13 replies to this topic

[minivictor]

Hey everyone. Over the past few months, my 1972 Cooper developed a leak. I finally had some time to clean the underside of the car in order to trace where the leak was coming from. Three days later (today), I found that the oil is coming from a cylinder-like part. I attached some pictures. In particular, this part is behind the gearbox, to the left of the passenger-side wheels (Right-hand drive)

 

 IMG_20180225_130040-min.jpg   89.95K   7 downloads

 

 IMG_20180225_130036-min.jpg   70.61K   5 downloads

 

Firstly, what is this part? --Is this a common oil leak spot? Is a fairly straight-forward repair?

 

Any advisement would be greatly appreciate! Thank you everyone!

[nicklouse]

looks more like coolant with it being green. check your water pump area.

[minimans]

GTX?  That part is called the pot joint and the seal between it and the Diff. housing is a very common leak, you could try just replacing the seal and that will work for a  time but the problem is likely to be wear in the bushings that support the pot joint in the Diff. housing side covers. Not difficult to change but will require a machine shops services unless you can obtain new side flanges.

Edited by minimans, 26 February 2018 - 04:17 AM.

[Spider]

As Nick touched on, check it's not coolant (does have that appearance). You can usually tell by it's feel and how hard it is to wash off your fingers.

 

If it is Oil, given were it is, I'd say it'll be the the Plug inside the centre of the Joint that's leaking. Easy enough to fix, but you will need to remove the Joint to do so and it would also be a good idea to clean out the grease from within the Joint and replace it while you're there as it would have mixed with the Oil.

 

The Plug that would be leaking, is similar to a Freeze Plug and is knocked out from the shaft side, I clean them up in thinners (and the joint too) and then refit them with loctite to seal them.

[MiniMoe2008]

looks more like coolant with it being green. check your water pump area.

Looks like radiator fluid to me as well. Have you tried to look above the pot joint? (The cylinder you are describing)

[dyshipfakta]

I dno some classic oil Halfords for example is green. I guess only op would know leave some card under it. Coolant will dry but the oil will leave a grease mark.

[nicklouse]

if oil i would expect much more to be seen spread over the subframe and less rust.

[phillrulz]

+1 for coolant, CV grease is green too however very thick. Give the unknown liquid a feel between your fingers.Oil should be slimy / slippery but coolant tends to a little sticky once it starts to dry on your fingers. Also my favorite test, taste. Coolant should taste chemically maybe bitter if they put bitrex in it. Oil is pretty tasteless. 

[ings]

dont taste it, both are toxic and taste super nasty.

 

Use a cup of water. oil will swimm on water and coolant will disolve in water.

[minimans]

dont taste it, both are toxic and taste super nasty.

 

Use a cup of water. oil will swimm on water and coolant will disolve in water.

Then add tea bag and sugar to taste...............................................................

[phillrulz]

dont taste it, both are toxic and taste super nasty.

 

Use a cup of water. oil will swimm on water and coolant will disolve in water.

a drip of diluted coolant wont harm you.... 

[dyshipfakta]

dont taste it, both are toxic and taste super nasty.
 
Use a cup of water. oil will swimm on water and coolant will disolve in water.

a drip of diluted coolant wont harm you.... 

The fix for ethylene glycol poisoning is jack daniels and coke. Or your preferred spirit

[phillrulz]

 

 

dont taste it, both are toxic and taste super nasty.
 
Use a cup of water. oil will swimm on water and coolant will disolve in water.

a drip of diluted coolant wont harm you.... 

The fix for ethylene glycol poisoning is jack daniels and coke. Or your preferred spirit

 

Haha, true. Shame you'd need to drink 30ml or just over a shot of PURE ethylene glycol to kill you or whatever multiple for the dilution in an engine before you die. Saying the drip is under 0.1ml thats 300 drops before you die !

[dyshipfakta]

Better to be safe then sorry though best have a jack and coke just to be on the safe side 👍🏻