Thread: A missing bolt?

Thats the wading plug hole, only should be in when wading and it usually resides in that raised boss on the bell housing to the left of the hole.
Seems you have a rear main oil seal leak.

Or a leaking sump plug?

Or both.

Dave

The one thing I did to tidy up the oil I had all over the sides and back of the sump, was to drop it and install a gasket with sealer. Made a huge difference. The book says one is not required, and this is how it was installed and it definitely leaked. Now with the gasket, I still have a very small weep at the back and in front of the bell housing, which suggests T seal, but its only a tiny drop, all the sump is dry.

Instead of the wading plug, I have permanently installed a male air fitting, (same thread M14) with the threads cut down as its slightly too long as is. The end of the thread when screwed in needs to be flush with the inside of the bell housing - using fitting like this still lets any oil out, but makes it really easy to see if oil is coming from around it or from inside the housing. For wading I just use a plastic cap over the fitting end, quick and easy. I also use the same air fitting in the base of the timing cover wading hole.

Hands up ALL those (except Spel 1) that actually fit the 2 wading plugs into the timing belt cover and the bellhousing when crossing rivers or creeks, never done it myself and never had a problem, Regards Frank.

Hand is not up I'm afraid. Last crossing(s) was all muddy water and I completely forgot. But I figure as a default the smaller holes in the air fittings let it in slower and keep the big bits out.

Originally Posted by Tank

Hands up ALL those (except Spel 1) that actually fit the 2 wading plugs into the timing belt cover and the bellhousing when crossing rivers or creeks, never done it myself and never had a problem, Regards Frank.

I never have and that is why I had absolutely no idea what it was to be honest. I thought a bolt was left out of it. I've went through water wheel arch high in my 3.5 Disco so many times its not funny and I never had a plug in...I've got a 300tdi now so now I'm a bit more nervous about water.

It would be good to get out of it with a leaking sump plug that will be a good result but I am fearing it will require to be dropped to replace the rear main seal.

Now to purchase a tin of degreaser to identify the source.

Its only the intake that you need to worry about on a tdi, auto isnt a worry and doubt the timing case is either unless you get stuck in a river and even then it would drain out by the time your were extricated.

Deep mud holes would be good to fit plugs, but as I avoid dipping my undercarriage into a big hole of grinding paste, (avoid like the plague), I still haven't got around to using the plugs, Regards Frank.