Dear All Please Help!

I drive a Nissan Micra 1.3 Super S (special edition) 1994.

The car is amazing, fast, very reliable, even went on a booze cruise and come back with a 200 bottles of drinks (but that's another story).

I have a little problem that no one seems to know how it happens:

I have just had the car serviced. The gearbox was empty, again, I mean no oil in it, completely dry!

Last service it had was 2 years ago (yes I know but I coulnd't afford it) and it had the same problem.

There are no leaks of any kind, no holes in any tube so I and the mechanic don't know where the oil goes. The mechanic even asked me how the car could have worked as the gear box should have just clunked.
The car runs beautifully, never let me down, looks very sporty, I pulled it to 120 mph, which is the end of the clock and I beleive it could have done more. No modifications to the engine at all and I am very happy. I had it for 5 years now and I will celebrate it's 11 birthday next month.

Has anyone got a clue as to where the oil goes from the gearbox? Sometimes there is a little smell of burning that comes from the offside (driver side) from under the bonnet but there is nothing wrong with the car. Could that be the missing oil burning?

Please help!

Thank you very much.

Firstly . . . you have not stated if you have an auto or manual trans if it is an auto I would check for an internal leak between the TC seal )Torque Convertor)and the (Gearbox)GB, also the input shaft seal on the transmission that resides inside the TC (acces it by removing the TC)could also be the problem, as it is only a small o-ring on the input shaft.
If the trans is a manual 4or 5spd Try looking at your clutch for wear and glasing a good indicator, then the input shaft case seals.

Hi Temerity, thank you for your reply.
Last month the car let me down, I know, I probably spoke too soon! LOL
Anyway, the car is a 5spd manual.
The MAF went so I had to get it reconditioned.
The gear box still empty, I hope I can get it sorted in October on the next service.
About 4 years ago I had to change the clutch. Well I am not sure it needed it and the mechanic may have pulled a fast one on that, but I think that they fitted it slightly off and the shaft seals gave in.
Luckily I moved to a much better area and the new mechanic seems really nice and he is a specialist on japanese vehicles.
I spoke to other people about the leak and all mentioned the shaft case as the possible problem.
Can you tell me how can a gear box last so long without oil? I thought by now it would have clunked on me but seems fine, not a slip at all.
I am quite curious and very lucky I suppose!
Thank you again!


Firstly . . . you have not stated if you have an auto or manual trans if it is an auto I would check for an internal leak between the TC seal )Torque Convertor)and the (Gearbox)GB, also the input shaft seal on the transmission that resides inside the TC (acces it by removing the TC)could also be the problem, as it is only a small o-ring on the input shaft.
If the trans is a manual 4or 5spd Try looking at your clutch for wear and glasing a good indicator, then the input shaft case seals.