Leaky Diff/gearbox

[Tay]

Hi all,

I have a 03 1.8 vvti. This morning I noticed a wet patch on the driveway, which seemed clear and quite watery but smelled oily.

I had a quick look under the car and there is quite a lot sludge and dampness around the diff but I can't tell where its coming from.

Do the diff and gearbox share the same oil on my car, and is this something to worry about?

After a day at work there was nothing where I had been parked.

Cheers

Chris

[Druid Boy]

In my (limited) experience, gearbox oil usually stinks. Gearboxes and diffs do usually share the same oil on front wheel drives but I cannot state that the Avensis does with 100% certainty. It may be worth checking your brake fluid level (1) to eliminate it as a possible cause (2) just in case. Has the wet patch dried up (probably coolant or air con condensation) or is it still there (indicating an oil)?

[Tay]

Hi there, thanks for the reply.

The patch is still on the drive, I thought the same.

Its quite a big patch too, more than a few drops. Thought it was odd it didn't leak any during the day..

I did have the gearbox oil changed last year, so I doubt its got really low in that time.

,,in

[Druid Boy]

I suppose the first thing to do is get under there, give it a good spray with a degreaser and then wash it off - or pop to your local petrol station/car wash with a pressure washer and clean it off there. Saves making a mess at home. I degreased my transit at the car wash - at least that way the oil and crud is contained in the traps rather than running off into the water course.

Once its cleaned up have a look and see if you can find the source of the leak. Then I guess its quotes from your trusted mechanic.