Technical helpp! gear oil leak

[mrlk93]

hi,
im new here so go easy lol!
got a major problem with my 02 mk2 punto, there seems to be a major leak from my gearbox, like il fill it up with oil and within a week it is empty and then starts making the whiring noise. took it to a garage to be looked at and he said i need a new gearbox. however i have been speaking to a few people and they said it could be a seal or somthing. cant really be forkin out for a new G/BOX as the car has skinted me. in 3 months of owing it, it has had new H/gasket, new radiator, and new back box.

hope someone can shine some light on what this could be, thanks in advance.
p.s dont even know if what im doing is right but im just gonna post it here anyway lol.

 

[dave]

if its a 8v its normally the input shaft seal, it often costs more to replace in labour time as it does to get a used box from scrappy, most just fit a used 16v box

 

[mrlk93]

yeah it is a 8v. so its a new gearbox then :/. not what i wanted to hear but i knew it was coming to be honest. it drives perfect for about 3 weeks after filling with oil. even once all the oil has ended up on my driveway lol. what do you think to me just topping it up every month or so when the noise starts to appear or can be heard even when the radio is full blast hahaaa!. I really havnt got a spare couple of hundred quid to be splashing out at the moment. thanks for the quick reply btw!!

 

[dave]

if it is the input shaft seal its killing your clutch. if its drive shaft seal they are easier to fix

 

[mrlk93]

would i be able to tell which is which just by looking, bare in mine i have no experiance on cars. what a car i have picked for my first one. haynes manual is on its way hahaa

 

[dave]

yes the drive shafts are the long thick rods that go to the wheels so if its leaking where they go into the box then its them seals

 

[DaveMcT]

The low oil levels making the box noisy are not good. Noise means excessive wear was going on. TBH a replacement box is the best option.

On anything you find, make sure the gearbox input shaft is not wobbly as that's a sign the bearing is failing.

 

[mrlk93]

Cheers for that,
Ive been trying to keep it topped up as best i can, atm i havnt got enough money to get the box replaced. Ive spoke to a few people and they said it could just be somthing as easy ad simple as a seal. Ive took some pics of the box but cant put em up yet coz im on my phone. Would this be a MOT failure btw as its due in a couple of weeks? Cheers. Marc

 

[dave]

yes oil droping on to the floor is a fail

 

[mrlk93]

by the time its MOT is due i can make it so there is no oil dripping lol. I didnt think the MOT involved tests on the box?

 

[mrlk93]

 

[DaveMcT]

The drive shaft looks dry but the bellhousing looks wet.

If both shafts are dry, its leaking from the gearbox input shaft (a more common fault). But continue to use the car and it will collapse. Sooner or later oil will get onto the clutch so the MoT wont be likely unless its towed in.

As its been run low enough to make whining noise so while a repair is possible, a new (used) gearbox makes more sense. The clutch may not be too good either as oil usually gets onto the friction plate.

 

[mrlk93]

Thanks for the advice, i thought at first that the last owner had just left the oil drain thing of coz when u fill it up its a constant trickle till i gues the oil gets low again and then its drips for a week or 2 n then i get about 2 weeks before it starts making the whirring sound, at tgat point i fill up the box. How much u recon it will be for a g/box and fitting?? Cheers. Marc

 

[Ziggy122]

When i'ev had my box's changed due to the Diff's blowing up
I paid £200 for a Box
and £160 fitting

While its off, they might go to town, clear the Drive Cups out, Box CV joints and bearing, instead of wacking in alot of grease in

Ziggy

 

[mrlk93]

Okii dokii thanks, to be fair ive had 4 months driving with the g/box like this and its never missed a beat. Gear changes are smooth and sounds perfect. Just a shame i cant get the bloody oil to stay in!!!!! Ahaaa. I do love my little punto. Got me through the harsh winter without a mirmer peed my mum of a lil bit where her 08 range rover wudnt start in the snow but the little punto was purring along ahaaa

 

[dave]

by the time its MOT is due i can make it so there is no oil dripping lol. I didnt think the MOT involved tests on the box?

it don't but does involve oil leaking onto floor, its a hazard

 

[mrlk93]

Can anyone tell me why the oil is leaking out fast rather than just spots, its like a tap lol. Where is the drain plug located, could it be leeking from there. Just a thought lol.

 

[DaveMcT]

If the drain has not been touched lately its unlikely to suddenly leak. Make sure its tight enough but not too tight as that can crack the casing.

Or as already said the input shaft seal has blown and oil is being thrown out as the car is driven. Its a much more common failure point.

 

[mrlk93]

im not sure how long its been since its been touched as ive only had the car 4 months and the gearbox has been playing up since i got it. first it wouldnt go into 3rd gear, well it would but just kept popping back out. so i contemplated the idea of getting a new box back then (wish i did, had the money) but on closer inspection by the mechanic he said the box was bone dry, filled it up with new oil, and frove home, car felt perfect, every gear was silky smooth and i was chuffed that it only cost me 24 quid rather than a new box. my exitement was short lived as i walked to the boot to get something out i spotted a line of oil all down my road!, infact the line of oil starts at the garage and follows me untill i reach my drive. i know this coz my mechanic rang me and told me he noticed it there.

is the input shaft seal the big thick pipe that connects from what looks like the wheel, if it is then this the only actual thing on the whole box that is bone dry as you can see from the pics. really confused about the whole thing. atm just havnt got spare 300 quid to get a new box lol.

sorry for the essay btw!

 

[DaveMcT]

The gearbox has input power in from the engine and clutch via a shaft and an oil seal and bearing. It has 2 outputs (driveshafts) - one to each wheel.

If the outputs are dry and there are no obvious cracks or leaking fill/drain plugs its likely to be the input shaft bearing and seal. That will often be dry until the engine is started so fits your symptoms. TBH the mechanic should have run your engine on his car lift to look for the source of leaking oil.

Easiest option is a new (used) gearbox and a new clutch as it will have got contaminated with oil.

As for costs - old used cars are cheap to buy because they are more likely to break down. Its just the way of life.