series 3 bellhousing oil

just pulled the shagged engine out of my series 3, and I see the bellhousing is covered in black powdery fluff which turns to smelly black oil when touched. the clutch was fine and looks dry I don't think the crank seal has let go, so I wonder if there's a bad seal on the gearbox input shaft? would it be an idea to change it anyway at this opportune time?

scringewobbler said:

just pulled the shagged engine out of my series 3, and I see the bellhousing is covered in black powdery fluff which turns to smelly black oil when touched. the clutch was fine and looks dry I don't think the crank seal has let go, so I wonder if there's a bad seal on the gearbox input shaft? would it be an idea to change it anyway at this opportune time?

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powdery black stuff is dust from your clutch plate ,gearbox front bearing housing probably leaks a little and probably input shaft seal ,depends on how bad leak is

Gear box oil smells like cats Pee engine oil does not so sniff and see.

Olfactory issues notwithstanding i am more likely to suspect that this is reasonably normal - clutch plate leavings and the bit of oil from the rear seal of the engine.

Are you replacing or rebuilding the engine? If so a rear seal is in the cards when you have it apart, of course. With a IIA there is no seal per se on the input shaft - ther is a scroll to keep the oil in the box when running, but no seal. if the truck was parked up nose down with a full-is hearbox it might have leaked out through the throwout bearing centre a bit, but I wouldn;t worry too much about it.

ajr