newbie in need of leak help

Hi

First post and not very mechanical so bear with me. Have had a 2005 td4 for about 3 months. Came out of work tonight to find a pool (bout size of a side plate) of clear, oily liquid from under engin bay. Ran between fingers and it feels kinda like 3 in 1 oil's consistency. Mopped a bit up on a tissue and its clear and has a smell similar to gear oil but not nearly as strong. Forums pointing to brake fluid but the reservoir is at max and it looks a lot more yellow? Taken a few pics from under car - laying at drivers sidefacing into the back of the engine bay - would appreciate any input as am a little concerned if its ok to drive or not....

This is sounding like clutch hydraulic fluid to me.

Quick bit of reading later, implication being hydraulic clutch assembly has failed? Recovery to garage to sort?

If it is the clutch and it's leaking that bad you may well land up with no clutch and changing gear would be difficult to day the least.

Is this a petrol or diesel as the clutch systems are completely different - and the repair / replacement of parts is equally different in difficulty / cost.

Hopefully someone more familiar with the set up than me will be along to help soon.

Good luck.

Singvogel.

Its the Td4 diesel on an 05 plate.

Garage advising my transfer Box has a hole in it! Anyone know a decent supplier pref of second hand parts as these look a little on the expensive side!

Hi , sounds bad can you see the hole in your IRD , could the oil level/filler plug have fallen out ?

TBH I dont know. I took it to a known garage who I have used for last few years and am taking what they say on trust. <dont know if your allowed to name places on here?>

I've seen them go before and they have a habit of cracking the casings if they bang. Same with the rear diffs on these FL1's.

VCU issue?

Morning Vissie, I think you may have a point. Done a bit of reading and although I haven't dont full figure 8 tests (car stayed at garage) it was noticeably notchy when doing low speed full lock turns so suspect you may have a point. Am tempted to drop it to 2 wheel drive and bypass the VCU. Would be interested to hear from anyone else that's done this and how it was after for general driving as am more interested in eating up motorway miles than off roading TBH.

Well now onto my second leak from the new IRD! Within hours I noticed oil coming out of the back where it goes into the propshaft. One speedy seal replacement later and leak cured. Am now loosing a small amount at the front right hand side At the bottom though, not where the IRD connects to the gear box, mechanic is advising that the seal is good and cant see any fluid leaking from there? Anyone got any ideas please as both Ken from Bell & Local mechanic saying it shouldnt be leaking from there as the seals are in place and it usually leaks from gear box into IRD or visa versa? (Have got it booked in for Thursday when they are going to take the IRD back off and inspect it but would be good to be armed with a bit more knowledge)