Help! Can't stop this stubborn leak.

[FrankA]

Hey anyone-

I had a Dodge dealer install the maghitec transmission pan last summer and returned it twice cause of a very small leak coming from the gasket area. The second time I had them replace it with the same supplied gasket & the leak came back. I've read some earlier posts about using this RTV gasket maker & to use the static torque and not the dynamic torque when rechecking the bolts. Any advice out there would be greatly appreciated. What to do, what to do...

Love towing with my '07. 5 TD.

thanks-

frank:{

 

[BHanna]

Sounds like the pan's sealing surface may not be flat. RTV may help seal it but it's a bit of a pain when you change the fluid and have to remove and reapply it. Be careful not to use too much of it too. If it squishes to the inside of the pan, little bits can break off. Hopefully the filter would catch them but if not, they can clog things up.

I'm not sure what kind of gasket the Mag Hytec comes with but if it's not a thick reusable gasket, I'd try to find one of those and try that first. 48RE's came with them from the factory and they work great.

 

[jelag]

Is this an aluminum pan??? There is a process called Vacuum Impregnation that almost all aluminum parts go through in the manufacturing process... . the parts are loaded into a vacuum chamber and covered with an anorebic (sp) adhesive... as the vacuum removes all the air pockets in the casting after machining the chamber is than put under a pressure of something like 150 lbs... . this forces the adhesive into all the pin holes... .

The parts are removed and washed... and are now sealed... Almost every part that contacts any chemical in an engine that is manufactured from aluminum has this process done to prevent leaks... Mag Wheels, water pumps, oil pumps, cylinder heads... etc. . etc...

I'm going to guess that your part has a pin hole everyone is chasing and can't find with a gasket... . Call the vendor if the part is Aluminum and ask them if they vacuum impregnate their parts..... tell them about your leak... I'm sure they will send you a new pan... .

We rebuild compressors on engines with air brakes... . we see a lot of compressors with RTV or other like products that have gotten loose on the inside and plugged an oil galley and the related damage from lack of oil..... often its thought that if a little more is used it will help..... often not the case. .

 

[Jim W]

I have three Mag-Hytec pans on my truck. One each on the front and rear diffs along with the trans pan. I installed them myself and followed Mag-Hytec mounting torques requirements and instructions. I have never had any leaks with these pans.

The AL trans mounting pan bolt torques are lower then the steel pan bolt torque requirements. The torque for Al pan bolts are 12-16 ft-lbs, the steel pan bolt torques are higher. Do you know if the dealer over torqued the bolts? If he did the pan could have a very fine crack in one of the mounting holes and this will cause a leak.

Did the dealer provide the instructions for the Mag-Hytec pan to you? If he did then check page 2, Installation instruction No. 8. This states that you might need to file the trans case to provide a flat gasket mounting surface.

Good Luck to you.

Jim