Metallic "dust" under car

[Blake8828]

Hi guys, my attempt to find an oil leak on my engine lead me underneath the car, and to my surprise
I found heaps of what looks like a metallic dust. Its pretty much everywhere and thanks to the oil leak
its stuck to everything. The highest concentration of the dust is below the bell-housing at what I believe
to be the clutch vent.

Is this normal? I've had a few manual cars and never seen this before.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[lump_a_charcoal]

Last time I saw metallic dust under a car like you just described was when I went to pick up my missus at 3am, after her Galant's gearbox shat itself.
I would change the gearbox fluid and check to see how sparkly it is.

Good luck!

[Blake8828]

Not what I wanted to hear!

Checked the dipstick for the front diff and the oil was perfectly clean...
I assume this oil is shared with the gearbox?

The gearbox works fine, hope its okay!

[Kekotic]

You won't find metal shavings on the dip stick. You would need to drop the oil or put a magnet down there to see.

[Blake8828]

I put a magnet on a stick down the dipstick hole, not a single bit of metal on it.
Surely a good sign, right?

[lump_a_charcoal]

Actually, the other time when I saw metal dust coming out there was when I installed the wrong clutch in my old Datto.
The input shaft was wearing inside the clutch away. Maybe there is a clutch issue?

[Blake8828]

Could well be, I don' think the clutch has too much more life left in it. Doesn't slip at all but only
engages when the clutch peddle is almost all the way out. My original thought was maybe its so
worn the rivets are rubbing on the flywheel. Though it doesn't make any noises and works fine...

Thanks for your suggestions guys!

[Blake8828]

So, turns out the metallic dust is paint over spray.
Now I feel pretty stupid
Thanks again for your suggestions guys!

[lump_a_charcoal]

So, turns out the metallic dust is paint over spray.
Now I feel pretty stupid
Thanks again for your suggestions guys!