Hey all.

Not too long ago I went out into the garage to get my bike out to go to work and noticed quite a bit of oil on the floor under my Bug (1966). It was more towards the front of the car mainly under the gearbox area.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't engine oil because it was quite clean and not the sooty black colour it normally is. Probably about six months ago I had the clutch replaced so I'm assuming the mechanic had put some new tranny fluid in but since the clutch replacement I haven't really driven it too much at all. Maybe about 1500 miles if that.

Where do you guys think this is likely to be coming from? The first thing I was thinking it could be is the axel boot. Maybe they have a split I can't see or something because when I squeeze them I hear air coming out from somewhere. Or is there somewhere else this could be coming from that would be more likely?

Cheers guys.

You'll know if its tranny oil, it f'king stinks.

I'm willing to bet it one of the axle boots but failing that input shaft seal is the other main place the tranny leaks

The nose cone does leak over time but it's a gradual thing, doesnt just start dripping oil one day.

Ah cool thanks mate. I am waiting for the missus to come home so I can go get some oil and stuff. Might take the boots off and see if they are split somewhere.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Joel's understating the smell... if it's trans oil you'd smell it as soon as went into your garage !!!



Take a look at where the puddle is:
- offset slightly to either side of centerline will be an axle boot (the often dribble over the frame horn also)
- centerline, but towards front of gearbox will be nose cone or maybe the drain plug
- centerline, but towards engine will be input shaft seal - it drips out of the bottom of bellhousing

To do the clutch is an engine out job... you don't actually remove the gearbox... so I doubt he would've touched the trans oil at all.

Ah I see. I did say it was a short while ago that I noticed it but now I think about it it might have been a while ago so I don't really remember if it smelt bad. Although I did have a better look at it with the wheel off earlier today and can see that it is fairly oily and wet around the base of the boot. From what I could see in there, there also seems to be a bit of a gap or something in the seam of the boot also at the base where the ring clamp goes around.

I'm pretty sure it's definitely coming slightly from the side like what Sides said. I didn't really look towards the front much at all but I don't think it looked like there was anything coming from there. Not sure about towards the back though. It is a littly oily as well but that is probably from it beeing blown back there.

Didn't get a chance to get any parts or oil today so I'll be going to get some through the week and hopefully that makes a difference.

Thanks guys!

Very good advice here, also if you overfill the gearbox marginally it promotes leaking in the axle boot/input shaft area, and put the axle boot back on with some gasket cement (if its not split) that never hurts

Oh and incase you do replace the split seam axle boots, dont make the same mistake as others have by installing them with the split seam facing up, seam flange needs to be installed facing either the front or rear of car. If installed facing up, there is no flex in the boot as the swing axle goes up & down, hence, early boot failure. If some one has allready touched on this subject, sorry. cheers Frank