help - puddle on garage floor

[vf2ss]

I got my car back yesterday from replacing all 4 cv boots and having the clutch hydraulic fluid flushed at the local Acura dealership.
Drove the car home, everything seems fine. This morning I found about a 16" puddle of clear viscous fluid about right under the engine.
It's actually a little farther back but in front of the exhaust. This pic from behind shows proximity of the puddle to my rear tire footprints to give a better idea of where it originated from.

<img src="http://www.vf2ss.com/transfer/tire.jpg" border="0"/>

This is the puddle up close.

<img src="http://www.vf2ss.com/transfer/clear.jpg" border="0"/>

Have not driven it today but the clutch seemed fine backing it out of the garage to take the photos and bringing it back in.

Any thoughts as to what this is and if the two are related?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Check your clutch reservoir. That is the location of the slave cylinder on the trans.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[Miner]

To me, that looks a little aft of the clutch slave cylinder, assuming I'm looking from the rear of the car. It looks to me to be about right for the gearbox axle seal on the passenger side (where the intermediate shaft connects into the gearbox). Fresh gearbox oil is going to be clear.

But I defer to the ones who are underneath NSX's more than my once every 3 months.

Miner

 

[vf2ss]

Sorry, I am not exactly sure what I am supposed to check for? I jacked the car up and took some more pics.

Here's where it looks like the drip is coming off of the car...
<img src="http://www.vf2ss.com/transfer/drip1.jpg" border="0"/>
<img src="http://www.vf2ss.com/transfer/drip2.jpg" border="0"/>

Here is where I see a lot of this fluid looking up.
<img src="http://www.vf2ss.com/transfer/lookingup.jpg" border="0"/>
And even farther up...
<img src="http://www.vf2ss.com/transfer/fartherup.jpg" border="0"/>

After cleaning it up, it has dripped about a silver dollar size worth of this fluid in about 1.5 hrs. Can this be considered normal from flushing the clutch fluid or getting new cv boots or should I get it back to the dealership and finally, if so, is it dangerous to drive the car?

Thanks.

 

[nikey22]

why did you have your clutch hydraulic fluid flushed? Did someone tell you to do that? Or, did you experience some problems with the clutch? Or is it just necessary to do after CV boot repairs? Thanks..

 

[Miner]

It looks like the axle seal to me. I don't think any leakage is acceptable or normal. I don't think it should leak even if the gearbox was grossly overfilled, but that could be it. I'd call the dealer and see how they want to proceed.

Miner

 

[vf2ss]

why did you have your clutch hydraulic fluid flushed? Did someone tell you to do that? Or, did you experience some problems with the clutch? Or is it just necessary to do after CV boot repairs? Thanks..

The voice of Prime told me to do it :biggrin:...just kidding not really, but close, I read this post and thought it'd be a good idea. I was going in for new boots and grease and decided might as well do the clutch fluid since when I looked at it, it wasn't clear.

 

[vf2ss]

It looks like the axle seal to me. I don't think any leakage is acceptable or normal. I don't think it should leak even if the gearbox was grossly overfilled, but that could be it. I'd call the dealer and see how they want to proceed.

Miner

Yes, thank you, I already did and got an appt 7:30 tomorrow morning to have it checked out. Service rep over the phone thought it might be a bad axle seal which he commented is really rare, but he's seen it happen. Will post the outcome. If there are any more comments or advice they are welcome. Thanks everyone.

 

[vf2ss]

I don't think it should leak even if the gearbox was grossly overfilled, but that could be it. I'd call the dealer and see how they want to proceed.

Miner

If it happens to turn out that the gearbox was "grossly" overfilled, could there be damage? Or if it is a bad seal and it has been leaking about a day, could there be damage from driving it to the shop?

 

[sax97mugentyper]

Yes, thank you, I already did and got an appt 7:30 tomorrow morning to have it checked out. Service rep over the phone thought it might be a bad axle seal which he commented is really rare, but he's seen it happen. Will post the outcome. If there are any more comments or advice they are welcome. Thanks everyone.

An axle seal leaking on its own would be rare. An axle seal leaking after the axles were just removed is not that rare. You have to be super careful when sliding the axles back into the transaxle. It doesn't take much to cut the seal or knock the seal spring loose if you don't guide the axle in carefully. I am fairly confident that the axle seal is the culprit.:smile:

 

[davidf]

If it's gear oil, I'm suprised you did'nt smell that right from the get go. In an inclosed garage gear oil will normally stink it up since it has a distinctive oder. Over filling might difficult since it tends to run out the fill hole when full anyway.

 

[sax97mugentyper]

If it's gear oil, I'm suprised you did'nt smell that right from the get go. In an inclosed garage gear oil will normally stink it up since it has a distinctive oder. Over filling might difficult since it tends to run out the fill hole when full anyway.

The NSX doesn't use gear oil in the transaxle. It uses MTF or oil which doesn't have the additives that cause the "smell" of gear oil. In the pictures posted, you can see the oil coming out the axle seal and onto the inner cv joint and down the transaxle case.:smile:

 

[Larry Bastanza]

It looks like the axle seal to me. I don't think any leakage is acceptable or normal. I don't think it should leak even if the gearbox was grossly overfilled, but that could be it. I'd call the dealer and see how they want to proceed.

Miner

After seeing the pics I have to agree. One thing to do is smell it. If it is Honda MTF, you will know.

This is the result of the tech nicking the seal as he installed the left stub axle into the trans, ask me how I know

Regards,
LarryB

 

[davidf]

The NSX doesn't use gear oil in the transaxle. It uses MTF or oil which doesn't have the additives that cause the "smell" of gear oil. In the pictures posted, you can see the oil coming out the axle seal and onto the inner cv joint and down the transaxle case.:smile:

Sorry, I should've caught myself on that. Sorry.:redface:

 

[Larry Bastanza]

The NSX doesn't use gear oil in the transaxle. It uses MTF or oil which doesn't have the additives that cause the "smell" of gear oil. In the pictures posted, you can see the oil coming out the axle seal and onto the inner cv joint and down the transaxle case.:smile:

Yes, but it does smell way different then brake fluid.

Regards,
LarryB

 

[Miner]

Sorry, I should've caught myself on that. Sorry.:redface:

It's my fault. I referred to it as gearbox oil, rather than 10w-30 motor oil.

Miner

 

[sax97mugentyper]

After seeing the pics I have to agree. One thing to do is smell it. If it is Honda MTF, you will know.

This is the result of the tech nicking the seal as he installed the left stub axle into the trans, ask me how I know

Regards,
LarryB

Ask me how I know!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Ask me how I know!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

The left side will always get you!!!!!

 

[sax97mugentyper]

The left side will always get you!!!!!

Got me once. That was enough!

 

[vf2ss]

Update: Service Dept thinks it is the axle seal but wants to clean it up first, put some dye in it and confirm the exact origin of the leak before proceeding.

 

[ralph cerbone]

just rebuilt my axle last week,, inserted axle into hub first, had son pull back on spindle till i could get axle stub straight and then into trans oh so gently, so far no leaks, thought to my self this is a easy one to damage:wink:

 

[vf2ss]

Final update: Got the car back today, dealer replaced left axle seal and topped off fluid (mtf). When asked, service rep thought seal was nicked when inserting axle. They took care of everything. Car is great! +1 for the dealership...they have always been great here in NM!

 

[ChopsJazz]

You should post the name of the dealership. It was good of them to admit their mistake and cover your costs. :smile:

 

[vf2ss]

You should post the name of the dealership. It was good of them to admit their mistake and cover your costs. :smile:

Sure thing...Montano Acura. I have read other threads on here giving props to them as well, they've always done a great job with the 3 Acura's I've owned over the years and they are the only place in NM with a certified NSX tech. Just today when I was there, 4 NSX's on the lot: Blk/Ivory (52K), Red/Camel (92K), Red/Black (4K) and White/Blk (35K). This is a really rare occurrence being that there are maybe a dozen or so in NM? Those were miles, not prices, all being serviced except for one, which I believe I was told belongs to the owner of the dealership (the 4K one) and yes, I had to walk around and look at them before picking up my car!:tongue:

 

[vf2ss]

btw - Miner, you should be some kind of detective or PI...you see a pretty plain photo of a garage floor, some tire prints and some inconspicuous fluid laying around and you call the crime scene to a T in Post#3!