Identifying oil from 355 clutch area! | FerrariChat
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Identifying oil from 355 clutch area!

Discussion in '348/355' started by johan6504, Jun 29, 2008.

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  1. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

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    #1 johan6504, Jun 29, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have a small oil leak from the underneath the gearbox (a few drops a week now) and would like some help identifying the source. The oil is red it doesn’t smell very much and I guess it could be gearbox oil or hydraulic oil. I took a picture from underneath the gearbox at the clutch area after removing the alu plate with holes. You can clearly see the drop and its color. I am about to take the car in for service but would really like to know what it is before driving it the garage about 45 min drive from home.
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  2. mad dog

    mad dog Formula Junior

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    #2 mad dog, Jun 29, 2008
    mix it with water. brake fluid will mix. oil will not.
    have a look in brake fluid reservoir and check colour of fluid. if not red...
    however, i think that is prob gearbox oil by looks.
     
  3. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

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    #3 johan6504, Jun 29, 2008
    Thanks I will try that!
    Could it be the infamous tripple seal, would that show up in this area?
     
  4. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 PAP 348, Jun 29, 2008


    Sure would mate. I reckon it is those seals. Have a good look at what colour the brake fluid is, just to make sure. :):)

    But it looks like gear oil to me. ;);)
     
  5. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

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    #5 johan6504, Jun 29, 2008
    The brake fluid is yellow/white, this is red like a good wine and it wont mix with water.
     
  6. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 PAP 348, Jun 29, 2008

    Pull the gearbox dipstick and check the oil level. :):)

    Is your car a manual or F1 box Johan? :):)
     
  7. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

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    #7 UConn Husky, Jun 29, 2008
    +1, I bet it's the triple seals.

    How would brake fluid get in the gearbox anyway? :)
     
  8. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

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    #8 johan6504, Jun 29, 2008
    It is an F1
     
  9. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

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    #9 johan6504, Jun 29, 2008
    What abour the Clutch Release Bearing and the seals on that?
     
  10. mad dog

    mad dog Formula Junior

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    #10 mad dog, Jun 29, 2008
    Clutch.

    But yes triple seals are first port of call.
     
  11. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 PAP 348, Jun 29, 2008

    Could be triple shaft seals. Could be a leaking gasket on the housing for the TO bearing. Will have to take clutch pumpkin off to investigate further. :):)

    Brake fluid doesnt get into the gearbox itself, but when the TO bearing seals are leaking, it spews brake fluid into this area and it drips out the bottom also. :):)

    Cool cool. Was just curious. :):)



    They will leak brake fluid, not gearbox oil. :):)
     
  12. ferrarioldman

    ferrarioldman Formula 3
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    #12 ferrarioldman, Jun 29, 2008
    Being it's an F1, then more than likely it is the slave cylinder seals as the system uses ATF fluid.
     
  13. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

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    #13 johan6504, Jun 29, 2008
    On the F1 where is the slave cylinder located. Cant seem to find it in the workshop manual.
     
  14. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

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    #14 johan6504, Jun 29, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I think I am getting a little confused here...

    Is the Clutch Release Bearing the same as slave cylinder?
    Is this it?
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  15. cavlino

    cavlino Formula 3

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    #15 cavlino, Jun 29, 2008
    That is the Release Bearing that may require a replacement slave cylinder which looks like this : http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=600_519&products_id=262597

    My Wife is Swedish by the way and we visit Sweden every other year to see her family :)
     
  16. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 PAP 348, Jun 29, 2008

    Ah, cool cool!! :):)
     
  17. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #17 f355spider, Jun 29, 2008

    F1 cars should have the updated slave cylinder. 355 production starting in late 1996 production started getting the updated slave cylinder, and F1 cars started in 1998, so they should already have them.
     
  18. redryder

    redryder Karting

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    #18 redryder, Jun 30, 2008
    How can you tell if you've got the updated slave cylinder?? I've got a late 96 production run.

    Thanks
     
  19. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #19 f355spider, Jun 30, 2008

    You can record the numbers on the bottom of your transaxle, and give this info to Daniel at Ricambi America, and he can look it up. But I believe he said the cut off is not 100% accurate, and if you had a clutch job done before, it is possible it was upgraded (check paperwork).
     
  20. redryder

    redryder Karting

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    #20 redryder, Jun 30, 2008
    Thanks.....I'll have the clutch off next week and thought maybe there was a visual indicator to tell the difference.
     
  21. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

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    #21 johan6504, Aug 10, 2008
    Changed all the seals in the clutch release bearing (CRB) and on the clutch hydraulics flange (CHF) a few weeks ago and no more leaks now :) The triple seals had nothing to with the leak so I left them alone for now. It was hard to tell exactly where the main leak was but my guess is that it mainly came from one of the rubber seals behind the CHF.

    Changing the seals was a relatively straight forward and except from putting in the new in the CRB. They are directional and the largest seal has a tendency to flex out a bit making it hard to refit the CRB on the CHF, but with a little patience it all went well.

    The big question was however if the clutch would work without bleeding the system with an SD1/2 computer. Talked to both of my local Ferrari workshops and they told me the same thing; that the system would take care of that itself. All I have to do was doing a PIS self test. In the end it all worked out as they said and the clutch works perfectly and no more irritating drops of oil on the floor.

    Before starting this I was under the impression that if would be more or less impossible to do work on the clutch without and SD1/2 but I know now that it is not true :)
     
  22. cavlino

    cavlino Formula 3

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    #22 cavlino, Aug 10, 2008
    Johan, congratulations on getting this solved and thanks for sharing with us :)
     
  23. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #23 PAP 348, Aug 10, 2008
    Good to hear its sorted Johan. :):)

    Thanks for the follow up. Enjoy your 355 buddy. :):)
     
  24. johan6504

    johan6504 Formula 3

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    #24 johan6504, Aug 10, 2008
    Love this forum! Just glad to be able to share whenever I can, especially “impossible” 355 F1 problems :)
     
  25. mesoscale

    mesoscale Formula Junior

    Feb 19, 2004
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    #25 mesoscale, Oct 28, 2008
    New car, new problem

    95 6 spd.

    Just changed the T/O bearing (Hill eng. upgraded), triple seals, clutch, resurfaced the flywheel and replaced all new seals in the bell housing. I'm still leaking gear oil all over the place and it appears to be leaking out of the "cheese grater" at the base of the pumpkin. What did I miss?
     
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