Club 80-90 Forums

Could someone enlighten me please. Van started leaving a little puddles like a puppy before toilet training. Happens after a longer drives. I've narrowed it down to a black cylinder under the engine. Would that be an oil pump?
Clutch is on the way out anyways so it's good opportunity to do both.

Thanks

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pOvId3 ... p=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12VGJad ... p=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1chvJxW ... p=drivesdk

Can't access the pics. Use a photo hosting hotlink.
A "black cylinder under the engine" sounds odd. Pushrod tube? There are four each side and you shouldn't be able to see them as they should be covered by tin guards.
The oil pump is central, below and behind the crankshaft pulley.

Searched through Google lense. It comes up with motor starter pictures which makes sense shape and location wise.

Posting on a phone at the campsite. Will try to work out photo upload when back home

Cheers

Gmail received. Yes thats your starter motor. The engine/transaxle joint looks quite oily so it may be that the crankshaft/flywheel seal is leaking.
It is flinging oil out, off the back of the flywheel.
Quite common but also a big job for the inexperienced.

The oil is leaking before the starter motor. Clean it up with brake cleaner and get another look.
Could be crankshaft seal, could be something else. Needs cleaning up and checking again.

Ah ok thanks for that silverbullet and mioba

Will clean it up just to make sure before taking to the garage. I think I'll leave to professionals this time.

Clutch is slipping like mad, I guess could be well oiled by now?

If the clutch is slipping like mad then its proabably soaked in oil so replace that with a new one as well. The engine main seal is probably shot or the input shaft seal on the gearbox could have gone, but youd get a fairly rancid smell from the oil if that was the case as trans oil stinks.

Stesaw wrote: ↑19 Jul 2026, 11:26 If the clutch is slipping like mad then its proabably soaked in oil so replace that with a new one as well. The engine main seal is probably shot or the input shaft seal on the gearbox could have gone, but youd get a fairly rancid smell from the oil if that was the case as trans oil stinks.

Thanks Stesaw

Yeah everything's pointing to those seals. Probably not gearbox, smells like standard engine oil.

Booked into garage, don't think it's something I can do on the drive by myself