[Non Corsa] Astra H oil on gearbox

[Baronoli]

Hey everyone,

I have an Astra H 1.6 2008 Design. I looked underneath the car today just to have a few checks before work and saw a bit of oil on the very tip of the gear box; the bit where the bolt goes through at the bottom.

I don't really look there much to be honest, but when I wiped it it was mostly just dirt and a bit of liquid, golden ish like engine oil. I check the dipstick weekly, not a change in oil at all and nothing is running down the gearbox from what I could see. There are also no patches anywhere where I park my car.

Are the gearboxs just a bit greasy in general or are there any areas that are prone to leaking on them?

Thanks!

[Taurus]

That's the point where any sort of oil leak tends to drip from. I've got a Corsa 1.2 at the moment which had a new timing chain before the the guy bought it. The muppet who did the job forgot to refit the four bolts running from the sump to the lower end of the timing cover, so the whole side of the sump furthest away from the gearbox is leaking. The oil is still dripping of that part of the gearbox.

If it's golden coloured then it's probably just a very slight engine oil weep, or even just a slight amount of spillage from topping up. Given how slight it seems then it's nothing to worry about.

[walksall]

As this oil is clean looking, there is a chance that it is gear oil, if it re appears, wipe it with your finger and have a sniff at it, if it has a strong, peculiar smell, it may well be gear oil, even so, it doesn't sound to be a serious leak, but it may still be worth checking the gearbox oil level.

Regards.

[Baronoli]

[Baronoli]

Had the local garage check it, from a 5 minute check he said it could be the fly-wheel seal, but will check it on Tuesday. Said it isn't a small job if it is, but he will fully check it Tuesday.

[Taurus]

5 minute check = bit of a guess. The fact that any oil leak from anywhere ends up on the lowest part of the engine hardly warrants suspecting the flywheel seal. Of course there's a chance it could be, but then you'd have clutch issues - either judder, or it would stick in first & reverse gears.

If it is as slight as you describe then it's nothing to worry about. If you want to be on the safe side just keep and eye on it and check engine and transmission lube levels regularly.

[Baronoli]

Thanks as always Taurus. I've had no problems in any of the gears, none sticking at all.

Only thing what has surfaced now is a starting problem. I had my trip computer activated by someone off the AOC forum. He cleared my stored codes and asked if I had a starting problem, I said no as it's always started beautifully. Today it wouldn't start, cranked and stayed at 200rpm, had to rev it to get going. By reading some of the old threads I'm thinking crankshaft sensor, as the plugs were changed back in Janurary, it's not misfiring or throwing up codes. I've been advised if it happens again to switch the yellow relays around to see if it makes a difference.

Alas, I thought having a newish car would be more trouble free. Sods law I guess.

Thanks again!

[Taurus]

The newer ones are more of a pain in the bum to be honest. Those have a common issue with the steering column module which usually shows as poor starting - if the guy who activated the trip computer spotted something pointing to that then I guess that's why he mentioned starting problems.

[Baronoli]

The newer ones are more of a pain in the bum to be honest. Those have a common issue with the steering column module which usually shows as poor starting - if the guy who activated the trip computer spotted something pointing to that then I guess that's why he mentioned starting problems.

The UEC and the CIM were changed back in April, Vauxhall and my warranty covered that thankfully... Could it still be that, even though it was all changed?

It's been fine since though, started first time about 20-30 times now. From cold and hot... Weird.

[Baronoli]

Well, as always you were right, Taurus. He told me it's not much to worry about at the moment, it is a seal what has gone but told me it's so slight. I'm going to get it sorted in January when he services it, I'll have more money then and wont have to worry about not having transport to get into work!

As for the starting issue he checked the computer and the code isn't there now, so happy days so far.