The smell of Gearbox oil

[cabit]

Good evening to you all,
While out driving to Tenderten yesterday the old girl has developed a gearbox oil leak coming from the bell housing managed to get home ok even with the oil dripping at an alarming rate when stationary in the petrol garage, no noise still easy to change gears,my question is why, is it a common fault oil seal or gasket

 

[jims-terrano]

Ive Had Terranos since 2002 and never had a gearbox oil leak.

Is it defo gear oil?
Has anyone replaced the oil lately, could it be the drain plug leaking?

Good luck

 

[Blocky10]

Don't you guys with 2.7s and leaky leak off pipes have clutch problems because of diesel spreading itself about?

 

[jims-terrano]

Diesel leak off pipes leak down the drivers side of the engine and it actually looks like engine oil because it's black.
The clutch pipes and slave cylinder can leak but it's brake fluid is that.

I think there's a risk of the clutch getting contaminated from the diesel leak but never suffered it myself.

 

[Blocky10]

Aye that's it. Just thought maybe it could be a possibility :nenau

 

[panelbeater]

i thought the bell housing was a sealed unit as starter motors are supposed to have sealer when refitting.
the only way oil gets on the clutch should be from a crank oil or gearbox shaft seal.
wading should not affect them.

 

[rustic]

Good evening to you all,
While out driving to Tenderten yesterday the old girl has developed a gearbox oil leak coming from the bell housing managed to get home ok even with the oil dripping at an alarming rate when stationary in the petrol garage, no noise still easy to change gears,my question is why, is it a common fault oil seal or gasket

Could be the gear lever gaiter, can be seen from underneath, or remove the trim from the gear lever gaiter from the inside of the vehicle, and have a look.

Please post any pics as you see fit.
Rustic

 

[Banshee]

When was the last time it had the clutch swapped?

There's a chance I suppose that the gearbox shaft seal was damaged upon re-fit and if the bell housing wasn't mated back to the engine with a nice seal as below then it could be leaking oil.

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showpost.php?p=329622&postcount=636

 

[macabethiel]

Are you sure its Gearbox Oil ?

I am no expert but is it definitely gearbox oil as rear main crank seal leak would strike me as much more likely to fail and leak oil when engine is running.

As you probably know Gearbox Oil tends to be very smelly as well as pretty viscous.

 

[cabit]

defo gearbox oil,not been under yet given the amount of oil dripping out of the bottom of the bell housing i can be sure it's engine out job

 

[solarman216]

This is the first front gearbox seal failure I have come across, and am very surprised that it seems to be leaking so badly, did you hear anything untoward just before it started leaking? just have to wonder if something has broke, Rick

 

[Banshee]

defo gearbox oil,not been under yet given the amount of oil dripping out of the bottom of the bell housing i can be sure it's engine out job

No way mate!!!!!! Leave the engine in!!!!!!!

I did a clutch swap on the drive, have a look here dude before you go ripping stuff out, post 571 through to 636 :thumb2

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23183&page=39

 

[cabit]

I have also had the gearbox out to change the clutch two years ago so no it's engine out this time much easier

 

[cabit]

Hello Rick
Sorry did not see your question,no noise just oil dripping from the bottom of the bell housing and a slight smell
,before i under take any work i.e. removing the engine i will try and find the where the oil is coming from

 

[Banshee]

I have also had the gearbox out to change the clutch two years ago so no it's engine out this time much easier

Is it possible that when you mated the gearbox back to the truck last time that you may have hit the seal with the input shaft? I was warned about this when I did mine, Rick was very very insistent that you have to go in square and smooth otherwise if you caught it, it could cause a leak :nenau

 

[solarman216]

Is it possible that when you mated the gearbox back to the truck last time that you may have hit the seal with the input shaft? I was warned about this when I did mine, Rick was very very insistent that you have to go in square and smooth otherwise if you caught it, it could cause a leak :nenau

No you cannot damage the input shaft seal, it is way back in the gearbox what you can damage is the center plate by bending it if the box slips and drops while not quite fully home, for the seal to suddenly start leaking lots there has to be something in the box gone bad, Rick

 

[Banshee]

No you cannot damage the input shaft seal, it is way back in the gearbox what you can damage is the center plate by bending it if the box slips and drops while not quite fully home, for the seal to suddenly start leaking lots there has to be something in the box gone bad, Rick

Apologies, I must have misunderstood :doh

Is it not possible at all to make contact with the seal at all with the input shaft when re-mating?

 

[solarman216]

Apologies, I must have misunderstood :doh

Is it not possible at all to make contact with the seal at all with the input shaft when re-mating?

Only by poking a 6 inch wire between the first motion shaft and the steel tube the clutch thrust bearing runs on, Rick

 

[Banshee]

Only by poking a 6 inch wire between the first motion shaft and the steel tube the clutch thrust bearing runs on, Rick

Duely Noted :question

 

[cabit]

Well what can i say,finally cleared the garage out,moved the engine hoist into position ready for removal,now before i started i had a good look around the bottom of the engine then a round the top and guess what n04 injector leak back pipe the one that's not used the rubber plug was split leaking diesel down the side of the engine replaced the plug all good,before anyone says did i not smell the diesel,no i did not but it had been in my van for over two years before i pumped it into the terrano