Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Took a look under the Rangie today to start tracing oil leaks. For reference, its an 81 2 door with the std Rover V8, and its a 3spd auto and from what I've been told, this one is a BW 35 box (as the transfer box shifter is right next to the seat, ie set back).

First one seems to be coming from around this lower cover plate on the bellhousing. The two attached photos show each side. As far as I can tell, there's only 1 bolt in the middle two spots, the others are missing?

However I don't know if its really that, because as mine is an auto box, any leak from that plate would be ATF, wouldn't it? I have an ATF leak, but that is the topic of another thread ...

I am also suspecting the seal around the sump is leaky too, so I'll be replacing that as a matter of course.

Passenger side:


Driver side:


Looking back from the front at it:


The big black thing is the sump, if you're trying to orientate yourself.

The problem with oil leaks is that there could be multiple items. At least you have ruled out auto trans fluid.

Is your oil switch leaking? you usually know this when you have a generous covering of oil from the front of the engine (near the pump) to the rear. It looks pretty clean under there (better than mine!!), unless you blasted it with a gerni before the pic was taken!!

Also, you will get a liberal oil spray if your diff pinion seal is leaking, like the oil switch. This is all I could think of. If these are alright, maybe it's your sump gasket (if the oils dribbn ling down the back of the cover plate on your auto trans).

Good luck with it all. Hope this is useful in some way!!

Trav

Looks like a rear main seal leak to me. Did you seal that inspection plate on with the Blue RTV? If not it was prob done by the Previous owner to cover up this problem.

i reckon ruff is right on the money...looks like rear main....
the inspection plate does not need to be sealed

Aquarangie wrote:The problem with oil leaks is that there could be multiple items. At least you have ruled out auto trans fluid.

Is your oil switch leaking? you usually know this when you have a generous covering of oil from the front of the engine (near the pump) to the rear. It looks pretty clean under there (better than mine!!), unless you blasted it with a gerni before the pic was taken!!

Also, you will get a liberal oil spray if your diff pinion seal is leaking, like the oil switch. This is all I could think of. If these are alright, maybe it's your sump gasket (if the oils dribbn ling down the back of the cover plate on your auto trans).

Good luck with it all. Hope this is useful in some way!!

Trav

Yeah, I had degreased it and blasted it with a Gerni I don't think the oil switch is leaking, its all pretty good around the front.

The sump gasket is a suspect, as the vehicle is actually leaning backwards while parked, so oil would run back towards the bellhousing.

RUFF wrote:Looks like a rear main seal leak to me. Did you seal that inspection plate on with the Blue RTV? If not it was prob done by the Previous owner to cover up this problem.

Nah, I didn't seal it with that goop. Was like that when I got it.

landy_man wrote:i reckon ruff is right on the money...looks like rear main....
the inspection plate does not need to be sealed

Hmmm ... that sounds like fun That plate is just an inspection plate? So I can take it off and get a better looking inside?

DionM wrote:That plate is just an inspection plate? So I can take it off and get a better looking inside?

Correct. Just be carefull because im guessing its going to be like a dam in there and it will have a lot of oil behind that plate. Its a motor or Gearbox/Tcase out job to fix the seal.

RUFF wrote:Correct. Just be carefull because im guessing its going to be like a dam in there and it will have a lot of oil behind that plate. Its a motor or Gearbox/Tcase out job to fix the seal.

Again, sounds like fun I'll pull it off and have a look. Engine oil level hasn't moved at all of late so shouldn't be too much in there.

From what I can gather gearbox/tcase removal isn't a difficult job, just a royal pain in the butt? Its off the road and not my main transport at present (and not even rego'd) so I'm not overly worried if that's what is needed ...

Anyway, shall investigate and find out.

That pissy little drip doesn't count as an oil leak!!!!