I took the skid plate off my 01 yesterday. It's a thick aluminum job made in Sweden. I't been on and off many times in the years I had the car but always had a small amount of oil, more gear than engine, covering the greater part of it. I could see by looking up at the turbo housing that the oil return pipi flange was leaking engine oil. There was however reason to think most of it was from the bevel gear.
Well, last year I bit the bullet and changed the turbo oil return gasket. Pig of a job - and I have small hands. At the time I was cynical it was successful. To-day I put the car on four jack stands and checked the bevel gear fluid level it was about 50ml overfilled but I thought the copper sealing washer looked bad. So I replaced it with a new aluminium sump plug sealing washer. I cleaned the entire underneath and went for a drive (without replacing the skid plate). When I got back I put the frontend up on ramps and took a good look underneath. Totally oil free, I was thrilled. It made me whish I had done it years back. So if you have such a leak get a hour or so in good weather and fix it.
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