ATF Leak

[roosmith]

I carried out a service at the weekend and noticed that I have a leak of what looks like ATF. It was dripping onto the undertray and onto the floor from there, not sure how I haven't noticed it before. It appears to be coming from an area of the engine I know nothing about and don't know what it is for! I ran out of time but couldn't work it out.

There is a pump (I think) of some sort towards the front of the engine on the drivers side. It has a metal 10mm pipe going into the bottom of it with two 10mm bolts. These were drenched in what I think was ATF (certainly wasn't engine oil). The bolts are tight but it could be coming from further up but I couldn't see, as it's all crammed in around this area. I thought the power steering was on the other side of the engine and the fluid level was on the high side of normal anyway. The auto box level was bang in the middle when warmed.

The only thing to add, although fairly confident I can tell the difference between oil and coolant, is I do have an as yet unidentified coolant leak. Every 6 weeks or so I'm having to put 50-100ml of coolant in.

As always I'll be grateful for your replies

[Fassi]

I carried out a service at the weekend and noticed that I have a leak of what looks like ATF. It was dripping onto the undertray and onto the floor from there, not sure how I haven't noticed it before. It appears to be coming from an area of the engine I know nothing about and don't know what it is for! I ran out of time but couldn't work it out.

There is a pump (I think) of some sort towards the front of the engine on the drivers side. It has a metal 10mm pipe going into the bottom of it with two 10mm bolts. These were drenched in what I think was ATF (certainly wasn't engine oil). The bolts are tight but it could be coming from further up but I couldn't see, as it's all crammed in around this area. I thought the power steering was on the other side of the engine and the fluid level was on the high side of normal anyway. The auto box level was bang in the middle when warmed.

The only thing to add, although fairly confident I can tell the difference between oil and coolant, is I do have an as yet unidentified coolant leak. Every 6 weeks or so I'm having to put 50-100ml of coolant in.

As always I'll be grateful for your replies

this is probably linked to the gear change problem?

take pictures and post on tiny pic dot com and put the link here.

[mikeWalsall]

IF .. it is gearbox fluid .. check the two fluid cooler pipes going from the gear box to the bottom of the radiator .. these pipes are prone to rust through ..

[roosmith]

Will check the pipes from cooler to trans but aren't they lower down and not run through the engine ancillaries?

[cmm303]

Could colour of the leak be a clue? Unless you're running red antifreeze!

[roosmith]

Ha funny you should say about the colour. I was just saying to the other half that she might have to look at it with me this weekend, as I'm colour-blind and not sure what colour it is! Like earlier when I said about the yellow valve that turns out to be green! Doh!

I've always got on OK identifying it by rubbing it between my fingers, to check its oil, which is why I'm fairly confident it is ATF however I was hoping someone might jump in if this was a common area to have a leak.

[cmm303]

I'm in the process of replacing all the cooling hoses. Spent a while scraping knuckles on some tricky clips on pipes that lead to the bottom of the radiator (you all know what's coming next now ) it was the muckiest coloured antifreeze I had seen, considering everywhere else it was bright green. Then the penny dropped.
How about some white material under the leak, then the other half can check the colour without getting cold or dirty?

[Simon Jones]

If the leak is on the drivers side and the fluid looks like ATF then it could be the power steering pump, pipes or reservoir that's leaking.

[Northern Bongolow]

heres the pump and pipework.

http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... 1of02.html

[roosmith]

Thanks guys. I think we've gone as far as we can without me getting under there and finding some more facts.

The power steering is still a possibility but with the reservoir full and a largish leak combined with the issue with gear change when cold, I'm going with the gearbox. Wish me luck for the weekend!

[roosmith]

I couldn't wait for the weekend, so had a little investigation tonight. I don't know whether it is good news or bad. The leak is actually fuel. It's coming from somewhere underneath the throttle assembly and on tick over is a steady drip.

I'm going to assume that is fixable but can't see how to get access. So that's not so bad I suppose.

That just leaves the warming up, holding two gear issues unresolved. I sort of hoped it was ATF and that would fix both issues!

Can't help wondering if running on veg oil has perished something?

[cmm303]

The fuel pump is below the throttle linkage and leaks are common as the seals get old. Fuel leaks tend to be worse when idling.

There are some seals which can be replaced with the pump in place with skinny fingers. If you DIY then its dead cheap. Hopefully somebody can describe where this leak would appear.

There are other seals inside the pump which require the pump to be removed, a bigger job. Most choose to replace with a refurb pump (bongospares do them) rather than replace the seals themselves. A refurb pump immediately starts the cost around £400+

When my internal seals went, it seemed to come out of a join towards the rear of the pump body ... and it was bad! I fixed a funnel going into a squash bottle under the pump to catch it. It can also leak out of the front of the pump and not be noticed.

[roosmith]

Your kind words of common fault bring some comfort

I've ordered the o ring set and gearbox sump gasket. I'll get the seals changed and change the ATF and see where we are.

I'd dearly love to have a season without any major faults but it isn't going to be this one obviously!