Transmission fluid leak

[shendren]

i found a small bit of trans fluid on the corner of my trans pan. with a quick look i could not tell where is was coming from. all of the bolts seemed ok. are there any common/obvious places to look for a leak. i will be back under there tomorrow. thanks. scott.

 

[Dieselnerd]

If you still have the stock transmission cooling lines, where they attach to the side of the transmission is a frequent trouble spot. This is especially true of the front or "hot" line leaving the transmission. If you opt to change the lines (assuming they are stock) I have all the part numbers.

 

[shendren]

where do those lines go into the trans? port/starboard? thanks. scott.

 

[Dieselnerd]

Port (Drivers) side.

 

[shendren]

well i checked it out. the lines were not leaking where they enter the transmission. i appears as if it might just be leaking around the pan gasket. the dealer just changed my trans fluid a couple of weeks ago. not a big leak but a leak nonetheless. can one just buy a gasket at the local autozone or is there something special i should buy. i will replace the trans filter also. how many quarts will this take? thanks. scott.

 

[Reddog1]

Scott,



I changed my transmission fluid last week. Gasket and filter kit about $7 at local parts house. On my trans, only required a couple quarts without loosening the Valve Body (VB) bolts (10 each). Loosening the bolts required ten quarts .



I wonder how many trans service shops do not loosen the VB bolts so they can save 8 quarts of fluid?



I assume you cleaned it to confirm it is in fact a leak, not just residue.



If your gasket is new, I doubt it is the problem. I would remove the pan, and look for signs of too much torque on the bolts, causing a dimple or dent in the pan gasket serface. This is a common problem with all stamped steel pans. Unless I found a problem with the new gasket, I would reuse it.



Wayne

 

[shendren]

thanks for the info. is the valve body inside the pan? i've never done this before. thanks. scott.

 

[Reddog1]

The Valve Body (VB) is inside the pan. If I remember correctly, the bolts (10 each) require a 7/16 socket. Six of the bolts are very obvious; the other four are not. The four are toward the front, on the driver’s side. Just back the ten bolts out approximately 1/8-inch. As I recall, there are no other bolts with 7/16 heads. When you tighten them, do not over tighten, the trans is aluminum.



If you just had the transmission serviced, and they loosened the bolts for proper drain, you may be wasting trans fluid. You need not do the drain thing if the pan is the problem.



If you do in fact have a leak, my bet is on the pan. My first thought would be to take it back to the service center and have them correct it. That’s if I still had confidence in their work. Straightening the pan is probably all that is required.





Wayne

 

[Extreme1]

Another source might be where the dip stick tube enters the transmission.

 

[Reddog1]

Scott,



Extreme1 has a point. Which corner has the Fluid?





Wayne

 

[shendren]

thanks folks. when i looked under there, it seemed to be coming from the starboard(right) side. but i did see some fluid around the bolts on the port side as well. i will check the dipstick connection. thanks. scott.

 

[shendren]

well, i had my truck into the dealer again for the steering shaft. i asked them to look at the trans. it is leaking from where the dip stick enters the trans. THANKS for the heads up. i don't trust the dealers much anymore... . scott.

 

[shendren]

well i looked at the place where the trans dip tube enters the top of the pan. i felt with my hand up there. i didn't feel a nut or anything. how does that come apart to get to the o-ring?? thanks. scott.

 

[illflem]

It's just pushed in, there is a bracket on the firewall that holds it in place, remove and give the tube a good tug.

 

[Fred Swanson]

Alot of times if the tube is moved around any with a stock o-ring, it'll leak.

The bracket holding the dip stick is not the strongest and can break the weld.

 

[shendren]

holy cow, thanks guys..... should have guessed that it's just pushed in. is this common? to have the o-ring leak. sounds like i can actually do this job. or is it really worth $60 to have the dealer do it? thanks. scott.

 

[illflem]

Scott, some other things. There is also an o-ring on the handle end of the dip stick that wears out. Not sure of your year, but some came with a dip stick that is a little too long and it will push the dip stick out with vibration (excellent DC engineering). If you find your dipstick out when you know you pushed it all the way in yours is too long. Many folks have fixed this by cutting a 1/4" off the end of the stick.