Rear Gearbox Seal?

[strickerz]

Hi all, got my FD about 1 1/2 months ago and it\'s been a great experiance. In that time done about 800 miles... I drove it to see mate in Wiltshire yesterday and when I got to his house noticed smoke coming from under the bonnet... popped it and some smoke came out and then as I left the car running it got slowly worse..

Anyhow after a bit of investigation it looks like the Gearbox oil was dropping onto the cat/exhaust and being drawn up through the engine bay...

I need to get back to london tomorrow... question is do I relay it or risk driving it... I know that only a little oil can produce huge amounts of smoke... So what do you guys think?

Thanks for the advice in advance...

[banned advertiser]

Geez, that a hard one, a small amount of oil does a lot of smoking, but oil on a very hot cat also catches fire.
I think if driven slowly so cat does not get to hot and the oil leak is not so great that you lose it all on the way an bugger your box you should be OK. The oil moving around when moving will possible have less chance to leak. But YOUR gamble.

[strickerz]

Cheers for the advice mate... Still thinking about it... Problem is that if I decide to get it relayed somewhere I need to get it to a garage aswell because the AA will only relay once... so question is where too and who can I get hold of today or tomorrow to arrange...

Thats the problem with a weekend car if it goes wrong at the weekend theres nowhere to get it fixed...:Yawn

[kev-yorks]

If you\'ve a set of ramps the rear seal is a diy job if you\'ve a few tools. Depends a lot on how confident you are though. Personally i\'d drive it home as gear oil will not burn easily makes lots of smoke and stinks though! But that one can only be your call as your the one that can see how bad the leak is.
Kevin

[strickerz]

Stinks is an understatement!!!! hehe... Well the mate I\'m with is handy with a spanner.. so... anywhere around bristol/bath I could get a seal does anyone know?

[kev-yorks]

Pretty sure its Mazda only and there not that cheap either.
Kevin

[strickerz]

bu**er!... looks like I\'ll risk the drive as it\'s not left a mark on the drive way, may have collected on the heat shield though... Guess i\'ll be giving Clive a call when I\'m back in Bromley then!!! Thanks for the help everyone!!! :god :Thumbsup!

[banned advertiser]

Give Ross a call he is your nearest dealer to Bristol 01404 891888

[strickerz]

Hi all, Thanks for the help with this yesterday everyone!!!! just to let you know I drove it home... kept below 3000RPM and not a sign of a problem... Will be going to the Garage asap... Thanks again everyone.