My 98 GV seems to have sprung a fairly sevear (i.e. a puddle overnight) oil leak quite suddenly and not right after a 4wd trip or anything that would obviously tirgger it.  I've only done a first inspection and cleaned it up for a better look tomorrow but I thought I'd check a few things now so there might be some answers ready and waiting when I wake up 

It looks to be coming from the front of the clutch housing or somewhere around there.  I noticed that there were a few "spare" bolt hole in the front of what I think is the clutch housing lower plate so I took a few photos so I could ask if it is normal.

The first photo (2216.jpg) is the clutch housing lower plate (I think) taken from the front of the car looking back showing the spare bolt holes.  The sump is in the foreground on the left side.  On the face of the housing there is a thin dark steel plate that is quite loose but wouldn't be part of the seal (I hope).

The second photo (2211.jpg) is taken from the middle of the vehicle looking forward.

(I think this was one of those situation where a digital SLR is not the camera of choice  )

Any advice would be much appreciate, hopefully things will be more clear in the morning too.

Thanks

check your clutch fluid, is it low? at least it will narrow down the search

Clutch fluid is fine and I've just check all the bolts around the sump and they seem to be tight and no, I didn't try and do them really tight, just a bit of pressure and one moved about 1/16 of a turn or less.

Those two bolt holes probably don't matter since the the clutch is actually dry when I stop and think about it 

The oil path is definately down the front of that clutch housing, I just can't see from where . . . 

if it is a pan leak then things get a little sticky for the fix. i made a reply earlier to this same subject in another topic.

http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=12965.0

i have done a few pan jobs and they arent easy to do right. pressure wash the heck out of the underside and drive it home and get under it with a bright light and see exactly where its leaking. if it is from the lower pan it is a fairly simple job. but if from the upper it gets iffy. if your good with a wrench and have time you can do it yourself. if not it gets pretty gnarly in shop costs.

Thanks for the info.  I finally got to spend some more time under the car (busy week!) and as far as I can tell the leak is coming from the back of the lower pan seal.  The oil is still running down the inside of the plate on the bottom of the clutch housing so it is hard to tell exactly where it comes from.

So has anyone done a lower pan seal on a J20 engine (2L 4cyl petrol)?  Do you have to removed the diff and axle and steering etc. or can it be done (properly) in place?  It looks like there is about 1-2cm (and certainly no more than an inch) that the lower pan can be lowered and the gasket would still have to get under the oil strainer and pump.   

Anyway if it is too much hassel I'm awfuly tempted to just take it to the mechanic and get them to put in a suspension lift while they are at it.     I'm not too bad with a spanner but this is starting to look rather messy. 

its not a rear main seal is it?



-Lance

Just got the rear main seal explained to me, I hope that's not what it is although it would explain a thing or two.  There seems to be some oil coming from under the clutch cylinder booty, that said I haven't noticed any problems with the clutch, it might just be that I didn't clean it up properly first time around.