328 Leak

My 881/2 328 has developed a leak that is coming from a bolt that seems to have a spring loaded cap on the top. It is in the area of the driven gears behind the clutch on the drivers side. On Page E2 of the Ferrari manual it is located on the top of the finned boss in Figures 2 and 3. The leak continues after the engine is shut off. Is this some sort of pressure relief valve? What is this bolt/cap for and how is the leak diagnosed and fixed? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank You All! Gary

 

Not sure what area you are talking about. Can you identify it from the diagrams in this link? Click on the area of concern and a picture of that particular engine area will be exposed.

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=FE&V=model&I=35

 

Pretty sure that he means item 59 here (the gearbox vent):

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=FE&P=&V=diag&I=2401

Gary -- Have you confirmed that your gearbox reservoir is not overfilled? You might have engine oil migrating into the gearbox.

 

If Steve is correct about the area you are speaking of there appears to be a gasket (item 60) that may have failed.

 

Table 24 (Clutch and Controls), items 59,60,58,61 and 34. Transmission vent! I have driven the car for three years since purchase and it just started to leak. Why would it continue to leak after turn off? I will check to see if trans is overfilled as well as remove the vent and check the gasket. Thanks for all your help. It is nice people like you that make working on a Ferrari fun (and not too frustrating). Gary

 

Here is a wild theory: If the crankcase breather were blocked up, maybe positive pressure could build up in the sump to such an extent that it might force oil from the engine into the gearbox. The only flaw in that theory is that so much oil would need to be transferred to completely fill the gearbox that practically none would be left in the engine!
But might be worth checking anyway.

 

I just drained over 4 quarts of oil out of the transmission fill plug. It seems to be a mix of engine and transmission oil based on the color. How would engine oil find its way into the transmission? Any suggestions and possible fixes? Thanks Again. Gary

 

Via the (leaking ) shift shaft seal between the engine oil reservoir and gearbox oil reservoir. If you do a search on "shift shaft seal" and/or maybe "shift shaft seal quadring", you should get a lot good threads by the Brethren with photos.

 

4 quarts out of the fill plug, not the drain plug?
Wow! That doesnt just sound like a "normal" leaking shift shaft seal, seems the oil is being pressured through the seal.
I should have made clearer in my eariler reply that I was kind of "assuming" there was a shift shaft seal leak but that this looks like something more is going on.