G56 Mystery Leak?

[MMcConnell]

Greetings everyone. I have a 2013 Ram 2500 with the G56 that I've had since July of this year. A few weeks ago with only 2800 miles on the odometer, I noticed something wet on my garage floor. I climbed under the truck and noticed the bottom of the transmission was wet and had a couple of drops of ATF hanging on it. The transmission was wet on both sides of the transmission, along the seam where the two halves of the case bolt together. My first thought was it was leaking from the infamous boot on top of the transmission, but upon further inspection found this not to be the case. I took the truck to the dealer and they looked at it and too determined it was coming from the seam where the two halves of the case meet. They pulled the transmission, resealed the case and replaced all the other seals on the transmission while they had it out. I picked the truck up a couple of weeks ago and no drips since. Yesterday I was under the truck just checking things out and noticed the bottom of the transmission is once again wet. It's not bad enough to where actual drips are forming, but it is wet enough to see. Again, looks like it's where the two halves come together, it's like it's seeping really slow. Curious if anyone else out there has experienced anything similar with their G56. Thanks in advance.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I think the G56 factory uses RTV between the case halves, so there is always the chance that it wasn't applied properly before it was sent to Chrysler.

 

[MMcConnell]

I think the G56 factory uses RTV between the case halves, so there is always the chance that it wasn't applied properly before it was sent to Chrysler.

True, it is RTV or a similar substance used to seal the two halves. I find it ironic that mine was sealed not once, but twice and it still seems to be seeping. It's almost like the RTV has a compatibility issue with the lube these trannys are filled with.

 

[sag2]

I'm still amazed when it comes to RTV and proper assembly. I can't say for the OEM as they generally do a pretty good job. Technicians on the other hand are all over the place. I still see them that don't clean the surfaces, or the biggest one is letting it skim over before assembling. RTV does a great job if it has clean flat sealing surface, use the correct type, and assemble as quickly as possible. The new RTV's are pretty forgiving for sealing over oil, but the best case is clean and dry.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I have seen a special formula RTV for automatic transmissions. That might help since the factory fill is ATF+4. Note however, that in the TDR magazine there was a discussion of G56 lubes and +4 was not near the best. It was probably just convenient for Mopar to use it. Maybe you could supply the Mobil lube and the dealer would use it to help fix the problem for you.

 

[seafish]

I use ALWAYS use acetone to clean metal sealing surfaces, let them dry, then use the correct silicone caulking.

 

[MMcConnell]

Thats one thing I noticed about the RTV seal when I first discovered the leak. It didn't look like it was cured as I have traditionally seen when looking at RTV applications. You could put your finger against, and it would actually smear onto your finger like it was grease instead of RTV. I talked to the mechanic at the dealership that pulled the transmission and resealed it and was telling him about it. He claimed that the type of sealer used will only cure when there is no oxygen present. He said that when you put a bead of sealer on a surface then press it against the mating surface it would push the air out, thus causing the RTV to cure. What is squeezed out on the outside will not cure as it is exposed to the the atmosphere. Never heard that one before personally, but I do know him and know he does quality work. He did clean and dry the sealing surfaces before resealing. I thought about supplying another type of lube for them to add but where the truck is under warranty, I figured they would buck the idea. I'm going to continue to monitor it. If the seeping continues I think I'm going to try to push them to get a new transmission.

 

[jhenderson]

It's known as anaerobic. I never knew RTV to work that way, but it's how thread locker works. It cures in the absence of air.

 

[Bob4x4]

The manual trans does get put together with an anaerobic sealer called Mopar™ Gasket Maker .It is red and can appear to be wet atf for a while after assy. Wipe it down and check it again in a week(verify fluid level to be safe)

 

[MMcConnell]

The manual trans does get put together with an anaerobic sealer called Mopar™ Gasket Maker .It is red and can appear to be wet atf for a while after assy. Wipe it down and check it again in a week(verify fluid level to be safe)

I wandered about this. I know without a doubt the first time I took it in to the dealership for a leak it was for a fact leaking ATF. The wetness thats on the transmission now, I wandered if could be residue from the sealer making its way down to the bottom of the transmission from heating/cooling cycles. I'm going to wipe it down and monitor it and see what happens. Thanks!

 

[MMcConnell]

I wanted to follow up on this problem I had back in December, as well share the horrible experience I am having with Chrysler. Every since my transmission was re-sealed back in December, I have been crawling under the truck keeping an eye on it from time to time to ensure the leak hasn't resurfaced. Low and behold, I was under it three weeks ago and it had began to leak once again, from the same place, where the two halves of the case bolt together. The sides of the transmission are dry, indicating it is not leaking at the shift boot and running down the sides like other have experienced. I contacted my dealership and took it by and they looked at it. They took pics of the transmission, the VIN, the mileage, and of the truck and said they were going to start a STAR case and push to get a new transmission sent in and swapped out. The following week, the service manager contacted me and asked me to come by once again as STAR had requested some more pictures. I ran it by, they took pics and left. The next day he called me back and said that STAR had approved to have a new transmission shipped to them, and it would be in this week. On Tuesday of this week, I called him to get an update and he said that Chrysler had put a hold on the transmission, and they wanted me to bring the truck in and have the mechanics pull the transmission, disassemble it, take more pics, and send them up for further evaluation. I asked how long my truck would be in the shop and was told approximately a week. That ****** me off royaly considering I depend on my truck every week to go to work, and to pull a trailer. Following this, I contacted Chrysler Tuesday evening to file a complaint and find out what their deal is. I was assigned a case number and a case manager to review the complaint. The case manager contacted me yesterday and said after researching it, STAR had approved to put in a new transmission, but Chrysler's Warranty Division is who put a halt on it. I asked why, and she told me she would find out and get back to me on Monday and that she was going to try to get it pushed on through. So here is my dilemma, I purchased a new Ram in July 2013. In less than five months, the transmission began leaking thus Failure #1. Take it in under warranty, the transmission is pulled disassembled and re-sealed, a few months later Failure #2. By now I'm convinced there is a flaw in the surfaces of the castings. Take it in to get a new transmission and Chrysler's Warranty Division wants further investigation? WTH? How many failures must one have before they will just up and replace the problem? This is my third Cummins Powered Ram, I love these trucks, however after dealing with this it most likely will be my last. Having an issue with a new vehicle is one thing, getting the run around from the company who built it and warranties it is another. Anyway, I wanted to share this experience with everyone and hope that no one else has to go through the same crap I'm having to...

 

[RVTRKN]

How heavy do you run at with the trailer?

 

[MMcConnell]

Not heavy at all with the trailer currently. At most 5,000 lbs.

 

[RVTRKN]

These trany's are known to run hot, and the aluminum case can stretch while towing heavy, my trans temperature runs at about 210* at 90* ambient but when I climb a grade that number has gone as high as 235*. I'm currently gathering a setup to install a pump and trans cooler. In fact the 07 Auto trans cooler will fit on my 07 C&C G56 equipped truck with out modification, and I have the cooler on the way. But you have a warranty you can't void so keep the ATF just over fill it by 1 quart. BTW there is a great article in a TDR mag on the G56, just I don't remember which one.

 

[EDankievitch]

I don't think they use RVT sealant between the case halfs. I belive that its a gell seal similar to the gell seal used on crankcase halfs on outboards. It's a Loctite product. The metal has to be cleaned oil and grease free then primed with a special primer. If they miss those steps it will not seal and leak after a while.