Could This Be The Problem?

Hello all,

I recently posted a topic regarding the clutch/DMF on my 2004 Mondeo TDCi Ghia (130/6 spd); it is a bit of a strange one so please stay with me!

In a nut shell; I was driving on the motorway for 25 mins at 3K revs, was then stuck in traffic for 25 mins with continuous stop starting. When I got back to moving, I put about ¾ throttle on and the clutch slipped, I eased off, the clutch bit and it was then fine getting home (about 10 miles).

Here is the weird part; I have done over 400 miles since this and have had no further instances of the clutch slipping, even on full throttle, low revs uphill etc. The clutch and DMF seem strong which is puzzling me.

I have come to the conclusion that something may have got onto the clutch plate, my first thought was that something may be wrong with the Centric Slave Cylinder and possibly a little hydraulic fluid leaked onto the clutch causing it to slip?

However, when doing an oil and filter change at the weekend, as I removed the engine cover I noticed that there was some liquid around the injectors on cylinders No 2 & 3 – No 3 seemed a little worse (around 2mm depth in worse places). This liquid was also in the lip of the cam cover which got me thinking; could the injector seals have gone? If so could the leaked diesel have ran off the cam cover (when doing a right hand down turn), ran down the block onto the bell housing, and maybe a little diesel got through onto the clutch causing it to slip?

The above would explain why the clutch randomly slipped and hasn’t done so since!?

If anyone can offer any help or advice on this it would be much appreciated!

Thanks and sorry for the essay.

Kev