Clutch Fluid Leak & Rattle

[Landy90IOM]

Hey All,

Quick troubleshooter for you all!

My 300tdi has been leaking fluid from the clutch lately, but seems to be a slow leak, and sometimes temperamental.  Some weeks it will be full, some weeks it will be dry.  Lately it seems to be mainly dry after a week of being stood.  Firstly, I cant find any leaks on the drive, or where it could be going, maybe this is just one of those mystical landy things!  Secondly I seem to be getting a grinding / rattlely noise from around the bellhousing when the clutch is released.  this has only happened lately.  

Anyone have any ideas what it could be?  Im thinking it possible that the fluid could be going in the bellhousing, but thought i should have seen it come out the hole, as i have no wading plugs or anything in it.  The rattle is annoying me the most, as i have no idea what it is and is not the nicest of noises.  Oh, and add to the problem, it only happens when the engine is running, as if its something to do with the flywheel...  

Really puzzled, and got an event next monday so need it fixed for then!!

Any idea's would be greatly appreciated!

[v8kenny]

Probably the release bearing if it only rattles when clutch is free
suspect your slave cylinder is leaking into the bellhousing if you can't see any fluid leaking anywhere - fluid is probably being soaked up by all the crud that's bound to be lying in the bellhousing before it manages to seep out of drain hole

[Range Rover Blues]

Or there is a pnihole in the clutch flexi, it only lekas when you apply the clutch so no leaks on the driveway.  Brake fluid is miscinle anyway and will wash away.

[Landy90IOM]

thanks for that, im thinking its the slave and release bearing.  It shouldnt be a pinhole in the flexi, as it doesnt get used that much and is stood without being moved for a week or so, and is drained when i get back to it.  I'm gonna have a look at possibly replacing the slave and bearing today if I can get some parts.  If I cant get them done, would it cause any damage to drive it like it is? Whats the worst that would happen, and how likely is it to happen?!

[v8kenny]

Do the slave cylinder and don't bother about the release bearing till you need to change the clutch unless it gets REALLY bad
release bearing on my 110 V8 was noisy for about two years before I changed the clutch :D

[Landy90IOM]

cheers guys, will get on to it next week when i can get some parts.

[Landy90IOM]

ok, got a new problem now...

Eventually got around to changing the slave, bled it etc, and all seemed to be fine..

Drove it all of 3 foot off the ramps and got out to move the ramps... as walking towards the landy noticed a lot of fluid under the landy, and went to inspect... Got under and from what i could see, saw fluid coming from the pipe that goes into the slave, and running along the slave onto the prop, then on the floor.  

Now in the short space of time i moved the landy, there was a heck of a lot of fluid on the floor, and it must of come from somewhere, so i checked the level, and it was at the top of the mark from when I bled it.  

Getting a bit confused i went back under and checked all the pipes, and they were all tight, so thinking it could be a faulty bleed screw.  So i got back in and pumped the clutch, and there was nothing other than a steady drip, but if it was only a steady drip in the first place, where did the 3 rather large puddles come from when i was moving it off the ramps?!?

Either way i took it for a 10 minute drive and all was fine, no lack of clutch, nothing, when i get back noticed a wet patch from the bottom of the bellhousing, so obviosuly something is going somewhere, so i left it over night to see if it would empty itself, and just been out to check if it had, and the slave seems wetter than before, and so does the bellhousing, indicating that its still been leaking over night... yet the fluid is exactly the same...  Have I inadvertantly bought a slave cylinder which makes its own clutch fluid?!

Either way, im puzzled to say the least, so any ideas to what is going on with this mystical landy of mine would be much appreciated!  Would all the extra fluid be hte old fluid as the landy hadnt been moved for a few weeks, would that explain where the fluid came from via the bellhousing?!