I'm getting all the unusual ones This one's on the Pug.

Clutch first started slipping on full throttle at about 90K miles, but after a couple of days nursing it I found it was OK again. I just assumed the plate had glazed a bit and then deglazed with gentle use. Happened a few times since (Now on 120K). Last week, it did it again on a run down to cornwall, except it just kept getting worse. By the time I got back it was slipping with more than about 5mm of throttle.

Dug it out last night to go home as my 185 had died and found .... No clutch slip, even on full power - for the first couple of miles anyway. By the time I got home it was back to slipping with 5mm of throttle. Coming back in to work this morning was the same - no slip for a couple of miles.

One clue, the gearbox has had a weeping driveshaft oil seal and started whining due to running dry. I topped it up a few days before the cornwall trip. I'm wondering if the input shaft seal is also leaking and allowing oil onto the clutch, although I don't see how the clutch plate would mysteriously clean itself up overnight.

Anyone any other ideas ?

I reckon you have it already

Oil contaminates the plate but dries/soaks in over night. Seen similar with organics in the past

I agree, was thinking its weeping oil onto the friction plate as I was reading your post then read in the last paragraph you'd thought of that already as a possibility. Great minds think alike

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Don
GT4DC Chairman
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205WRC JDM 269bhp @ 0.9bar
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four Special GT 590bhp @ 1.8bar
1989 Van Diemen RF88/89 Formula Ford 1600
2008 Nissan Patrol GU 3.0L ZD30DDTi 154bhp

Did an engine oil change today, and while under the car I looked at the bellhousing / engine and it looked like there were no gaps for drainage. So I took a small drill to the bottom of the bellhousing & out came about a cupfull of gear oil - and thats after being stood for a couple of days. Seems peugeot have made the same mistake as the early minis all those years ago

Have got a run up to Peterborough in it tomorrow as my 185 insurance doesnt cover work use. WIll see if the clutch still slips once it's not running in a swimming pool.

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If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.