Fluid Leak

Can't diagnose off the internet. You gotta lift it and take off the bottom tray to find out exactly where its coming from. It may drip then run a bit before it leaves a hold in the tray. Could be any number of things... seal by oil sump strainer, etc.

 

Slide you finger on the dipstick. Does it look the same as the "clean" oil on the floor?

My W.A.G.... simply b/c I have nothing else to do except post senseless drivel on the internet is that the F1 junction block is cracked.

 

If the oil was changed recently and its clean it would be engine oil most likely. Dip your finger in it and smell it. F1 trans oil (assuming you have correct ATF in it) has a sweet smell to it compared to engine oil.

That's the best I can offer via E-diagnosis.

 

Gear oil (from the transaxle) smells really foul, it should be easy to identify (or rule out).

 

Dried hoses and seals? One of the worst case scenario would be leaking rear main seal which is apparently not all that uncommon on 360. The transmission and clutch had to be pulled to change it in my case to the tune of $2000 for labor.

 

That SUCKS!

 

I think the rear main seal was $20 and labor was $2000. I remember there being 2 seals; replaced one only with continued leak so had to redo it and replace the second. Fortunately paid only once since I wanted both replaced and the mechanic only wanted to replace the one (his reasoning being that replacing a non leaking seal can make it leak?).

I replaced some leaking lines and seals for $500 prior to replacing the main seal.

My old Porsche leaked more after engine rebuild than the 360 on its worst day but replaced everything to get it sorted out. Not sure what would have happened if I let it leak intermittently as the oil level was always exactly where it was supposed to be and I only saw drops of oil when the car sat for days without being driven.

 

Ouch! sorry to hear that Alan....

 

You can't just drive it for a bit? If its like the porsche RMS, its just a nuisance.. Is the fluid leak REALLY bad? If they have to go in there and open the tranny and engine.. they're going to have to replace the clutch anyway.. so if any oil leaks onto it then BFD. Drive it until it can't be driven.

OTOH, if the leak introduces air into the system and that leads to oil starvation, that would suck-more-er. So.. yeah It's gotta be done right.

 

As I recall the second seal was around some sort of a bolt on the bell housing near the rear main. The initial diagnosis was that the leak was coming from this bolt. He thought the rear main was OK so pulled the clutch and resealed the bolt. The leak got better but did not stop so had to pull out the clutch and replace the rear main. He said that rear main leaks are not uncommon on 360 but he was concerned that removing and replacing a working seal may make it leak because it does not seal correctly. Of course this was not the case.

When he took everything apart apparently he found some oil in the clutch housing. Clutch was OK but he thought that if the leak continued then it would eventually get into the clutch mechanism.

My clutch was basically brand new so all that labor was done just to replace the seals. Had it been anything less than new I would have replaced the clutch. Whoever replaced the clutch should have addressed all the seals at that time!

 

If it were me with the camshaft seals, I'd ask how bad is the leak and is it weeping onto the belts or is it just runnign down the side of the block?

If its going to trash the belts, change it out. If it were a slow weep I might personally consider holding off until I do my belts. You basically remove the belts, take the cam covers off and then change them out. You might have to remove the upper frame for better access.. Maybe.

 

I guess I got a good deal on my repair although it didn't feel like it at the time. I half regretted having it done since it didn't seem to be absolutely necessary but then again it was nice to have a perfect car.

 

That is in the ballpark. I have records from previous owner of my 360 showing rear main seal was replaced and I recall it costing around that.

On the cam seals, I had mine done with timing belts last year. They weep from time to time and are a routine maintenance item on these cars.

 

I would be surprised if the oil had not contaminated the clutch already by the time you see oil leaking.

I would be inclined to drive it until the clutch got worse since I would be scared to pull the gearbox for the rear seals and not do the clutch at the same time.

 

That would actually be my approach as well, personally..

 

Fluids are more than $100....i spent $150 on engine oil alone during my annual. Tranny, coolant, brakes, are more money and another $50 on filters, etc.

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