New owner (today) - Leak, smokes when hot... help!!??

[adamrogers3091]

Hi all,
 
Collected my REX today which was wicked, turns out it has a leak, albeit a small one. The fluid (oil I think) seems to be leaking different places, lots of little drip marks coming from the middle of the underside, starting about 1 and half feet from the back wheels. The dripping is central and covers an area of about half a foot.
 
After driving on full boost the car started to smoke from the area once I\'d arrived at my destination and then again later on whilst in traffic. Smells a lot too (why I think its oil)
 
I know I haven\'t explained this very well  and I\'m not incredibly mechanical myself so If anyone can help and offer some advice I would be really grateful.
 
Still a good day as I now have my RX7 but not perfect because of the above as I\'m sure you can imagine!!!

[shaunwil]

Could be a bad seal on the diff if its the back wheels. Need have a look under quick to check you have oil in the casing of the diff or it will be toast.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Rotaries

Shaun

[adamrogers3091]

Thanks Shaun, can you expand on how and where I need to check? The leak seem pretty much central but if anything it is closer to the rear wheels. quite a large area of the underside seems like it is wet or has been. as I mentioned I\'m no mecchanic... lol. Is this a commen problem then?

[FD3S Efini]

If its the diff it should be easy to check (im no mechanic but il explain the best i can lol) if you jack up the back of the car and you should see where both the rear wheels go into the diff, its a big metal unit quite easy to recognise,
 
if i remember rightly it should have a drain bolt near the bottom and another bolt near th top to fill it, (very similar to a gear box) if you undo the top bolt and dip something in to see the level, (could probably use your finger just be carefull) the oil should be almost level with the bolt hole you undid if you cant feel any sort of oil then you should fill it (you will have to ask someone what type of oil to use).
 
I think this is all right as it is very similar to a gear box when filling and draining, i think thats all for the diff but if iv missed anything or have made an error no doubt someone will correct me...hope this helps mate.
 
Kris

[FD3S Efini]

as for checking the seal just clean up the diff and see after a few hours if anything has leaked...almost forgot that bit lol
 
Kris

[ro284]

Hi Adam , Real sorry you have this problem, there has never been any sign of a leak anywhere on my posh drive from this car, The car has been stood for a while, but i have been running the engine, while it was sorned off road for a time, and no sign of any problem anywhere, i was very sad to see her go, i never changed the oil in the diff because of the low mileage, but did engine and gearbox of course, if it is a diff seal or similar (as has been suggested) i would have thought there would be an horrendous whining noise or grumbling, but dont know, sorry you have this problem, but if it helps i am more than willing to come to yours and have a look at it for you, i do want to know exactly what has happened, however i have to go to hospital tomorow, maybe later this week, could you let me know please,
Bob

[RobMatthews]

I guess your looking at the wrong end! I only say as when i had my tt the oil drain from the turbo hadn\'t been connected properly had oil all over the underside of the car.

check the oil drain plug is done right and was a new copper washer used? same with the gearbox did the old copper washer get used or replaced?

[FDAsh]

I\'m with Rob on this one. I think it\'s your rear engine oil seal leaking, not the diff. I wouldn\'t be surprised if you started having slipping clutch problems soon. The fact the car has been stood for a while lends itself to this, as the rubber will have hardened and cracked up, letting oil past when the car has started being driven again

Mine went, it leaked through the gearbox bell housing, and sprayed backwards as I was driving, covering the entire underside of the car and then dripping when I came to a stop.

The rubber seal sits in this hole, around the eccentric shaft. Gearbox, propshaft, exhaust and other things in the tunnel will have to come out.



Hope that helps. Get it up on a ramp and have a good look.

[adamrogers3091]

Thanks for aall you help guys, a little update after leaving over night is that I think the oil is coming further from the front now, towards the passenger side if anything... guess that changes things??
 
Getting it up on a ramp tomorrow to have a proper look, oil level doesn\'t seem to be going down but saying that it\'s not leaking a huge amount.... but enough for anyones liking

[FDAsh]

Sounds just like mine, will probably be all over the engine subframe, and everything from the gearbox back. Though it sounds like it\'s just started, so you might not have a big slick like mine

[ro284]

As i said Adam in my text, and when i saw you, i knew i spilt some oil when i changed the oil pressure sender, i didn\'t realize so much oil would come out from there,fitting the new sender was very tricky, and difficult to even see, so i guess there is a a pool of oil down under the engine that i couldn\'t get to mop up. as i said, and it\'s blowing towards the back, your trip home is the longest run the car had had since Brooklands meet, year before, if only these cars came with a garage pit! The oil level is always right depending on the running the car gets of course, the only oil that gets used is what the omp takes, any serious leak would obviously cause the oil level to drop, which you say has not happened, when the car was stood the engine was run regularly up to temp,
cheers Bob

[adamrogers3091]

Well obviously I am hoping that\'s the case and it is just where the new sender has been fitted. Getting it on a ramp tonight to check and get the underside of the car steamed so it\'s nice and clean again. Unless we do find a leak at least it will be nice and clean for me to monitor over the next few days.

[adamrogers3091]

Right got someone to have a look and we\'re pretty sure there is a leak, seems to be coming from quite high up somewhere around the dipstick area. My chap is speaking to RE:Worx to order a couple of parts (O-rings etc) to try and get it fixed. Soon hopefully!!!

[rx-dave]

There is a black oil pipe (sorry to sound so vague) on the front passenger side of the engine that has copper washers in the joints, mine were leaking on a previous car. New washers fitted and all the leaks stopped, a nice cheap fix :cheers
Dave.

[adamrogers3091]

rx-Dave, I reall really really hope thats my problem!!