Hi everyone,

Oil has recently started dripping from this spot (circled):

(that picture was taken before the oil started dripping there, but I don't have a more recent photo)

It's coming from somewhere at the back of the engine, generally following the path of bolts that the red line goes through.

It's only recently started leaking from here, but I don't know what I've done to cause it. I know it didn't leak before I changed the oil, but that's about it.. I think I first noticed the leak soon after driving down the driveway a bit faster than ever before (probably about 15km/h ).. but also soon after I put the front up on stands for the first time after changing the oil - those are the only two things I can think of that might have caused it though. I don't know if it helps, but the leak is a lot faster when the front is up on stands (I assume this is just because it is leaking from somewhere at the back of the engine, so there's more pressure when the front's in the air).

I've had a look around, and I *think* the leak is coming from the place where the speedo cable goes into the gearbox - I can feel a lot of fresh oil around the bolt (or whatever it is - I can't really tell by touch), and can't feel any above it (although I had a bit of trouble getting my hand that far).

Is this a common place for oil leaks? and if so, how difficult would it be to fix?

Does anybody have other ideas as to where it might be coming from?

Cheers,
Harry

There is a tiny oil seal in the speedo drive housing that seals around the cable drive shaft. See John and Mini King thats when I got mine.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

It's natural however for oil to drain down to the lowest point,and that's one of the common points for many oil leaks to end up. Changing the speedo cable drive seal could take a while, so its worth ensuring its the right gasket to change.

Its easiest to wash the engine in degreaser and then drive it for a day or two. This gives the back of the engine a clean slate so you can follow the oil stream back to the source like you would follow a line of ants.

It can seem a little difficult, but look carefully down the back of the block to see if perhaps the oil leak comes from up higher. Common points are the back of the rocker cover, the rear tappet covers below the manifold, or the fuel pump gasket and timing cover. Could also be the half moon seal.

Did you spill any oil when you filled it up in the oil change? it can take a while to migrate down to the lowest point on the engine.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

just call it a love drip and mark your parking spot.

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

I confirmed that it was coming from where the speedo cable goes into the gearbox, so I bought a new seal and removed the drive housing. I'm in the process of trying to remove the old seal, and having some trouble.

There's a thin metal ring inside the threaded section of the drive housing, and the seal seems to be inside this ring. The problem is that the seal is attached pretty firmly to this ring, so I was thinking perhaps the ring is part of the seal (and there's some more seal that I can't really see between the ring and the threaded bit of the drive housing). The problem with this theory is that the ring seems pretty firmly attached to the drive housing too...

Should I just be trying to remove the rubber inside the ring? or should I be trying to get the whole ring out?

Cheers,
Harry

It is a metal cased seal.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks

I used an easyout to get the old one out

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!