John E Posted October 14, 2001 Share Posted October 14, 2001 Did an excellent track day yesterday and only one problem, oil coming out of the g/box. Level is correct as confirmed by removing the filler/level plug but under hard driving conditions oil appears on the top of the box and some has found its way into the passenger footwell presumably via the same route. If the level is correct then should this happen. There is a breather hole on top of the box in what looks to be an inspection plate. The box is a four speed Ford on a live axle crossflow. I suspect that its of the Escort variety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taran Las Posted October 14, 2001 Share Posted October 14, 2001 John, I have a 5 speed - on the top plate a small diameter pipe has been brazed to the breather hole to direct the excess oil down the side of the box. Simple fix. Glad you enjoyed Anglesey - I'm convinced it was built for 7 type cars :-) Regards Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Posted October 14, 2001 Author Share Posted October 14, 2001 Anglesey was fantastic. Elise's and Exige's no problem, my 1700 x flow was superb and appart from the oil and a loose battery tray (my fault) ran well all day. Should there be any loss of oil though, if I fitted a breather pipe that used gravity as its means of retaining the sticky stuff would this be wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanteam Posted October 15, 2001 Share Posted October 15, 2001 If the gearbox has the integral bell-housing, then forget my comments, if not has the remote worked lose? We have the 3-rail Cortina 4 speed boxes and the remote comes lose and oil appears as you describe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Posted October 15, 2001 Author Share Posted October 15, 2001 I'm not sure. I recall that when I took the engine out last year there were effectively two gear levers.connected by a remote assembly consisting of two metal bars plus a variety of other bits. I think that the box and bell housing are separate bits on my car. The oil is almost certainly coming out of the breather hole which is in a thin metal plate at the front of the box. This plate is held on by either 6 or 8 bolts. I'm wondering if there is wear in the gears, first to second can sometimes crunch a little and it goes in very easily. This may allow an increase in pressure build up, or so I've been told. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanteam Posted October 15, 2001 Share Posted October 15, 2001 The breather on the 3-rail was a special bolt holding the remote. Not a good solution and the one you have is better however the size and height of the pipe maybe such that oil can be thrown out when the gearbox has got a bit hot(viscosity of oil). I would extend the breather with a bit of pipe. I put a breather into that cover using brake connectors, I then took a piece of solid brake pipe and bent it up and then down under the car. At least if oil comes out it dissappears! Gear crunch normally is worn syncro-rings ( apart from clutch problems ). With the 3-rail 3 and 4 syncros seem to go first with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Turner Posted October 15, 2001 Share Posted October 15, 2001 I suspect that nothing is wrong with the box just that with track use the oil gets thrown about and comes out of the breather (and makes a nice smelly mess including that in the passenger footwell). The only long term problem is when the oil causes the gearbox rubber mount to come apart, the sound of the prop uj trying to join you in the cockpit as you corner hard is a joy to behold. I have had a breather brazed to the lid where the small hole was that takes a 1/4" hose and have routed it to the oil catch tank. It has worked fine for about 6 years now but you don't get the free rust treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted October 15, 2001 Share Posted October 15, 2001 If you route such a pipe into the bottom of a dedicated expansion tank (favourite is a small brake fluid reservoir) the oil can get thrown out and then get sucked back in as the gearbox cools. A gearbox does not generate fumes and need to breathe in the same way as an engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julians Posted October 15, 2001 Share Posted October 15, 2001 Whilst we're on the subject of gearboxes, how easy is it to change the oil in a quaiffe internalled type 9, I dont think it has any special breathers or anything (but I've not looked too closely), so can the oil be changed without taking the box out, if so whats the procedure. Thanks Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted October 15, 2001 Share Posted October 15, 2001 John, If you follow Peter's advise make sure you have two expansion tanks one for the engine and another for the gearbox because the gearbox will fill with engine oil from the common expansion tank. Julians, If you really want to change the oil from the gearbox while it is still in the car then drill a hole in the lowest part of the gearbox. there is a flat part at a +/- 45° angle from groundlevel with a pneumatic drill you drill a hole of 6.75mm, the oil will prevent that any metal will enter the gearbox i know it is a bit messy. Put some M8x1.25 thread in and all you need is a bold with copper washer and you can change the gearbox oil whenever you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red SLR Posted October 15, 2001 Share Posted October 15, 2001 John, are you going to ring me about the rain x or what???? X777CAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Turner Posted October 16, 2001 Share Posted October 16, 2001 The pipe from the gearbox enters the catchtank at the top therefore there is no chance for engine oil to get into the gearbox. Since the top of the catchtank is approx 6" above the top of the gearbox gear oil does not get into the tank, its only a vent, any oil that enters the pipe runs back into the box. I have a dipstick in the box and after 3 years the level has not dropped and the area around the box is free of oil. A second tank is an alternative especially if the engine breaths a fair quantity into the tank. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Posted October 16, 2001 Author Share Posted October 16, 2001 Thanks everybody. I have a couple of tasks to complete now. Breather pipe and catch tank and maybe a replacement g/box mounting. Cant remember whether the engine has to come out to replace the mounting, any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Turner Posted October 16, 2001 Share Posted October 16, 2001 If you used the Caterham supplied hex head 12mm mount securing bolt you will probably have to remove the box, hint use a 12mm cap head as this makes life much easier, the tool will access the cap head through the hole in the x-member. With the cap head its not too difficult to change just tedious to get sockets etc. on the bolt heads down the tunnel, lots of arms is helpful plus plenty of socket extensions. Then jack up the box sufficiently to remove mount. The above is assuming the car has a floor that extends under the tunnel, its far easier on the de-dion without the tunnel floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashaughnessy Posted October 16, 2001 Share Posted October 16, 2001 I don't remember having any serious trouble replacing the gearbox mount on four speed live axle - just jacked up the engine after unbolting it from it's mounts, and it wasn't too difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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