Thin clear oil dripping from Bell housing?

[Steve J]

I have a steady drip of oil from my bellhousing on my TD5 Auto I can not see where it is comming from anny ideas? I asume it is gear box oil but how would it be getting there?

[Swingletree]

It's more than likely (i.e. 100%) clutch fluid from the slave cylinder. Easy to replace with a few tools. ;)

[Steve J]

Its an Auto so has not got a clutch although just been reading the manual does the torque converter use oil?

[JonS]

Unlikely to be the slave cylinder if yours is an auto! Could it be diesel leaking from the fuel pressure regulator? It's a fairly common weakness. And probably a good bit cheaper than fitting a rear crank oil seal.
I'd be inclined to check all the levels and if that gives no hints, clean it all up and watch it closely.

Good luck

Jon

[Swingletree]

Derrrrrrrrrr oops :D Sorry, missed that little four letter word there.

Yeah torque converters use oil as a driving medium. They are usually a sealed unit and you tend to rapidly lose drive when they start to leak.

[bananahead]

you say clear oil.... you got aircon?

[Steve J]

Yep Ive got aircon

[TEMPL4R]

If it is clear and dripping from the drivers side, not out the bottom holes, then I'd agree with Jon, probably the fuel regulator, a very common fault.

If it were Auto box fluid it would be redddish in colour, engine oil is black. Both come out the bottom holes in the bell housing.

Just a point before anyone with a TD5 rear crank engine oil leak takes a box out, take the sump off and check the gasket hasn't blown out at the rear end, we've had 2 do that.

Chris

[bananahead]

i was sorta wondering if this was water. from aircon, cos im sure mine does it.

[Steve J]

It does not seem to smell like deisel! but is on the drivers side can I see this fuel regulator? I did have the cover of earlier but could not see the leak from above. but then as my wife tells me I do have Man eyes!!

[TEMPL4R]

The aircon drain is right above the XYZ switch ( changed one yesterday) so it tends to run into the switch or down the passenger side.

You can just see the fuel reg, it's at the rear of the head on the drivers side.

Chris

[DiscoTdi]

talk about co-incidence, sounds just like my experience the other week with my TDi300 auto with A/C. Found a few drips of brownish, thin liquid on the anti-roll bar which sits between the sump/gearbox. I'm pretty sure it's water from the air con as it didn't smell of anything and was too clean/thin to be engine oil and the wrong colour for AFT.

(I did'nt fancy tasting it though );)

Best of luck

[Steve J]

Definately not Water judging by the black sticky tarmac on my drive. The Air con water drips on the other side especialy on a hot day. going to have a look for the regulator tomorrow.

cheers

[Steve J]

It was the regulater thanks for the advice however we now have trouble starting because of the Diesel dripping into the starter motor. It just clicks but after a couple of tries it starts. Will this clear on its own or can I do anything to speed it up.

[JonS]

My starter behaved exactly the same way after fpr problems; after checking all the connections it was still doing it a week later, so I gritted my teeth and bought a new one. Though I guess if you've got the time it shouldn't be too difficult to strip and clean it.
I was swayed by the mechs view that the td5 starter is a bit feeble and frail compared with the 300s and when you look at it the solenoid is practically as big as the motor!!

Regards

Jon