Page 1 of 1

Gearbox / Diff /T-box breather??

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 1:44 pm
by OzoneVibe
Hi ... I've done much reading on this forum that's been very helpful ... but now for my first post.

I have a 2002 RHD (UK) Manual 3.2 DID LWB Equipe (the posh one with all the gadgets. ;) )

Under the air filter box is a pipe that's open-ended ... other than a little rubber dust cover (see pic.)

Just recently, some oil has started to be emitted from this.

It smells like diff / gearbox oil - so I'm assuming a breather for Dif/gearbox or t-box?

Can anyone confirm what this pipe is connected to and why it should be weeping?

I was lazy and came here first rather than crawl underneath, be not a lot wiser, and still have to ask the same "why" question.

Thanks

Image

Re: Gearbox / Diff /T-box breather??

Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 3:32 pm
by OzoneVibe
Anyone? Can't imagine nobody here knows the answer.
Thanks!

Re: Gearbox / Diff /T-box breather??

Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 5:55 am
by CATS
Ozone

I really dont know but know exactly which pipe you are referring to. I have also in the past stared at it and wondered what it does. I always thought it was somehow part of the braking system.

I will try and get someone to look on the worshop manual for us. You have triggered my curiosity.

CATS

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

Re: Gearbox / Diff /T-box breather??

Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 11:19 am
by OzoneVibe
Cats

Thanks.

I too initially thought brakes ... but then the metal pipes are connected to rubber pipes ... so that ruled out brakes. Indeed they're connected to the rubber pipes by just a push fit - so rules out any pressure ... as does the push-fit end cap.

The car was at the garage the other day, and up on the ramp. I tried to see where they pipes went, but the under-tray obscured any view in the brief time I had to peek.

That tray will be off any day ... it's time for an oil change and renew the oil filter ... so I should get a better look as to where the pipes go.

But that (probably) won't help me understand what they do or why I have the oil weeping out.

Re: Gearbox / Diff /T-box breather??

Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 4:43 pm
by peterpot
Is this not the vent / positive pressure side of the vacuum pump?

Re: Gearbox / Diff /T-box breather??

Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 9:16 pm
by OzoneVibe
Not certain ... obviously.

If so why would it be emitting oil?

... and where does the other end of the "vent" go to?

Re: Gearbox / Diff /T-box breather??

Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 7:54 am
by peterpot
Well if you think about it, it is a vacuum pump but remember its creating a vaccuum / negative (sucking air) pressure to operate different systems, and so it must be creating a positive (blowing air) pressure which would have to be exhausted by the vacuum pump somewhere. The vacuum pump is no doubt lubricated and the oil mist could be from the pump.
From what you described, this is logic to me, we just need confirmation from another that we are on the correct path.

Re: Gearbox / Diff /T-box breather??

Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 11:22 am
by OzoneVibe
OK - I follow that. And it's sounding good.

And this makes extra sense because, in the last goodness-knows how long I'd not used anything other than normal rear drive only .... except the day I had the car up on the jack for a rear wheel puncture, on a slight hill(!), and locked everything up and had hand-brake on and low gear engaged so that effectively the front wheels would be braked too ... and prevent the car moving whilst on the jack.
So - perhaps it blew out an accumulation of oil in the pump/pipes after a long period of non-use.

I'll have to try and not use and see if there's any continued emission, then have my head under the hood when someone goes through the selector positions and see if that causes an oil emission.

It's sounding good logic - and, more importantly, sounding like nothing much is really wrong or needs attention.

Thanks, Peter, for that useful (obvious when I think about it now) piece of logic. :)

Re: Gearbox / Diff /T-box breather??

Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 11:54 am
by peterpot
Pleasure - glad it makes sense to you too!