I think I've got a very ill zed, driving home and I notice some smoke coming past me at traffic lights, stop to investigate and I think I've tracked it down to auto box oil dripping onto the exhaust, found a fair amount on the road after she had been stood for a few minutes and it's red so I think my gearbox is bleeding. Any ideas anybody? I think this one may be beyond my skills so if you read this baggins whats your diary like?

 

The box still seemed to work fine to get me home but I wont be going anywhere for the time being. hopefully whatever has broken I will avoid a box rebuild....

1st thing is check the oil level to make sure its not been overfilled, as this causes fluid to be forced out of the breather.

hmmm could be overfilling, the oil level is right over the top of the measuring thingie. on the plus side its very clear and clean so im hoping that would indicate that the box is probably still in one piece...

 

Ive had the car four months (and done several thousand miles) and never touched the gearbox oil before so it's always been like this, any reason why it would start spilling out of the breather all of a sudden?

 

if it is overfilling whats the next step, oilchange and put the right amount in this time? or could I syphon out say a quarter of a litre at a time from the dipstick tube until i get a decent level ?

 

thanks very much for your help!! :D

I wouldn't have thought it'd suddenly start coming out after a few thousand miles if it had always been overfilled.. So, just to check..

 

When you checked the oil level, did you have the engine running? To get a proper level reading you need to have the engine running and (preferrably) the gearbox up to operating temp (the dipstick does have a 'cold' side as well that you can read if it's cold though). Then get in the car, put your foot on the brakes and run the gear selector through all the gears, finishing at P (so 1-2-D-N-P) making sure that the gearbox engages each gear..

 

Then get out and check the oil level - if you check it with the engine off or without running through the gears then you'll get a false reading as the gearsets etc will drain back into the oilpan.

 

Other than that, it could be the rear seal on the gearbox - fairly sure Timmy Turbo had that problem, and so did I - I also had the oil dripping onto the CATs.. Lots of funny looks when you pull into a motorway service area with your car appearing to be on fire.. heh :)

engine was running a should have been good and hot, just did a 30 mile burn at stupid speed up the motorway and the a quick burn through some twisties. I think I'll get the golf running again and give her a rest until i can get her in for a full service with baggings. best to avoid any major complications or breaking down I think...

stoopid question, if it is the rear seal on the box is it ok to drive for short stints so long as I keep the oil topped up or will there be a drop in pressure that will cause the box to fail?

 

cheers

Running from park to first would make no difference to the oil level, as the gearbox goes into first wether its in drive or first. Park is neutral, but with a mechanical link to stop the car moving. Your problem MIGHT be that as you had just thrashed it, and the oil does expand as it gets hot and you might have got it very hot and so it might have leaked out of the breather as a result. Heres hoping. Check the level, as has been said and short of any more leaks you might try it and see. Important that the level is correct.

Running from park to first would make no difference to the oil level, as the gearbox goes into first wether its in drive or first.

 

I'd dispute that, but regardless, that is what the manual states, here - and I know I've seen a difference in levels depending on whether I followed that procedure, or simply checked the level without engaging any gears beforehand.

 

Park is neutral, but with a mechanical link to stop the car moving.

 

Agreed (and I did already know that ;)) - I imagine the manual tells you to put it in park with the handbrake on so that nobody manages to run themselves over.. Same reason I say it - I don't want someone running themselves over and then trying to sue me for not telling them to put it in park ;)

Oh yes - what I meant to say was that I don't dispute that drive & 2nd are the same as 1st unless you're moving - reverse is a different set of gears.. Anyhow, I just go by what the manual says when it comes to procedures like that :)

 

(Just thought I'd add that, since my first reply did seem rather.. blunt.. wrote it in a hurry y'see :))

Just a thought,You sure I'ts g/box?-you could have a power steering leak.

Same 'red oil' and like you say odd it just happened!-worth checking the hicas

pipes etc,just to be sure!

HTH. :)

No offence intended, but IF I remember correctly, and I may not, reverse is actually the same gears, but clamped by the band, this causes the epicyclic gear set to "go backwards" hence reverse. Not looking for a fight, just talking.

No offence intended, but IF I remember correctly, and I may not, reverse is actually the same gears, but clamped by the band, this causes the epicyclic gear set to "go backwards" hence reverse. Not looking for a fight, just talking.

 

Right, outside, now :mac1: ;)

 

You could be right - I'm no autobox expert by any means.. I just remember the oil level on mine reading sky high - before I read the manual and checked the level the 'proper way' (at which point it read really low.. d'oh! Still, it was pi55ing out the rear seal so that wasn't a surprise ;))

 

Perhaps the idea of cycling through the gears is to open & close all the various solenoids and fill whatever oilways are down there that enable gear selection?

 

Maybe Nissan just wrote it for a laugh and my readings were a fluke :)

 

Anything's possible on a Z ;)

give us a bell David and i will have a look for ya

 

Ryan

David, mine suffers from a HICAS fluid leak. And when it gets really hot - like serious traffic jams - it starts to smoke. My theory is that it takes a long time for it to get hot enough to make it leak: upon which it leaks onto something really hot like the exhaust / turbo and we get smoke wafting out from the right hand side bonnet / wheelarch / under the car.

David, mine suffers from a HICAS fluid leak. And when it gets really hot - like serious traffic jams - it starts to smoke. My theory is that it takes a long time for it to get hot enough to make it leak: upon which it leaks onto something really hot like the exhaust / turbo and we get smoke wafting out from the right hand side bonnet / wheelarch / under the car.

 

Gio none of your Hicas or power steering lines run anywhere near your exhaust :confused: the only ones that do are at the back of the car not front

 

Ryan

Gio none of your Hicas or power steering lines run anywhere near your exhaust :confused: the only ones that do are at the back of the car not front

 

Ryan

 

Probably not explaining myself very well (thanks to the White Horse at Longford - a damn fine pub). The HICAS fluid reservoir is (I think) on the driver's side of the engine compartment

 

And I think there is a leak from one of the pipes or junctions in this area down onto something hot - or something that gets hot.

 

BTW is this the same fluid reservoir for the power steering (I know I should look it up but please see the above Whire Horse excuse :D )

Just a thought,You sure I'ts g/box?-you could have a power steering leak.

Same 'red oil' and like you say odd it just happened!-worth checking the hicas

pipes etc,just to be sure!

HTH. :)

 

 

I did think that it was powersteering but my oil is the normal golden colour a bit like engine oil type colour, gutted :( would rather have a PAS problem than gearbox! (its a '90 so doesnt have hicas)

 

I've done another 70 miles and stopped on a regular basis to check the g-box oil level and it doesnt seem to be shifting ?!?!

 

I think I actuallty saw it dripping from around the area where the back of the box should be so Im fairly convinced its gear oil. poo.

 

Thanks for all the feedback and advice guys! Wouldn't even know where to start otherwise! :bow:

I think if you blooter it when its overfilled the pressure in the box can also make the dipstick lift out of the tube a bit. The breather is just a bit of brake pipe diameter type pipe sticking out the top of the box and facing rearwards at the back of the gear box. I'm sure when its overfilled and driven hard the pressure chucks some out here that sticks to the underside of the car then slowly drips down and you only realise it when you are parked up after a hot drive.

I think if you blooter it when its overfilled the pressure in the box can also make the dipstick lift out of the tube a bit. The breather is just a bit of brake pipe diameter type pipe sticking out the top of the box and facing rearwards at the back of the gear box. I'm sure when its overfilled and driven hard the pressure chucks some out here that sticks to the underside of the car then slowly drips down and you only realise it when you are parked up after a hot drive.

 

sounds like this is the one at least I hope it is! after loosing a bit of oil the gearchange actually feels smoother?!?!? Gonna book it in with baggins for a full going over! :D

ye but the rack runs over the exhaust so it could be that?

ye but the rack runs over the exhaust so it could be that?

 

 

Talk about dig up an old thread LOL