Gearbox Oil leak remote housing

Discuss mechanical problems here.
Forum rules
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
Post Reply
User avatar
svenedin
Minor Legend
Posts: 4741
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:27 am
Location: Surrey
MMOC Member: Yes

Gearbox Oil leak remote housing

Post by svenedin »

I have returned from Minors on Tour to find I have an oil leak from the gearbox. It is not the usual few drips from the drain plug. It's a leak that's quite far back and although it hasn't made a puddle in the garage it's quite a few drips. I raised the car today so I could get under and investigate. It appears to be coming from the circular cover plate, secured with 4 bolts on the remote housing. It seems to be dripping down onto the propshaft and then being flung out over the underside of the car. My photos are not very good and by the time I had thought to take a photo I had already cleaned most of the oil off. I have tightened the 4 nuts and will have to see how it goes. I hope it's not the gearbox rear oil seal. It shouldn't be as the gearbox was a reconditioned unit only fitted less than a year ago. Tomorrow I will check the gearbox level and top up which will show much oil I am actually losing. Quite a lot I think.

Stephen

IMG_3441.jpeg
IMG_3441.jpeg (3.24 MiB) Viewed 2130 times
IMG_3442.jpeg
IMG_3442.jpeg (1.15 MiB) Viewed 2130 times
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
philthehill
Minor Maniac
Posts: 12096
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:05 pm
Location: Hampshire
MMOC Member: Yes

Re: Gearbox Oil leak remote housing

Post by philthehill »

There should be very little oil getting to the gear lever remote housing so I doubt that the oil is leaking from the 4 bolt plate/gasket. I suspect the gearbox rear oil seal is at fault especially as the plate is above where any oil escaping from the gearbox would end up.

User avatar
svenedin
Minor Legend
Posts: 4741
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:27 am
Location: Surrey
MMOC Member: Yes

Re: Gearbox Oil leak remote housing

Post by svenedin »

philthehill wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2026 10:16 pm There should be very little oil getting to the gear lever remote housing so I doubt that the oil is leaking from the 4 bolt plate/gasket. I suspect the gearbox rear oil seal is at fault especially as the plate is above where any oil escaping from the gearbox would end up.
I was afraid you'd say that but I think you're right! We'll see.....

Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
User avatar
svenedin
Minor Legend
Posts: 4741
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:27 am
Location: Surrey
MMOC Member: Yes

Re: Gearbox Oil leak remote housing

Post by svenedin »

The car sat overnight with the front raised up on stands and the back of the gearbox sitting downhill. I had cleaned all the leaking oil off. Yes it is leaking from the rear oil seal as Phil wisely said but strangely it IS also weeping from the remote housing 4 bolt circular plate. So we were both right. I checked the gearbox oil level and it appears to have lost so little it wasn't even worth topping up. It's amazing how so little oil looks so much.

As ESM supplied this reconditioned gearbox they have agreed to do the rear seal (and the cover plate gasket).

Stephen

IMG_3444.jpeg
IMG_3444.jpeg (1.66 MiB) Viewed 1852 times
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
Post Reply