Hi all hope this finds u well.
Its been a pretty traumatic time for me as I lost my dad recently, and my xtype is what he got me before he passed. As you know had the accident just before christmass and got sorted.
Now I have an oil leak on what appears to be the gearbox as oil has greyish colour, and seems to be coming from bell housin area. When cars running leak is rather rapid drip which slows down wen engine is at rest, wondered if anyone might be able to give any ideas all help appreciated
Thanks Rob

 

suprasix30, the first thing I would check is to pull the dipstick and make sure that you have adequate oil level and that the oil is not what is turning grey. If you have grey in the oil, DO NOT!!!!! run the engine any more. You have a failed head gasket more than likely and you are getting a mix of water and oil in the engine and this will lead to very rapid engine wear.

Based on the color of fluid that you are talking about, it seems more like transfer case fluid than anything else. The thing that has me confused is the fact that it leaks pretty good with the motor running. The transfer case does not move until the vehicle is moving. It would still be worth a look to see if you can spot a crack in the transfer case (this can happen) and what you are seeing is the fluid somehow getting pushed out the crack. The only other thing that I can think of is that you have a leak from your tranny to your transfer case due to bad seals and now what is happening is the gear lube is floating on top of the tranny fluid and is getting pushed out the vent port of the transfer case. But, this should result in the car not wanting to shift into gear as there won't be enough fluid in the tranny to allow the mechanisms to work.

The other option is that you are simply seeing an oil leak which the most likely place is the oil pan. But, from what you are describing, you have something else. In your case, you are looking at an oil leak from your oil filter or the adapter that bolts to the side of the engine for the oil filter. The adapter and oil filter are both just a little to the left of center and right behind the radiator if you are standing in front of the car and looking at it. This could be an easy fix of simply screwing the oil filter on a little tighter or tightening the 2 bolts that hold the adapter in place. May be a bit more involved since you would have to possibly remove the adapter and install a new seal there.

Without having the car in my hands, it is hard to say where the leak is coming from. Normally an oil leak is more of a brownish drip than a grey. The best advice that I can say is to get under the car and see what you can find and if you can, take a picture of where you think the leak is coming from. That will help someone like me narrow down the list of possibilities. Also, just because you find the leak on the bottom of the car, see if you can follow the trail of fluid up the engine some. This would not be the first car that had a problem with say a valve cover gasket and they thought it was a bad seal on the oil filter.

 

Hi thermo
Well took some pics though hard to c clearly, but it is not engine oil or oil filter. Plus I topped up tranny yesterday and it took 2 ltr's of oil and was still not running out of filler hole though must have been close to it as plastic tube on oil bottle when sqeezed then released was sucking oil back up, I understand tranny oil capacity is 1.8ltrs since filling and just checkin on white paper oil has gone from a deffo greyish colour to a mix of new golden brown and dirty grey wich to me points to tranny as this the only oil I have topped up. When looking from underneath oil appears to be dripping from the bottom of bell housing from inside behind dust cover as wen checked yesterday and surplus spray oil from driving and wind under car. when leaking oil startedvdripping out of bottom of bellhousing but there was no sighn of it running down B/Hing eges before drips started. Its deff more of a rapid drip with engine running then slows right down once engine stoped cant see anything from top because of the air box batt box ect can send pics to you but only on a mobile and signal ***** but will go to daughters and use her wifi.
Im thinking it might be the front oil seal on tranny where shaft comes out to enter clutch.
Gears change smoothly no noises rattles or growls from box. Im under the impression that to remove trann engine has to come out!!
Thanks thermo will send pics as soon as I can maybe sending thembto ur email might be easier cheers rob

 

Hi Suprasix30,
Due to the time difference, if you email me at {{((stuart@sbeattie9.orangehome.co.uk))}}. I'll post for you, Good luck !!! Stu

 

THIS IS POSTED ON BEHALF OF "suprasix30"
Hi stu'
heres pics but not real clear all points to font input shaft oil seal.
Would replacing this seal involve stripping box down or does it remove/replace from the outside ie. Bell housing side.
Also do you know how indepth removing Gbox is ie. Removal of engine/sub frame ect
I know my way around cars, 25 years in auto trade but my experience lies on the old school side not all the new technology side, and I dont want to get in over my head, plus I lost my dad on the 1/5/14 and he brought me the car just before he died in november, as you can appreciate this car now holds gr8 sentimental value and I dont want too screw up. But funds are very tight so to do it myself would save alot
Thanks for your help
Hope this finds you well Rob.

From Stu Good Luck Rob !

 

suprasix, based on the images, it is appearing to me that what you have is a leaking rear main seal. A garage might be able to remove an access cover to confirm this, but it is looking like to me that it is coming from the joint between where the engine and the tranny mate. Add that to the fact of the color of the fluid, it can be but only one thing as I see it.

 

Big thanks stu top dude.
Hi thermo,
Well we on same page as to leak, how indepth is job to do ie engine out or insitu best way to remove lump, from top (bonnet) or droping sub frame, will I need specialist tools. Or a lift!! Ect ect. Gr8 big thanks for ur valued advise thermo.
And big thanks stu for uploading ur a gentleman m8.

 

suprasix, I am not familiar with the inner workings of this motor. At a minimum I would think you would need to pull the tranny so you can get access to the seal. Then the question becomes whether it is a split seal that goes inside the block or if it is something on the exterior of the motor that a person can remove and then reinstall (like axle seals). Either way, I think you are looking at having about 6-8 hours of labor to get this taken care of, possibly more. The seal shouldn't be that expensive.

 

Hi guys, wel garage checked car and they are under the impression that it is the rear engine oil seal, and after checkin out under a ramp pluss collecting oil in a tub im in agreement too, so looks like u are bang on thermo in ur diagnosis too m8 thanks.
I ve put new oil in engine plus a wyns stop leak addertive and have a barrs stop leak concentrate ordered and should be ere l8r todayjust to help me through till.can get it sortedwat with Dads funeral and raising funds too.
So will keep u posted guys great big thanks to u both chriss n stu )
All the best Rob

 

thank you Rob, thermo (Chris) is just THE BEST!
Stu and Good Luck with your X_Type and your family!
Respect

 

Many times if you have a vacuum leak on the top end of the motor it will cause a build up of crankcase pressure pushing oil out of the rear main seal and anywhere else it can.

Before you give up hope and drop the trans, I'd be extra sure that there are no vacuum leaks up top.

Having just dropped the trans in mine I can tell you that it's 5-6 hours just to get it out and the same putting it back in.

If you have to wind up doing the rear main seal, I'd do the lower oil pan gasket at the same time as it's only another 30 minutes work and the gasket is a very high failure item.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

hello?My car is a jaguar x type.2.0 gasoline engine.Cars produced in 2002.review check lamp, abs should always check what has been said?please help me