So after about 3 month of non stop repairs I have finally got my mk4 escort xr3I through its MOT and it's passed! Yay
However.... when I drove home I arrived at my house in a cloud of smoke! There seems to be oil leaking onto the exhaust causing all the smoke.
When parked it seems to stop so is hard to see exactly where its coming from and would only start again when driving around the block.
From an educated guess I think it's coming from the driveshaft.
This would make sense because I have had them out to take the gearbox off to do the release bearing.

Bit of a problem is I can't figure out if it is the "driveshaft seal" or the "driveshaft boot".
The haynes manual also doesn't say much about the seal on the tripod type like mine. It only gives information on how to change the seal on the splined bar type.

 

Driveshaft boot is filled with grease and is black and would stick everywhere. Where as the seal would just leak gbox oil. Both will leave obvious traces tho if leaking.

Wierd the MOT station didnt pick anything up....
Worth checking the sump as this is in prime area and CVH sumps love to leak!!

 

I think it more likely to be gearbox oil than grease from the cv boot as it is dripping and is thin unlike the thick grease on the driveshaft. I will try and drive it around until it leaks then hack it up quickly before it stops so that I can locate it. But if it is leaking out the gearbox at the driveshaft then what could it be? A seal?

 

The driveshaft seal yer