Leak underneath clutch - help

Have a look at what I found today. The leak is coming from right underneath the clutch area, I haven't had a chance to jack it up to have a better look to see exactly where it is coming from. The fluid is clear (I think, it looks clear at least), and sticky, so I am not sure if it is brake fluid or gear oil fluid.

And there is a decent amount, not pouring out but at the same time more than just dripping out. I would say it so far has leaked about 50 - 100 millilitres in about 48 hours, what you see in the picture is about 1/4 of what actually has leaked.

So the golden question is, where do I even begin to tackle this?
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Looks like brake fluid to me.

Pop the hood and check the brake fluid level mate.

Run your finger through that crap on the ground, you may be able to tell what it is by the feel and smell of it.

Check out Ernie's clutch thread. That will tell you how to remove the pumpkin to investigate.

 

I am 99.9% thats your clutch thrust/slave cylinder bearing. Or as the yanks say, the throw out bearing. I bet you the seals have burst through the casting.
Simple fix really, replace the part with the Hills unit.
By the way, the clutch and brake fluid share the same reservoir on a 355, dont know about a 348.

 

Here ya go. The clutch thread.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=296274&page=6

 

Yes, also a shared system on the 348.

 

Ok guys, I am going to go outside this afternoon and check the brake fluid level (as PAP suggests) and then jack it up and see exactly where the leak is coming from, and also try to ascertain what that fluid is.

Daniel, in the event it turns out it is one of the seals in the TO bearing, I am thinking that since I have the clutch apart, can you pls send me a list of all the parts I would need to replace it? Of course, I want the Hill Eng TO bearing

 

Wow, quite the leak. There was nothing and then suddenly this much fluid??

Something similar happened to me a while back but it was a few thimbles full every other day. Turned out to only need the triple seals replaced in my case. Good luck with the diagnosis and repair.

 

Same thing happened to me, fairly easy fix...

 

Thanks Rick - that is correct, I went from bone dry to this - nothing in between.

What did the problem turn out to be with your issue?

 

There's a SLIM possibility that it's an external leak, from the metal pipe or the bleeder screw.

 

Miltonian - I am going to get it up in the air in a few hours and remove that inspection plate (perforted area that you described in a different thread) - would I be able to see that "metal pipe" from there? If not, where is it and also where is the bleeder screw?

 

Mike, look from the top in the engine compartment. On the left side, there is a braided metal flex hose that runs from the frame to the top of the transmission housing. This is where the clutch hydraulic fluid runs. It goes into the clutch bearing, then comes back out through a solid metal pipe and runs down the side of the case to a bleeder screw on the bottom. Look right at the back of the air filter housing, straight down.

You don't really have to remove the perforated panel (although it's simple). You can't really see any more by removing it. But if the leaking fluid is coming from that area, the leak is inside the housing, either the triple seals or the clutch cylinder.

 

Just reach under the car and touch that perforated plate. If it's dripping wet it's coming from inside the bellhousing probably the release bearing/slave cylinder. Smell it, if it's gear oil you'll know it. If it's thin and slippery it's brake fluid. The quantity that is leaking is almost certainly brake fluid.

 

I think I understood you - I just went out and had a look and snapped a pic of those lines you mention, I ran my hands along both of those lines and they are bone dry. I looked under once more, it is definiely coming from the perforated area, everywhere else is dry. The four nuts holding that perforated plate are soaked in this fluid also, it is dripping a drop once every 15 seconds or so.

I attached a pic of that fluid on my finger, it is a light yellowy-orangy colour, doesn't really have a strong smell to it, certainly not as strong as gear oil (I know the gear oil wreaks!!)
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Just sent you a PM with my cell. Feel free to ring me if you like this weekend. No outbound Fedex tomorrow b/c of USA holiday.

 

Slave cylinder or seals leaking, just done mine, easy if you have some mecanical experiance, buy replacement slave cylinders from Hill Engineering (UK) as uprated.

 

The leak has slowed down considerably, in the last 12 hours or so there are only three drops.

That is not going to stop me from tearing it down though, I am gonna get that bad boy under the knife within a few hours.

Wish me luck, I will post updates as soon as possible.

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Good luck !

 

+1 Good luck Mike!

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Happy wrenching Mike!

 

Mike, mine started doing the exact same thing a few weeks before my gearbox saga started, it turned out to be the tiny o-rings behind the bearing flange. It was great timing for me to replace them since I was pulling the gearbox anyway, but still a simple fix.

The o-rings cost almost nothing, and you're looking at about 2-3 hours of labor.

 

Thanks Steve.

Guess what - the leak stopped, two days ago. I was gonna tear down the clutch on Monday, but there wasn't a drop to be found. I waited another day, until yesterday, and still bone-dry. I decided to take it out for a quick run last night, about 20 miles or so, to see if the leak would start up again, but it did not leak after the run last night. I checked again this morning, and it is dry as a bone. I am vey confused, as I am not sure how a leak can suddenly correct itself. Was one of the O-Rings out of line at that time, causing the leak, and then all of a sudden popped back into its position? I don't really know, I am not technical enough to know that. I checked the fluid level, and it is almost full.

So, what do I do? Do I leave it alone, since it is no longer leaking, and simply keep a close eye on it? Or do I dig in to find out what the heck is going in there? My biggest dilemna is that I want to do the right thing, but I don't know if the right thing is to just leave it or go in and have a look? I have no qualms about getting my hands dirty to correct this, but if it is not necessary at this point I won't. I need an expert's advice on what to do....

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Keep an eye on it, you'll get another chance.

 

Tim, I was thinking the same but I am not an expert - I don't want to cause any harm or damage by leaving it alone, but if an expert thinks that I need not worry and to just leave it alone, I respect that. I just want to do the right thing. The thing that really has me stumped is the fact that it stopped leaking. Has any Ferrari sprung a leak, and then no longer leak (self-correct) without ever taking a wrench to it? If the answer is yes, then I feel at ease...but if the answer is no, then I will always feel worried when driving it.

 

I would take it apart and fix it! It will appear again and according to Murphy's law it will be at the worst possible time and place ;-)