Input Shaft Seal Leak

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heylinb4nz

656 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#168601 19-Mar-2015 14:57

My 2007 Colt Ralliart has a small leak on the input shaft seal (gearbox) approx 100ml every 6 months. I have a new seal at home and will eventually drop the box to replace it ($600 job) as I intend to keep the car for a while.

Ive been looking at Rislone Transmission Stop Leak as an option to see if I can swell up the seal a fraction to stop the leak since its so small, other than that the gearbox is fine with only 90,000 kms on it.

Anyone ever used this product with success ?? or am I asking for further problems ???

I was a bit worried when I asked Smits Group technical people if it would adversely affect my viscosity (ie thicken the fluid) and they replied "no it will actually improve it" LOL improve it from what ?? the recommended 75W90 which it already is.

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vocus

#1262509 19-Mar-2015 15:01

I tend not to trust additives to actually fix faulty parts like this. I have had bad experiences with "stop leak" type products actually clogging things up which they shouldn't.

The "right" way is to replace the faulty part. Who knows what else that additive will do to the gearbox?

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek

#1263667 19-Mar-2015 19:50

Don't do it. You will only hasten the demise of the rest of the seals. Replace the seal. When I had my Mitsi lancer I replaced the manual gearbox oil with AT fluid ( it's viscosity is lower), as the synchros were rather slow especially on a cold morning.

Gozer

184 posts

Master Geek

#1263712 19-Mar-2015 21:48

Some additives are good, stop leak types though are a complete lottery and depends more on the design of the gearbox than the oil. Some gearboxes are happy at a wide range of viscosities others aren't.

Equally unhelpful I have replaced a few seals leaking as you describe and they often continue to leak, some times it is the seal but usually leaky seals leak leaks more than a slow seep. A slow seep can be a scratch on the shaft or slightly more play in the shaft than normal.

heylinb4nz

656 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1263714 19-Mar-2015 21:58

Gozer: Some additives are good, stop leak types though are a complete lottery and depends more on the design of the gearbox than the oil. Some gearboxes are happy at a wide range of viscosities others aren't.

Equally unhelpful I have replaced a few seals leaking as you describe and they often continue to leak, some times it is the seal but usually leaky seals leak leaks more than a slow seep. A slow seep can be a scratch on the shaft or slightly more play in the shaft than normal.

So at 100ml every 6 months im best just to jack up car every 6 months and top up. $40 for 1l of redline, shoyld last 5 years.

Gozer

184 posts

Master Geek

#1263717 19-Mar-2015 22:05

I would only be worried about the oil contaminating other areas, for example if it was getting on the clutch or exhaust etc.

If its not causing any other problems just ignore it, and top it up every now and again.

Jase2985

13459 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#1263773 20-Mar-2015 05:50

for the most part have not heard good things about redline

dickytim

2514 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1263775 20-Mar-2015 06:27

heylinb4nz:
Gozer: Some additives are good, stop leak types though are a complete lottery and depends more on the design of the gearbox than the oil. Some gearboxes are happy at a wide range of viscosities others aren't.

Equally unhelpful I have replaced a few seals leaking as you describe and they often continue to leak, some times it is the seal but usually leaky seals leak leaks more than a slow seep. A slow seep can be a scratch on the shaft or slightly more play in the shaft than normal.

So at 100ml every 6 months im best just to jack up car every 6 months and top up. $40 for 1l of redline, shoyld last 5 years.

In short... yes.

learnt the hard way not to chase oil leaks :)

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heylinb4nz

656 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1263840 20-Mar-2015 09:14

Gozer: I would only be worried about the oil contaminating other areas, for example if it was getting on the clutch or exhaust etc.

If its not causing any other problems just ignore it, and top it up every now and again.

Clutch is fine, holds very well and the car is putting out well above its stock power. It does track back onto the front B pipe and makes some interesting smell when stationary but I have it decatted anyway so it typical smells like a proper fingers up to the environment car should do.

heylinb4nz

656 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1263844 20-Mar-2015 09:17

Jase2985: for the most part have not heard good things about redline

Really ? when I had my MR2 it was the only thing that would stop the 3rd gear crunch, i've nothing but smooth shifts with it. I hear Amsoil make a good one as well.

heylinb4nz

656 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1263848 20-Mar-2015 09:34

dickytim:
heylinb4nz:
Gozer: Some additives are good, stop leak types though are a complete lottery and depends more on the design of the gearbox than the oil. Some gearboxes are happy at a wide range of viscosities others aren't.

Equally unhelpful I have replaced a few seals leaking as you describe and they often continue to leak, some times it is the seal but usually leaky seals leak leaks more than a slow seep. A slow seep can be a scratch on the shaft or slightly more play in the shaft than normal.

So at 100ml every 6 months im best just to jack up car every 6 months and top up. $40 for 1l of redline, shoyld last 5 years.

In short... yes.

learnt the hard way not to chase oil leaks :)

Could possibly look at putting an AN fitting in place of the filler bolt and running some oil hose (with a brake fluid type resivoiur from wrecker) upto to high point in engine bay, means I could top it up and monitor level. I'm picking manual fluid doesn't run at any great pressure ?

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek

#1264025 20-Mar-2015 13:21

You would need to put the reservoir at the same level as the filler or you will pressurise the box and cause some early seal failure...

TonyR1973

199 posts

Master Geek

#1272657 29-Mar-2015 00:44

heylinb4nz: Could possibly look at putting an AN fitting in place of the filler bolt and running some oil hose (with a brake fluid type resivoiur from wrecker) upto to high point in engine bay, means I could top it up and monitor level. I'm picking manual fluid doesn't run at any great pressure ?

You can't monitor the level in the gearbox from a reservoir that is higher. You'll just over fill it, especially quickly if it's a vented box.