Hi, I inspected a Roadster yestersay. I performed a short road test and while travelling at 30 mph it basically went into neutral and stayed for a bit. It was also lurching when starting from a stop. My searching indicates low oil level - perhaps I am wrong? When I was looking in the engine bay with a torch I noticed that there was oil around the black plug at the top of the bell housing. I don't know what that plug is for but I'm wondering whether oil can come out of that plug if there is a leak at the join of the torque converter and the transmission? The owner didn't seem to be aware of any oil leaks and there was nothing on his garage floor. He has had the car only 2 years and the car is not used much so perhaps the oil loss occurred under the prior owner?
Any thoughts?

 

The oil on top of the bell housing could possibly be leaking from the small breather covers on top of the valve covers. Ask the owner to remove the engine cover so that you can get a better look at them.
The fan blows the oil towards the rear of the engine. That's not a difficult repair if they are seeping oil.
Also look in the lower engine cover for oil. He may not have any leaks under the car, but there may be oil in that "belly pan".
The transmission problem could be low fluid or possibly a bad conductor plate. I have a manual transmission, so hopefully someone who has experience with automatic transmission will chime in.

 

Thanks but it was literally only around that plug, it had not travelled down from the engine.

 

Sorry about the confusion.
I guess I would have to see what you're talking about. The only "plug" I see on mine is the Crankshaft Position Sensor. It's located near the top of the bell housing on the left side (driver's point of view).
If there's a little seepage from there it's not a big deal.
Here's a picture:

 

The photo in this link shows the black plug at the top of the bell housing where it meets the transmission

https://images.app.goo.gl/4L8SqKhphS44JoTL8

 

Looks like some kind of vent cap in my opinion.
I don't have that on my manual transmission. Maybe @zip439 would know.