i have noticed a leak getting worse. oil is now accumulating and dripping off the 5 inch wide +front bar" that runs across bottom of my disco right under front seats. the whole bar is getting saturated with multiple drip points forming. any ideas on leak source? is sit safe to drive to get serviced??? oil level seems fine....
99 disco II oil leak
- Thread starter jimzigg
- Start date
ptschram
Well-known member
Grab a container of your favorite degreaser, clean it up and find the source!
It's kinda difficult to tell you where it's leaking from over the internet...
It's kinda difficult to tell you where it's leaking from over the internet...
leak update: i checked oil tonight and saw a slight move downward from full. so i got under car and looked real good with flashlight:
1) i think there was some assumption that oil was accumulating on front bar. this bar is actually just ahead of cat(?) a big muffler looking thing with "ARVIN" (meritor?) written on it. there is a bar forward of this bar so would this be more of a middle bar?
2) the leak drips on to the is bar from 1 of 2 areas. the 1st is a silver case with a sticker that says "1.211 ratio 4wd". this case hase numerous bolts on underside that appear to hold some sort of plate to bottom of it. fluid (oil?) was dripping rom nearly all of these bolts.
3) the case described in #2 connects to a cylindrical shaped thing that has a driveshaft coming out back side of it. the bottom of this cylinder also had fluid (oil?) dripping from it.
the leaks on driveway do appear to be getting worse so i just want to make reasonably sure that its not something that could result in a massive oil leak while driving.
1) i think there was some assumption that oil was accumulating on front bar. this bar is actually just ahead of cat(?) a big muffler looking thing with "ARVIN" (meritor?) written on it. there is a bar forward of this bar so would this be more of a middle bar?
2) the leak drips on to the is bar from 1 of 2 areas. the 1st is a silver case with a sticker that says "1.211 ratio 4wd". this case hase numerous bolts on underside that appear to hold some sort of plate to bottom of it. fluid (oil?) was dripping rom nearly all of these bolts.
3) the case described in #2 connects to a cylindrical shaped thing that has a driveshaft coming out back side of it. the bottom of this cylinder also had fluid (oil?) dripping from it.
the leaks on driveway do appear to be getting worse so i just want to make reasonably sure that its not something that could result in a massive oil leak while driving.
Sell it!
Or get a RAVE CD and study it really well. And if you cannot comprehend it, get good with a camera and post pics.
Or get a RAVE CD and study it really well. And if you cannot comprehend it, get good with a camera and post pics.
I have the same leak. Ive been told its the rear main seal. Get out the large checkbook for that fix, or learn to live with it. Ive chosen the latter of the 2.
Don't hate the messenger, but I saw that Barr's makes a specific "rear seal" leak stop. I think it has to be added every oil change. I'm not saying to use it or not use it, just that it's out there. I have a very slow rear main seal leak as well that seems to go away in the summer when I switch back to 20W50. Go figure.
- Bill
- Bill
Sounds like the transfer case is leaking. That thing w/ the driveshaft connected to it is the park brake drum, there is an output seal for the transfer case behind it. As for the leaks on the crossmember clean the transfer case really well then go drive it and see were the fluid is coming from. Good luck.
My D1 has been leaking for years. Just part of the joy of owning a Rover. I hate the leaking so much, I bought another one 
As for rear main seal...I think I read here somewhere that there's a simple check for the rear seal leak. There is a small metal plate where the transmission meets the motor. It's held in place with a couple of screws. If you remove the plate and there's oil in there, then it's the rear main. If not, then the leak is elsewhere.
Maybe somebody can very that tidbit of info.
As for rear main seal...I think I read here somewhere that there's a simple check for the rear seal leak. There is a small metal plate where the transmission meets the motor. It's held in place with a couple of screws. If you remove the plate and there's oil in there, then it's the rear main. If not, then the leak is elsewhere.
Maybe somebody can very that tidbit of info.
Found this in a quick search....Picture of plate mentioned above
First thing I'd do is remove that round check up cap and see if there's oil coming out of there. If no oil leaks out when you remove it, then it's not the rear main seal. If there's a little oil, you can put the cap back and try it again in a week or so and see.
So, If I get this right, there's no drips coming from higher than this???
Are you sure??? when the front gasket leaks, it usually runs along the engine on the recess, and then make it's way down to this area. When the intake manifold leaks, it runs down from behind the engine to this area. So open the hood and check behind the engine close to the firewall and see if it's wet.
Have you had any of the forementionned jobs done on your engine lately??? Could be residual oil making it's way down.
Have you pressure washed your Disco or driven in puddles of water before noticing this situation ??? Could be old residual oil leaks that were sticking to the engine's sides that were dislodged by the water pressure ( especially when pressure washing the inside of the driver's side wheelwell, where you directly spray water onto the engine)
Last question right now, is the oil found at the bellhousing, matching the color of the oil showing up on your dipstick???
You could put some dye in the oil and then use a black light to locate the leak.
First thing I'd do is remove that round check up cap and see if there's oil coming out of there. If no oil leaks out when you remove it, then it's not the rear main seal. If there's a little oil, you can put the cap back and try it again in a week or so and see.
So, If I get this right, there's no drips coming from higher than this???
Are you sure??? when the front gasket leaks, it usually runs along the engine on the recess, and then make it's way down to this area. When the intake manifold leaks, it runs down from behind the engine to this area. So open the hood and check behind the engine close to the firewall and see if it's wet.
Have you had any of the forementionned jobs done on your engine lately??? Could be residual oil making it's way down.
Have you pressure washed your Disco or driven in puddles of water before noticing this situation ??? Could be old residual oil leaks that were sticking to the engine's sides that were dislodged by the water pressure ( especially when pressure washing the inside of the driver's side wheelwell, where you directly spray water onto the engine)
Last question right now, is the oil found at the bellhousing, matching the color of the oil showing up on your dipstick???
You could put some dye in the oil and then use a black light to locate the leak.
OFFROVER is completely correct. I should have read your second post more closely. You probably have one or more seals/covers leaking on the transfer case. Mine is doing the same and I am pulling it to do a complete re-seal. Meanwhile, drip pans are our friends!
- Bill
- Bill
OFFROVER said:
exactly....I took a 10mm wrench and torqued down the bolts that secure the bottom plate to transfer case
good feedback everyone. i also took a 10MM to see if i could torque down the transfer case plate bolts but they didnt move much if at all. but its tough to get much torque in that tight space without car lifted.
i dont think its rear main seal becasue based on photo posted by lake bueller in this thread as my leak is WAY behind that point. it also looks pretty dry up there where photo area is. the drips are from the 4wd trasnfer case cover bolts and the park brake drum housing. it looks and smells like oil, but transfer case fluid is different?
what is interesting is that i just had the transfer case oil changed and then this leak developed........... not a coincidence???
i dont think its rear main seal becasue based on photo posted by lake bueller in this thread as my leak is WAY behind that point. it also looks pretty dry up there where photo area is. the drips are from the 4wd trasnfer case cover bolts and the park brake drum housing. it looks and smells like oil, but transfer case fluid is different?
what is interesting is that i just had the transfer case oil changed and then this leak developed........... not a coincidence???
also question is how much transfer case oil can i lose before i damage something driving it? is there a lot in there? how do i check level? i can smell it burning off exhaust now when i get out of car.
Who did your oil change? They should have put a synthetic 75w-90 gear oil in. It has a distinctive smell like any other gear oil. If memory serves, it takes 2-3 quarts. There is a plug on the back of the transfer case to fill and check level. On level surface, fill until you get a small stream of fluid coming out then re-intall plug. When it's cold, take a drip on your fingers. Depending on the outside air temp where you are, it should feel very thick and have that gear oil smell. If not, I might drain a little to confirm the correct fluid. If someone did it who was not familiar with Land Rovers, 4X4's etc. they might have put the incorrect oil in it. Call and ask to confirm also.
Hope that helps - Bill
Hope that helps - Bill
my receipt says EP90 gear oil. but not sure if they used same oil for diff fluids as well???? the oil does smell. looks dark not red.
also it was a land rover/jag indy shop. dont really want to call or take it back there..... moving on to more reliable source.
EP90 stands for extreme pressure 90 weight. It's a single weight rather than a multi-weight such as 75w90. As I'm still learning, slowly but surely, about Land Rovers, I will defer to the experts on it's applicablility in the transfer case and diffs. My understanding is that multi-viscosity oils offer more protection over a wider range of temps. I used Redline 75w90 in my wife's Disco and Royal Purple 75w140 in mine. This does not mean that the oil you have is not completely adequate, I just am not familiar with it.
- Bill
- Bill