Speedysix

Thanks chaps, exactly what I did, I did take it out completely(risky I know), cleaned the threads as Ecosse suggested, and sealed the hell out of the threads and face with ptfe and sealant as you and nick suggested... Now I haven't looked under the car yet, but 9/10 I can smell it as soon as it leaks, as it goes straight onto the exhaust... bone dry, no smell so far! I am very happy!

thanks guys, im glad i left it for a few days and had anothe look, all good info to know for the threads, you all saved me a massive ass ache so thank you. its not completely clear, but i think i found the culprit, looks like the drain plug is dry, the only thing with a trace is the reverse shaft retaining bolt, its not that clear but everything was bone dry and now its nice and leaky. Quick Google shows im not the only one with a leak like this, which is nice. Now, taking it out is risky. So back it out enough and lash ptfe over it? Or gently take it out, ptfe and out back in. And yes I'm well aware I'll never get a leak free car, but the box leak with it going straight onto the exhaust is driving me crazy

I might opt for the drain plug that most of the aftermarket suppliers sell, the magnetic type that has a copper washer and large hex head, ptfe tape, and the copper washer butted right up to the box should seal it, if its the leak, tonight I'm going to look under the car and really hope to see oil around the threads and on the bolt head, all cleaned last night. The thought of taking the tunnel out makes me sick so I know how you feel. Sadly no cardboard tunnel anymore either that had a handy flap cutout by the box fill plug. I just hope the threads aren't damaged.

Well its been a while! Nearly 500 miles down and touch wood, no dramas, issues or woes Cars been a little neglected of late, past 2 weeks been sat outside on the drive, criminal I know, whilst I've been welding up a friend's mini. Few gremlins still to kill. Tailgate is still filling, so going to plug the holes at the topand drill a small drain hole maybe at the bottom for breathing once its dried out. Battery has bitten the dust too, tried my clever de sulphate charger, but no luck , my health checker says only 50% health, internal impedance at 6.3mohm, so not good. It lasted quite a while as I bought it 2019 I think, so not bad, the lack of use when the car was knackered didn't do it any good. Bought a replacement so one less issue! Still have a box leak. Great. However, I do think I have the culprit. After the 2 weeks sitting idle, started, and straight away smoked, theres a drop on the drain plug and misting around it, its the lowest point so it would collect there regardless. However, top of the box is bone dry, left side of the main case is bone dry, right side has some misting a little below a bolt head to the left of the fill plug, which could be a potential too, or just the air whisking it up. The drain plug has always been a pain, its a magnetic one but one with a tapered thread. Two minds now, clean it all off again, wait a few days and if it is the drain plug, I'll get a collection of oil on the bottom of it only, if its anywhere else ill see a smear. It'll be off to Lymington for a cars n coffee morning on Saturday organised by a friend to raise money for the RNLI so should be a nice drive! On the return It'll be about 600 miles done, so we'll worth dropping the oil, changing the filter, checking the head bolt torque, valve clearances etc, normal post run in checks.

This is true, if it had leaked it all out, id have had nothing come out when I took the fill plug off. Typical ill chuck it all back together.

Well, one problem solved, another disappeared. All electrical issues solved! Box. Well it has a ghost leak. Drove the car with the tunnel off, my god the heat, and is a bit sketchy watching the road. Not a drip. Let it cool overnight, started, warmed up in the garage, drove, nothing. I know what will happen, the second I start it after putting all the trim back in, it'll come back. Oh well.

New alternator fitted, and running fine! Had to do a few idle tweeks but otherwise all good! Had it sitting steady for about 10 minutes no issues. This is good. The only other thing is the rpm drops when the lights go on, this engine really doesn't like idling below 900, probably the cam and setup, headlights do drop it a bit to the point I need to topup the rpm a bit. I will test the battery too as it is quite old now. I know the drop is normal, but I'd just like it all to work nicely The pain in the arse bit. Cleaned the oil off around the box, ran it. Bone dry. Bone bloody dry. Not happy. ive watched it from cold drip slowly onto the exhaust. Very annoying. I checked the level and had a little start weeping out when I took the fill plug out, so its not low. Need to drive it with the cover off and let it cool, then restart and hope to see it

Update, managed to get the tunnell out and have a look around, definitely higher up, thank god. I have to go out again so will run ot when im back and observe where its coming from. I also have a spare selector housing gasket so might just pop it off and deal with it all on the bench once the leak is found. Alternator had also arrived! One last arse ache and we should be trouble free

This could work, I've found the breather and it is absolutely tiny very easilly blocked.

On the 3 rail gt6 box , you might be onto somthing. Ive yet to take the tunnel out.. again, but the top front of the box looks dry, around the breather holes in the selector housing. However I cant quite see well enough front the engine bay but it may well be coming from that reverse switch, or definitely that area. It looks fairly high so I really hope it is somthing that just needs sealing.

Yes they're tiny little holes on the 3 rail, I think the single rails have a dedicated large breather hole. Ah well I dont recall mine being this bad so I hope its somthing simple

All ordered. Definitely a bargain! I ran some more tests and have confirmed the alternator is doing some really weair stuff at low rpm, as you can see from the video. And I suspect this was a big contribution to the what we thought was heat related issues causing the car to die. We shall find out! Ill post up the results when it arrives The only and last issue i have found is a rather frustrating box leak. Yes I know. It just came out. Straight away from cold and looks like its coming from the main case, but further up?do the 3 rail boxes have a breather? For it to be that much of a drip. Might have to ruin the interior again and take the tunnel out to observe and check the level. May have been overfilled and is pushing the excess out. I think i think im right in saying the 3 rail case only has those 2 tiny holes on the top housing?

£22, for an alternator, that can't be right I wouldn't be surprised if this one is giving up the ghost, I've had these unbranded ones dead out of the box before.

I shall warn next time. You cant expect any gt6 owner not to wear shorts, wearing trousers in one is suicide. its very strange. I don't have a current clamp to meausre it but if somthing on the car was dragging that much load, thats 10's of amps it would be lighting up like a christmas tree. Which makes me think it is the alternator. I have some time today, so im going to try and repeat the test and get some accurate measurements, alternator aren't expensive, I think 60 quid from canley, but id rather not waste money. Yes, everything runs and the battery charges so it has to be, i am going to gst a big earth clamp or jump lead and go between the battery and engine to see if it changes the results, but seeing as its charging, I doubt it

Small update, I think, I think ive been barking up the wrong tree with this hot starting issue and the car wanting to die, this video should demonstrate. Just by chance I noticed it earlier after a short drive. May not be the whole issue or maybe not even an issue at all, but its strange? 20250805_203625.mp4 Tterrible miming, but you see, the car wants to die from hot after putting the ignition light out. This alternator is about 3k rpm req as you can see. Same symptoms, but the car idles absolutely hot under the same condition if the light doesn't go out. Could be a coincidence with a fuel issue.. I dont know, but its weird, or is it just me?