I hate oil leaks...!!!

[Ralph S3]

Given its not actually snowing I though I would have a bash at fixing the infernal oil leaks on my S3. One is coming from the front crankshaft seal which is relatively easy to get to. Another appeared to be coming from the front of the diff and the third from the vicinity of the gearbox.

I took off the exhaust expecting to find the seals either end of the propshaft to be leaking. It turns out that all the seals look OK. Oil must be coming from somewhere else but I'm damned if I can see where.

The whole area around the front of the diff is covered in oil (almost as if its been srayed about). If the diff had been overfilled when the front seal was replaced by an Indy last year could it have sprayed out of the overflow pipe and then all over the diff? My other thought is the the oil from the front of the engine is travelling along the ehaust and then spraying over the diff. The engine leak isn't that bad though so its hard to believe it could be that.

Also, gearbox seals look OK. Are there any other areas on the gearbox that are known to leak? I was wondering about the reverse switch or speedo?

Any ideas or previous experience gratefully received.

Ralph

p.s. wouldn't it be great if you could turn cars upside down rather than scrabble about underneath..!!

[phillpot]

Ralph S3 said:

p.s. wouldn't it be great if you could turn cars upside down rather than scrabble about underneath..!!

Like this.......



Or this.......





Re the oil leaks would suggest a thorough clean with "Gunk" paraffin or whatever, then pressure wash and have another look after a few days. May help to pin point where its coming from ?

Edited by phillpot on Sunday 24th January 18:36

[mep12345]

Mine leaked from the oil pressure sender when I bought it and the motion of the car carried it all the way through coating the gearbox, prop and Diff, s a clean and drive and re-inspect is the only way to really narrow it down. The airflow under that area of the car really does disperse it well!!!