Right, I've just been through this pain with my ex-300tdi disco. I did
the sump gasket twice, the front crankshaft oil seal, the lift pump
gasket, replaced the water pump gaskets because I though it was perhaps
water mixing with oil residue. After all the expense it turned out to
be the gasket BEHIND the timing cover casing between that and the
block. It leaks out of the corner on the nearside at the bottom and
drips directly on the front axle. At speed it flies back showering the
exhaust and the nearside of the sump.

Now you can bodge it by drying it right out with a cold engine and
slapping a load of sealant on it (the black sump stuff). Loosen the
timing case bolts around in that corner first. It might help the stuff
seep into the gap. Or, strip it all off  (timing belt and gears with
front cover and casing) and replace the gasket. The bodge was ok for
about 4 months.

Hi Vince

It's our Independence day here, so we've had a day off work.  I had some
freinds around from the 4x4 club and the birding club, and we had a braii
(barbeque).  Super relaxing day, with plenty of Castle lager and steak being
consumed.  About a dozen of us are going to Mana Pools, a World Heritage
site on the banks of the Zambezi in 10 days time - great place for seeing
lions, hyaenas (leave a cool box out overnight and they'll take it, even if
it does just(!) contain beers), wild dog elephant, eland etc.  I love my
1997 Disco 300Tdi, and recently took part in the SA 4x4 Ecochallenge (see
www.4x4ecochallenge.co.za and look at Africam selection phase - that's me
and my wife Jennifer in the second photo).

On the down side, back to work tomorrow.  At current rates, $1,000,000
Zimbabwe is worth about 3 quid!  The largest banknote is $50,000, so to
carry 1 pound, you need 6 notes, but those are in short supply, so you
probably are more likely to have 16 $20,000 notes.  My house was bought in
2000 for 2.5 million, is now worth somewhere about 6 billion!  Inflation of
900% at official rates is hairy - if you have any cash, you spend it.  The
only reason that I can type this is that I have my own generator, as
electricity has been off for about 2.5 hours.  Up until the last couple of
weeks, you could not buy fuel at a filling station unless you have paid in
forex - now there are a couple selling in local currency.  No NHS, and
visits to the doctor just doubled in price.   The signs of things not
working are becoming clearer every day.

So there you have two answers to your question!  Yes it is bad, but you can
still ahve a great time.

Cheers!
Graham Carter
Harare
Zimbabwe
gcarter(at)mweb(dot)co(dot)zw