Lost all gear oil today, 1991 Testarossa | FerrariChat

Lost all gear oil today, 1991 Testarossa

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by PA32Pilot, May 9, 2020.

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  1. PA32Pilot

    PA32Pilot Formula 3
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    Mar 5, 2020
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    Day 6 of Testarossa ownership and while at a stop light lots of smoke coming from the back of the car so I immediately pull into the parking lot. Never a good sign to see this.
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    Looked under and saw oil pouring out just above the driverside pre-cat. If you zoom in you can see the oil dripping.
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    Had it towed home and removed the rear cover and exhaust and I can’t find oil anywhere. The top of the header ad pre-cat are soaked.
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    I’m assuming it has to be this seal that let go.
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    Am I correct? Anyone changed this out?
     
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  2. PA32Pilot

    PA32Pilot Formula 3
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    I know gear oil preferred is Mobile 1 75w-90 but I use Redline MT90 in my Lamborghini and it really helped smooth out the gearbox. It is GL4 oil.

    Anyone use this in the TR? I have quarts of it in my garage.
     
  3. dwhite

    dwhite F1 Rookie

    If you're talking about #12, I doubt it as it's an o-ring. When I put Newmans diff carrier in my Boxer, they (one one each side) were petrified and there was no drips.

    I would gently spin the wheels by hand to feel for any binding and prey the carrier has not failed. That is the heart stopping moment in TR ownership when gear oil is pouring out the bottom of the car.

    Are both oil filters tight or an oil return line loose?

    Hope it's something silly, but that is a huge amount of fluid.
     
  4. PA32Pilot

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    Wheels spin freely, gears shift freely. I drove it to the parking lot after seeing the smoke and noticed no binding.

    It’s definitely not motor oil, it’s gear fluid you ca smell the sulfur.

    Only reason it stopped dripping was due to their being no more oil.

    First thing I thought was well that’s $20k in the first 50 miles of ownership
     
  5. dwhite

    dwhite F1 Rookie

    Fingers crossed for you.
     
  6. PA32Pilot

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    Removed gearbox drain plugs and there wasn’t 9L of fluid.

    Removed bell housing drain plug and there was maybe an ounce or oil.

    The flange seems to have a gasket? The bolts around it are wet.
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    There are no holes in the gearbox. No metal
    Pieces were in the street. No metal now.

    They only place anywhere near where the oil was dripping is that are where the axles go into the gearbox.
     
  7. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

    Aug 22, 2008
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    Look for cracks between the flange that you are pointing to and the CV joint flange

    Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
     
  8. versamil

    versamil Formula 3
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    A flood of oil is NOT an o-ring getting hard.Even if it failed, oil wouldn't pour out like your puddle. Hard to believe the source for that much oil coming out, isn't immediately apparent. Certainly in 70K miles, Shamille did the replacement carrier?? I stopped driving my 15,000 mile car until I get time to do the diff.
     
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  9. rpissm

    rpissm Formula 3

    Aug 11, 2013
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    Are you sure it's not clutch fluid?
     
  10. Shamile

    Shamile F1 Veteran

    Dec 31, 2002
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    I never did do the replacement carrier. When it went in for the major, Gabe mentioned how smooth the car was and there wasn't any noise from the diff or any leaks.

    We already had the engine out, so he would have definitely noticed if something was a miss.

    Shamile

    Freeze....Miami Vice!

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  11. Shamile

    Shamile F1 Veteran

    Dec 31, 2002
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    OP stated that there wasn't any oil in the gearbox.

    Because of the "safe at home" in Florida, I didn't drive the car for 3 weeks. Not a drop of oil on the ground.
    This is as much as a mystery to me.


    Shamile

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  12. rpissm

    rpissm Formula 3

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    The oil looks a little light and thin for 70w, that's why I thought I'd ask.

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  13. Shamile

    Shamile F1 Veteran

    Dec 31, 2002
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    Maybe because it was hot when it dumped out?
    That's the only thing I can think of.

    Shamile

    Freeze....Miami Vice!

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  14. PA32Pilot

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    I cannot see any cracks. Inspected with an LED light and mirror.
     
  15. Shamile

    Shamile F1 Veteran

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    Maybe refill the gearbox and just run the engine while it's on your lift. See if it leaks. If not, put the engine in gear, let the axle rotate and see if it leaks and where.


    Shamile

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  16. PA32Pilot

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    I know right. I thought for sure I’d get it home and be like BINGO! Tomorrow I am going to refill and see if I can find where it is leaking from.

    What is the replacement carrier?
     
  17. PA32Pilot

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    No oil on my garage either. This really happened out of nowhere, I’ve driven the car less than 50 miles. Just one of those things that happens with cars.
     
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  18. versamil

    versamil Formula 3
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    I was just rereading your ads to see if you had mentioned anything about the carrier. My car runs fine and sounds fine too, but I've detected just a couple of weird noises, in the last two drives and figure it's just NOT worth the risk. I worked on Ferraris and other cars for twenty years, and can really pick up anomalies.

    For a puddle that big, that quick, something BROKE! When the carrier breaks, it seems to take out the side cover. This probably has a crack that's not quite visible yet.A little more disassembly, get the axle shaft out of the way, so you can really examine the top of that side cover.
     
  19. Shamile

    Shamile F1 Veteran

    Dec 31, 2002
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    Some Testarossas came with a bad batch of differentials that had poor welds. The welds crack and takes out the box.

    It's very far and few between and seems to affect cars from 87-89...at least that's where I see them from. When they fail, it's at low miles as it's a bad weld. I've not seen any Testarossa with higher miles fail.

    Shamile

    Freeze....Miami Vice!



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  20. PA32Pilot

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    Where would it come from? Everything is dry except that spot. Even on the axle flange the top half is bone dry. Bottom half wet.

    On the inside there is traces of oil. Makes me think it is part 42.
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  21. PA32Pilot

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    Gotcha. I’ve looked all over this area and there are no cracks. And the oil is very concentrated in one area.

    From looking at part diagrams if it’s the seal ring I can do it without removing the engine.

    However if it’s the seal ring the engine has to come out.
     
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  22. rpissm

    rpissm Formula 3

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    The bell housing isn't too far from that spot. In the absence of an obvious gear oil leak, and considering the clutch is under pressure while you're at a stop ( your pedal was down I'm assuming) maybe the seal behind your throw out bearing burst and ran down. A quick way to check that is to look at your master cylinder - the brakes and clutch share fluid.

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  23. PA32Pilot

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    Good idea, checked the master cylinder and it’s full.
     
  24. rpissm

    rpissm Formula 3

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    Damn. Ah well, worth a shot. Good luck.

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  25. PA32Pilot

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    Before I start removing the axle and doing surgery I’m going to was a few days to see if someone who had a similar issue sees this thread. I’d had to get it all taken apart to find out I need to pull the motor. My other car is still on my lift in pieces so I can’t use it.
     

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