Oil on Clutch ?

Twiss · Post by **Twiss** » 08 Dec 2004, 22:50

My Zx has an oil leak which i have traced back to to Crankseal behind the flywheel. Over a peroid of time i have found that my gear dont always like going into gear and the clutch somtimes feels a bit slippery.
Could the oil leak cause this ? if so is there any way of cleaning that area out without taking anything apart? or is the clutch on the way out?
P.S I know little about car but not much so please explain in simple words.

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 08 Dec 2004, 22:55

Oil on a clutch tends to either cause the clutch to slip when it should be locked, or cause it to judder when you're slipping it (i.e. when pulling away from a junction etc).
You may need to check your clutch cable adjustment.

Dave Bamber · Post by **Dave Bamber** » 09 Dec 2004, 01:20

The gearbox will have to come out to change the oil seal, the clutch will have to come off and then the flywheel. I agree with Kowalski though, your problems could just be down to adjustment on the cable.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 09 Dec 2004, 13:03

You can perform a temporary repair of the leaking oil seal by using a sealant repair additive in the engine oil - something like Omega 917 (which is used by all the hydraulic digging machines, due to the enormous wear on their cylinder seals). I've used it both in the engine (front crank seal) of my XM TD12 and the LHM system and it really does work - for at least a year in my case. The additive works by decrystalising the rubber in the seals (thats what makes them go hard).
//NiSk

Twiss · Post by **Twiss** » 09 Dec 2004, 14:26

Guys i will check my clutch cable, on the oil seal i ahve used in the pas wynnes stop leak it stoped it for about a month or slowed it down at least, is that one a good make ? if the oil seal has to be replaced does the engine have to be taken apart ? i mean other then the flywheel and clutch?

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 09 Dec 2004, 14:38

Seal additives tend to make rubber seals swell, which is good if they've shrunk, hardended or worn, but for seals that haven't and are functioniny properly it can be a bad thing (think distortion). Its good for a temporary fix, but I don't like using that sort of thing in the long term.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 09 Dec 2004, 18:34

Omega 917 doesn't make rubber swell, it only decrystalizes it, so that it isn't hard (returns to its original form).
//NiSk

beezer · Post by **beezer** » 09 Dec 2004, 19:11

I have had difficulty in finding a UK supplier of said Omega 917. Seems to be popular in Sweden and Norway though! Made by a Hong Kong company http://www.magnagroup.com/products/omeg ... dis917.pdf
I tried a Lucas Oil product which claimed to do the same. Made things much worse but at least I was refunded as it said they would on the bottle.
If Omega is as good as you say NiSk and "det gir også materialet tilbake sin opprinnelige form og styrke", as they say in Norway, a friend would be keen to try it. I have contacted the company.

Dave Burns · Post by **Dave Burns** » 10 Dec 2004, 02:14

These engines can also leak oil from around the main bearing cap and not just the bearing oil seal.
Dave

PowerLee · Post by **PowerLee** » 10 Dec 2004, 02:44

The main bearing cap behind the flywheel.
This is most likely the XU engine Hockey oil seals problem, Not many non Pug / Cit mechanics know they are fitted there.
There are 2 x black rubber seals fitted inside the bearing cap, They cost less then £1 for the pair form a main Pug / Citroen dealer.
Also you need to use the correct sealent when you refit the bearing cap.
The fun parts in the fitting, New sump gasket please, lol