Oil leak and no drive

[Shaft120]

Hi All,
I had a very eventful journey back from London to Edinburgh yesterday. Having noticed some drips of oil in the morning coming from what I thought was the rear of the engine, I checked the oil level and sure enough it was a little low. So I topped it up and left to see how bad the drip was. It didn't seem too awful, so I set off about an hour later. About a couple of hours in I noticed the Oil pressure guage was hovering between at the top of the first bar low level but dropped to zero when I was sat in traffic idling, so at the first petrol stop I checked the oil levels with the dipstick, but all apeared fine. About 420 miles along and 70 from home in Edinburgh, I suddenly loose all drive to the wheels. Engine is still turning over fine and the gears are still changing ok, but no drive at all. On inspection, there is oil all over the diff / gearbox at the front and it has given a good pebbledashing to the prop and underside. The oil doesn't smell like gearbox fluid, and that makes sense as the gears seems to change ok.

After a nightmare with the AA, waiting 2 and a half hours to get a truck out to me, I eventually get the truck back on the driveway at 2am. Pigging nightmare.

Looking at it the following day, it looks like there is definitely oil coming from the rear crank oil seal. There's also oil around the front diff and over the bell housing although I think this may have spread down from the crank seal. I'm guessing that oil has contaminated the clutch, hence no drive although I'm also worried it may have been DMF letting go? I've only moved up to Edinburgh recently, so my usual mechanic is based in London. Does anybody know somebody they can recommend up here? Oh, and does anybody know how much I'm looking at for a new clutch, new seals and service? Is there anything else I should get done at the same time?

Thanks,
Shaft

*Broken - 1992 Japanese 2.4td Surf with 2.5" bodylift kit and 33 12.5 15 tyres.

[Shaft120]

seriously, can nobody recommend a garage in Scotland or suggest how much I'm looking at to replace clutch / seals?

[Albannach]

Hi there, great to have you here. Excellent introductionby the way, it's so nice when filk do that and don't just get in to a ramble about what's happened to their truck and asking us how to have it fixed...

Anyway, it's unlikely that engine oil will get around the flywheel and on to the clutch, especially as you've not been losing any engine oil (oil level settles half way between the high and low marks on a 2.4). More likely to be the front gearbox oil seal. So, change that, the Dual Mass Flywheel, the clutch, the release bearing, the rear crankshaft seal and (if Surf's have them) the pilot bearing.

[Albannach]

No idea where to get this done, there are a couple of Emburry folk here, they'll advise soon.

[Shaft120]

Albannach

Thanks for the post. Apologies for being blunt. I didn't mean to just start moaning about fixing my truck. I applied for membership to the forum a few weeks back and due to a mix up, hadn't had my profile activated properly, so I could view, but not post. Then given my problems with the truck and having previously enjoyed being an active participant on the MR2 owners club forums, thought it best to persue the sagely advice of those in the know. Not wanting to be fleeced by the first mechanic I found, I presumed some friendly soul could point me in the right direction....

Anyway, thanks for the info. As I said, I'm pretty sure it's not gearbox oil, as it doesn't smell like it. I'm almost certain it's engine oil. I'm praying to god I don't have to replace the DMF as I hear it's in the region of 500+ for the part. I have spoken to a local mechanic who is going to give me a labour estimate for changing the seals and clutch, so will let you know how it turns out.

Am going to Islay this weekend with the boys, so have hired a Hilux double cab pickup for the journey. Doesn't have 33 12.5 15's and a body lift though.

_____________________________

Take your words, put them on a plate, add a little bit of humble pie, and eat them!

[Bogus]

http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/forums/sh...+mass+flywheel

You dont need to replace the DMF with another DMF ( see link and indeed many other posts)

For a garage "near" Embra you could try Greenbank Garage in Loanhead. They,ve done odd jobs for me on my car and also for my son. Ive never had the Surf in with them, but they always have 4x4s , vans trucks and stuff in, they always seem to be busy and seem to be a decent bunch. Proper messy garage, none of this operating theatre style you see at main dealers. Ive certainly been happy with what they have done for me.

Bogus

[Albannach]

Albannach

Am going to Islay this weekend with the boys, so have hired a Hilux double cab pickup for the journey. Doesn't have 33 12.5 15's and a body lift though.

Where are you going in Islay?

[Shaft120]

Thanks Bogus, I'll take a look, although could be pricey as they'd have to tow it there. Will let you know how I get on.

Albanach - Had originally planned to go through to Port Askaig and work our way down to Port Ellen .However, after my friends missing their flight we ended up getting a later ferry stragitht to Pot Ellen. Headed up to Bowmore, then through to port charlotte and camped out there. Did a reccy around ardnave point and then headed back throgh Bowmore down to Oa near the monument, where there were some nice tracks and plenty of standing water.

The weather was horrendous for the most part, horizontal rain and a real gale blowing, but was good fun none the less. Was a lovely drive down and back through kennacraig on the mainland, but would have been better if we'd had some clear skies.

[wiggy]

Hiya,
Hi,
Was on islay for the first couple of weeks in August too and the weather ..... well wasnt the best did manage a couple of nice days though when the sun was out but was stuck in a cr*ppy Focus and would have liked to get up the crags at Kilchoman

[danielsprague]

Your first worry should be the low oil pressure. I stand to be corrected, but I don't believe a blown crankshaft rear oil seal would cause the pressure to drop. Has your engine been knocking?

Daniel