Leaking gbox tail seal - leak stop?

madcjd · #1 17th April 2014, 08:14 AM

Hi all.
After recently finding a couple of oil leaks under the car......1 around the engine gbox joining area, and the other at the tail end of the gbox, thought I'd see how to address them.
It transpires the gbox tail end (flange seal) is a common one. Great info on the web about this.
Turns out this seal was changed about 50k miles ago, by an Audi dealership - pt number used - 01v409399A.
After reading the procedure to replace this £15 seal, using only axle stands, it seems quite labour intensive?
My question to you good people is, if anyone has encountered this, have you tried using a leak stop fluid first?
I realise that chamber only houses 1L of diff oil (not ATF oil). Not having had the car completely in the air, just wondered if the fill port was easily accessible without removing anything?
Re the other leak - I'm still monitoring that one.
Thanks, Chris

mannyo · #2 17th April 2014, 08:17 AM

Chris, can you get a picture of the other one as it would seem odd for a leak to be present there. no major leaks were mentioned to me when it was last serviced so they must both be quiet minor?.

Mugzee · #3 17th April 2014, 09:36 PM

I've just done the output flange seal on my FL 4.2 Q. Quite a simple procedure. I only needed to remove the CV joint cover to gain access. No removal of exhaust, prop shaft bearing carrier or any braces. Audi have since revised the design of the flange and seal however the part number for the original seal is 018 409 399 B and that can still be purchased.
I changed the gear oil in the Torsen unit and the rear diff at the same time.

Mugzee · #4 17th April 2014, 09:51 PM

After doing a bit of research, the seal Audi fitted to your car looks a lot like the new revised version (with a dust lip). Do you know if the new type flange (01V 409 809 B) has been fitted at any point? As I don't think the old flange and the new seal are compatible with each other.

madcjd · #5 18th April 2014, 06:43 AM

When I rang Audi, they did mention I may need a flange, but, when they mentioned the price.......I quickly dismissed that option (£16 ish for the seal and £225 ish for the flange).
I just thought I'd stick with the original seal that was used about 5 yrs ago - no mention of a flange change on the paperwork.
I'll get under the car again and have a look at the access to the seal.
Thanks for your input though.

madcjd · #6 18th April 2014, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannyo

Chris, can you get a picture of the other one as it would seem odd for a leak to be present there. no major leaks were mentioned to me when it was last serviced so they must both be quiet minor?.

Hi Manny. I did get a pic last week, when I was under the car. I'll try and get it on here. However, since adding leak stop to the engine oil and then giving it to my wife to do a 500 mile round trip, and then parking it over an 'evidence sheet', I couldn't see any leaks.
Hopefully, the Torsen chamber hasn't run dry?
Re the other leak (which I admit was minor), I'm watching that closely.
Need a proper look again with the car in the air (struggle for time for playing with cars due to family commitments).
Hoping to change the engine oil tomorrow, Sat, so I'll get a chance to look more closely then.

madcjd · #7 18th April 2014, 06:57 AM

I meant to say, what instigated me looking under the car in the first place was the regular oil stains on my block paving, since parking the car there. Plus, the burning smell after a drive - that was the easy find - oil on the LH cat.

mannyo · #8 18th April 2014, 07:31 AM

I don't know how long it could have been leaking, obviously when I had it the car was always parked on the flat level so maybe some of what you are seeing was a result of dripping excess. Maybe the seal got dry with sitting around for more than 3 months with virtually no movement.

You'd know if it was dry as it would be making an awful racket, hopefully not to bad to sort. A good guide would be how much Audi charged in labour when it was last changed.