Gaz Walker Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Hmmm. Came into my street last night in the lexus, my street is banked and the supra was sitting outside the house. As I pulled in front of the supra I noticed there was a few black puddles under the Supra. Oil leak From when I had it on the ramps a couple of weeks ago to fit the exhaust, there was little bit oil on the underside of the gearbox. I don't know if its from the gearbox or if its from the engine. I don't normally use the supra through the week so thats why it was more noticable. I dipped the oil last weekend so if its lost an amount I should be able to tell. Any ideas where its likely to come from, gearbox or engine and where can I start checking? Thanks guys Gaz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinL Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Firsty open the bonnet and look down the front of the engine to the undertray. If there is oil either around the engine or on the undertray your front crank oil seal is probably blown. Another option is the rear crank oil seal has expired, this will lead to oil working slowly down the gearbox/exhaust and dropping on your clutch and flywheel causing slip. The car will become undrivable very quickly if that is the case. Camshaft seals could also be leaking. Assuming the car has been serviced with the correct fluids the gearbox oil will be red and it should be easy to spot a leak from that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted July 4, 2003 Author Share Posted July 4, 2003 thanks Gavin, I'll have a closer look when I get in Gaz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Also check the oil Pressure sensor, which i believe is tucked away in the area underneath the oil filter. No visible signs from above, but undertray was covered and oil down the side of the block on the passenger side. Don't know about the seals mentioned but this is a cheap (ish) fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Rear main seals are weeping on a lot of cars now. Front seals blow when people run excess boost, get some piston damage or ring damage and crank blowby rises enough to defeat the breather system. Then the front seals seems the wekest spot and it pops out. All IMO. Check your flywheel when doing the rear main seal, if it's a manual you may want to replace it if it's rattling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted July 4, 2003 Author Share Posted July 4, 2003 Chris, The flywheel is rattling yes, so it looks like this service might be quite pricey. What sorta costs are involved with replacing the rear seal? Gaz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Chris/Anyone, I,ve got an oil leak too, only minor and same as before the bottom of the gearbox is oily. Difference is my oil drip is red, I take it this is from the gearbox then? It seems to be from the seal where the propshaft enters the gearbox? Is this common/big job? Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Originally posted by Paul It seems to be from the seal where the propshaft enters the gearbox? Is this common/big job? Paul If it is from there then it's not unheard of, but not exactly common. Unfortunately on these cars it's not an easy job as it involves heating a part up and using an SST. CW can do this and it may be best to get him to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Martin, other than a hole or crack:eek: , are there any other seals or gaskets, what about something simple like a drain plug? I'm nearer to Leon, have e-mailed but no reply yet Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 There is a drain plug right at the bottom of the box and may be worth checking but if it was missing it would be game over by now. It's always hard to diagnose oil leaks remotely, but if it was coming from the rear seal i would expect the underneath of the car behind the gearbox to be covered with oil more than the box itself. If you get it to Leon's and he puts it up on the lift i'm sure from his experience he'd be able to tell you quite quickly what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Sorry forgot to mention there is also a filler plug on the passengers side of the box. May be worth looking at as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Cheers mate, what I meant was the drain plug gasket might be knackered, not the whole thing missing! Will try and get it high enough for a look, probably best to give the area a de-grease first then drive and take another look. Sorry to Gaz for hijacking your thread, just I had a similar problem Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfman Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Originally posted by Paul Chris/Anyone, I,ve got an oil leak too, only minor and same as before the bottom of the gearbox is oily. Difference is my oil drip is red, I take it this is from the gearbox then? It seems to be from the seal where the propshaft enters the gearbox? Is this common/big job? Paul Paul, I had this problem and my local dealer managed to sort it for me as they had the tools. Not sure about cost as it was a warranty job but PM if you need any further info. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 4, 2003 Share Posted July 4, 2003 Originally posted by Paul Chris/Anyone, I,ve got an oil leak too, only minor and same as before the bottom of the gearbox is oily. Difference is my oil drip is red, I take it this is from the gearbox then? It seems to be from the seal where the propshaft enters the gearbox? Is this common/big job? Paul Yes, it's common enough. Bit of a bugger to get the rear prop flange off, and the seal isn't cheap. They usually just weap, but I have seen 1 that was pouring oil out, shortly after the `box had been out and in, maybe the seal didn't take kindly to boing disturbed? I can replace it if necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted July 5, 2003 Author Share Posted July 5, 2003 Originally posted by Paul Sorry to Gaz for hijacking your thread, just I had a similar problem Paul No probs Paul. Just as an additional, is it safe to drive the car anywhere while its like this, I check the oil level everyday and I've got plenty. If I do have to drive it somewhere, say to be fixed, any advice, keep it at low RPM's etc? Regards, Gaz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Martin F Posted July 5, 2003 Share Posted July 5, 2003 It's a bit hard to say Gaz without knowing exactly where it's leaking from. But normally you will be OK driving it as you say and keeping the oil topped up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 7, 2003 Share Posted July 7, 2003 Originally posted by Paul Cheers mate, what I meant was the drain plug gasket might be knackered, not the whole thing missing! Will try and get it high enough for a look, probably best to give the area a de-grease first then drive and take another look. Sorry to Gaz for hijacking your thread, just I had a similar problem Paul It doesn't use a gasket or a copper ring, but a tapered plug that bites into the casing to effect a seal. Be very careful, overtightening generates stupendous stresses in the casing and can easily crack them, undertightening will run the risk of a leak or even it unwinding out... There's probably a torque setting for it somewhere, without being arrogant you just get a feel for tapered plugs after a while and I use that for retightening them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted July 10, 2003 Author Share Posted July 10, 2003 Had the car up on the ramps tonight, oil is either coming from front crank seal or sump () Hmmm! If its the front crank then its just the cam belt etc off, the sump - god knows thats going to be expensive though! Anyway, I though I'd ask the pro's this. If its the front crank seal would you be able to see oil at the front of the engine/in the undertray? I ask because the oil is running down the undertray and coming out the back... hence me thinking it was the rear one. The front of the engine bay is bone dry and clear, where as its pissing out the back of the undertray! Thanks guys Gaz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 Get the undertray off, then get a quick detergent based hot pressure was done of all the underside of the engine and surrounding areas. Take a short sharp run and stick it on someones ramp to see exactly where it's coming from. That's what I'd do anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 I agree with Chris, but perhaps just get some one to run it at high tickover from cold after the wash and lay underneath with a torch and you should find the location of ther leak. The fan and a quick blast can spread oil about pretty quickly. JMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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