2016 3500 transmission pan leak

[jpogue]

I found a 2016 3500 with only 26,000 miles on it. When I crawled under to look at the underside there was transmission fluid all over the transmission pan. Would the gasket be toast already at 26,000 miles? An older couple owns it and it was pretty much just used for 5th wheel towing. It doesn't have the Aisin. Any info or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
thank you

 

[Ozymandias]

Did they do a fluid change?

 

[jpogue]

I'll ask thank you. There wasn't fluid anywhere else but on the transmission pan and the sides of the transmission lightly. Like it was blowing up off the pan slightly. Engine oil pan was good and everything in front or transmission was good with no leaks.

 

[Ozymandias]

Let's see what they say, sounds a lit like a butched job there. Can you see is there a seal in between? Factory is sealant only and I haven't seen them leak.

 

[BigPapa]

Dipstick tube seals are known leakers, too.

 

[jpogue]

So the lady doesn't know if the transmission fluid has been changed. Husband has dementia so he doesn't know, his condition is why they are selling. The carfax report doesn't show anything but oil changes and regular maintenance, always done at the dealership. When I looked under the truck I do remember seeing sealant mashed between the pan and the transmission. She agreed to take it to the dealer and have the leak looked at.

 

[BigPapa]

oil changes and regular maintenance, always done at the dealership.

Soooo, ask the dealer for the service history.

 

[jpogue]

The carfax report lists all of the service done to the vehicle at the dealership.

 

[BigPapa]

Any Dodge dealer can tell you what has been done and at what dealership it was done by the VIN if the owner can’t provide a receipt.

 

[Cummins12V98]

My local dealer said they could not access what other dealers had done to my dads 14.

 

[jpogue]

As much as I like this truck I might have to walk away. She called the dealer to make an appointment, and service guy told her no way it's leaking and not to bring it in. Bless her heart now she's kind of playing hardball saying that I can take it or leave it but the transmission isn't getting checked out. So I'm going to look at another truck today. It's a bit of a drive, but supposed to be 110 here today so a nice drive in an air conditioned car isn't a bad idea.

 

[Diesel85]

As much as I like this truck I might have to walk away. She called the dealer to make an appointment, and service guy told her no way it's leaking and not to bring it in. Bless her heart now she's kind of playing hardball saying that I can take it or leave it but the transmission isn't getting checked out. So I'm going to look at another truck today. It's a bit of a drive, but supposed to be 110 here today so a nice drive in an air conditioned car isn't a bad idea.

Good call.

I go by the ideology, if there's something wrong and everyone is skirting around your questions, leave it. I don't deal with those types of people.

There are lots of GOOD 3500 Cummins to choose from.

 

[jpogue]

Thank you Diesel85. I'd love to help these people out. The husband is a retired truck driver like me, and now he doesn't have a license. I can't imagine being in that situation. I've seen a few cases of dementia and it's astounding how fast that someone can deteriorate. However I have my own family and finances to look after.

 

[jpogue]

So I looked at a 2018 today. It had 120,000 on it and not one drop of transmission fluid on the pan. It's got an engine oil leak somewhere up front. I know the crankshaft seal on my 96 goes out around every 80,000 miles so not sure if that's the case on the 2018 or not. Also has a levelling kit up front which I was skeptical about before I looked at it, but it looks nice. I can't believe how much quieter they are now compared to my 12V.

 

[jpogue]

To Diesel85 and others who said there are plenty of other trucks out there, thank you. The 2018 with the leak has been ruled out now. I'm seeing plenty of reports here and on other forums that this is a high dollar repair and could possibly be a cam seal, which is really an expensive repair. The search just got easier. There are 2 at a local dealership that have been drastically reduced. I was kind of concerned about the price reduction, but I started looking at other vehicles on their site and they've all been reduced by a lot. I had heard that used car sales were down quite a bit, and now I'm seeing it. Sometimes I get ants in my pants and just want to buy something. Patience and a lower time preference always pays off

 

[BigPapa]

Front seals are a more common failure on the 6.7’s than the 12-valves.

 

[jpogue]

Thank you for that info. I've replaced the one on my 96 3 times, first time for KDP tab, then again about 100,000 miles after that, and again about 100,000 miles later. And it's leaking again, I'm at 340,000 now. The mechanic who did my steering upgrade said that they could sleeve the crankshaft and it would seal better and probably last longer.

 

[BigPapa]

There are several threads here about the 12-valve crank seals. The las time I replaced mine, I took @GAmes advice and put two seals in it. I had sleeved it the previous time and it still leaked, possibly between the crank and the sleeve. Never leaked after the double seal. Had close to 200K on the seals when I sold it.

 

[jpogue]

There are several threads here about the 12-valve crank seals. The las time I replaced mine, I took @GAmes advice and put two seals in it. I had sleeved it the previous time and it still leaked, possibly between the crank and the sleeve. Never leaked after the double seal. Had close to 200K on the seals when I sold it.

Thanks for the advice on this problem. @GAmes has helped me with some other issues in the past. I've had the truck since 2001 and I love it, but getting hard to find parts for and with no back door my wife and daughter don't like going anywhere in it. Also got a vacuum problem recently. If it's really hot outside after about an hour of driving the door that switches from vent to defrost switches and it will only blow out of the defroster. Once I park it for a while and everything cools off it goes back to working.

 

[Ozymandias]

There are several threads here about the 12-valve crank seals. The las time I replaced mine, I took @GAmes advice and put two seals in it. I had sleeved it the previous time and it still leaked, possibly between the crank and the sleeve. Never leaked after the double seal. Had close to 200K on the seals when I sold it.

You can put 2 seals in the same bore? You have my attention on this hack.