methodical brain and was very hands on with simple mechanics and DIY etc.
But now, since the dreaded menopause, my brain just won't fit the info together, well, not enough to make sense of it.
It's a terrible situation to be in - I'd have preferred to be incapable and blissfully unaware my entire life than to be in this half useful mental limbo I'm now in

We ALL have days like that.... I've just spent 20 minutes looking for the screwdriver I have in my hand already...

Least it's Friday lol

 

[sueant08]

We ALL have days like that.... I've just spent 20 minutes looking for the screwdriver I have in my hand already...

Least it's Friday lol

Yep, I've done that too. Happy friday. Have a great weekend.

 

[n brown]

oil will seep out of a seal,crack etc then run down the gearbox till it reaches the lowest point before dripping . so the actual leak may be a few inches away from the drip. you would need to wipe the area clean then check periodically

 

[Fisherman]

Wild camping at its very best as usual.

 

[witzend]

As already said the drive shaft seals should have been replaced when the clutch was fitted but then when replacing the drive shafts it's still possible for the new seals to have been damaged

 

[Tezza33]

Thank you. I'll look into that. I'm in Leicestershire if anyone has any recommendations.

I don't know how far you are from Castle Donington but Allen's Auto Care are a family run business who I highly recommend for repairs or MOT's, they do an excellent job and have a great reputation, they can handle any size vehicle and are very competitive with prices

Allens Auto Care | MOT | SERVICING | TYRES | FLEET WORK

www.allensautocare.co.uk

 

[sueant08]

oil will seep out of a seal,crack etc then run down the gearbox till it reaches the lowest point before dripping . so the actual leak may be a few inches away from the drip. you would need to wipe the area clean then check periodically

Thank you. I will do.

 

[sueant08]

I don't know how far you are from Castle Donington but Allen's Auto Care are a family run business who I highly recommend for repairs or MOT's, they do an excellent job and have a great reputation, they can handle any size vehicle and are very competitive with prices

Allens Auto Care | MOT | SERVICING | TYRES | FLEET WORK

www.allensautocare.co.uk

Thanks for the info. I'm about 30 mins from Castle Donington but know it very well through work. I'll have a look.

 

[sueant08]

As already said the drive shaft seals should have been replaced when the clutch was fitted but then when replacing the drive shafts it's still possible for the new seals to have been damaged

Thank you. I'm learning so much from you guys. I appreciate everyone replying

 

[Tezza33]

Thanks for the info. I'm about 30 mins from Castle Donington but know it very well through work. I'll have a look.

Rebecca or Diane are in the reception, very capable and helpful but whoever works on your vehicle are very thorough, they do all the work for Available Car as well as other local dealers but their relationship with everyday customers is excellent, you will not be disappointed
If they need it overnight and you cannot get home we are local

 

[winks]

We ALL have days like that.... I've just spent 20 minutes looking for the screwdriver I have in my hand already...

Least it's Friday lol

Oh no it isn’t, I think .

Cheers

H

 

[trevskoda]

When drive shaft seals are replaced they should be given a touch of grease on them and the shaft, I would have also done the input drive shaft seal and removed the engine flywheel and fitted a crank shaft seal on a 15 year old unit, saves doing the whole job again in a year or two.