Transmission Leak?; "oil puff" when u brake in reverse

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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dantye
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Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:00 am
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Transmission Leak?; "oil puff" when u brake in reverse

Post by dantye »

1. After replacing the transmission pan gasket, My '81 spider 5 spd. is still appears to be throwing oil onto the tunnel at the rear of the transmission. Could it be this seal? http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/index. ... ts_id=3489 If so, can it be replaced without removing the transmission, and are any special tools needed?

2. Another possible cause (if the oil can migrate that far) - I have a slow engine oil leak that accumulates over the clutch bellhousing. I suspect a valve cover leak, since the car oddly puts out a small puff of smoke from under the hood anytime the engine is hot and you back up and brake sharply. Does this make sense, or what else might cause this?

Compression tests, front-to-rear: 150, 145, 150. 137.

Thanks.
WYSpider

Re: Transmission Leak?; "oil puff" when u brake in reverse

Post by WYSpider »

Bump. I'm interested in this as well.
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dantye
Posts: 344
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:00 am
Your car is a: all gone

Re: Transmission Leak?; "oil puff" when u brake in reverse

Post by dantye »

WYSpider wrote:Bump. I'm interested in this as well.
hope this helps someone! Here is what I learned so far:
1. There was no transmission oil leak, but I will be having my mechanic replace the rubber rear transmission mount and the corded rubber "flower shaped" front u-joint buffer, which is damaged.
2. The smoke puff we first associated with oil was mostly an intermittent coolant leak. (see large photo below)
3. I tightened the rear cam bearing cover (a bear to get a wrench on!) and re-torqued the bolts on the passenger side cam housing and that reduced the oil leak a lot.

This photo shows the hose from which coolant was spraying onto the engine, particularly when engine torque-rotated and twisted the hose slightly.
Image
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