Technical Inner CV Joint Boot or Driveshaft Seal Leak?

[Pickwick]

My nearside inner CV joint is looking horribly oily/greasy, as shown in the pictures below, but I'm not sure where this is coming from: either the CV joint boot or the gearbox/driveshaft seal seem possible? In my preliminary examination, with the car still on the ground, feeling around the boot I couldn't locate an obvious split; but nor could I see any oil down the side of the gearbox or patches where the car is parked. Hopefully it will become obvious when I get the car off the ground and have another look this week but I thought I'd post the pictures below in case it's obviously one or the other to a more experienced eye - or there's something else I haven't thought of.

 

[Pickwick]

Ok, so after a bit more investigation ...

1. Wiped some of it onto a cloth and got my nose up close. No odour. Does this rule out oil from the gearbox? I've never smelt gear oil but recall reading it has quite a strong smell. Maybe someone can confirm that though.

2. Rotated the driveshaft and checked the condition of the rubber boot all round. No splits, tears or holes.

3. Checked the band. It's clamped down tight, I don't think anything's coming out there.

So have cleaned it all up - if / when it starts to come back hopefully the source will be more apparent. Wondering if it's something from above.

 

[MrDerv]

Ok, so after a bit more investigation ...

1. Wiped some of it onto a cloth and got my nose up close. No odour. Does this rule out oil from the gearbox? I've never smelt gear oil but recall reading it has quite a strong smell. Maybe someone can confirm that though.

2. Rotated the driveshaft and checked the condition of the rubber boot all round. No splits, tears or holes.

3. Checked the band. It's clamped down tight, I don't think anything's coming out there.

So have cleaned it all up - if / when it starts to come back hopefully the source will be more apparent. Wondering if it's something from above.

It looks too wet to be grease contained within the CV joint, looks more like oil contamination.

If it's not coming from the gearbox, it could be something above the joint leaking oil onto it.

Which side is the inner CV driving? Drivers/Passengers?

 

[Pickwick]

It looks too wet to be grease contained within the CV joint, looks more like oil contamination.

If it's not coming from the gearbox, it could be something above the joint leaking oil onto it.

Which side is the inner CV driving? Drivers/Passengers?

Passenger's side.

Spent a bit of time this afternoon looking for leaks above but nothing obvious jumped out. There's a little oil around, mostly on and around the pivoted lever at the back of the gearbox.

View from directly above (driveshaft and part of inner boot visible):



Looking down the back of the gearbox (inner CV joint visible):

 

[MrDerv]

Passenger's side.

Spent a bit of time this afternoon looking for leaks above but nothing obvious jumped out. There's a little oil around, mostly on and around the pivoted lever at the back of the gearbox.

View from directly above (driveshaft and part of inner boot visible):

View attachment 174918

Looking down the back of the gearbox (inner CV joint visible):

View attachment 174919

Ok, what engine is it? I think it could possibly be from the air intake if it's a Multijet engine, Mine did the same until i replaced an o-ring.

 

[Pickwick]

Ok, what engine is it? I think it could possibly be from the air intake if it's a Multijet engine, Mine did the same until i replaced an o-ring.

1.2 8v.

I recently found a little oil around the top of the throttle body. Replaced the breather hose as this had a split in it and also the O-ring between the air filter housing and the throttle body as this had split also. It's been clear since but probably some did run off before then and made its way down. I'd not thought to connect the two until now but it seems a possibility.