Help! Transmission leak

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old July 17th, 2018, 12:36 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Green-machine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 29
Help! Transmission leak

I came out to my garage to find what appears to be transmission fluid and I知 assuming most of it has leaked out of my car. Where do I start guys?!







Last edited by Green-machine; July 17th, 2018 at 12:39 PM.
Green-machine is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 12:39 PM
  #2  
Hookers under Hood
 
76olds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,543
How much fluid do you think you lost? Overnight ? Any visible trans leaks prior to this?
76olds is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 12:43 PM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Green-machine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 29
At least 4 quarts. It leaked a little at the seal and a few months back my line had a plastic piece from what I was told rigged to my lines which melted and stopped my transmission from shifting. Removed that and it has been fine until now
Green-machine is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 12:43 PM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Green-machine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 29
And yes overnight. I drove it yesterday.
Green-machine is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 12:56 PM
  #5  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Green-machine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 29
It seems to be leaking from somewhere near the rear of the pan and a bracket just behind the pan

Green-machine is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 01:01 PM
  #6  
Hookers under Hood
 
76olds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,543
I'm thinking a front pump seal or rear seal .
76olds is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 02:41 PM
  #7  
Old(s) Fart
 
joe_padavano's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,311
Originally Posted by 76olds
I'm thinking a front pump seal or rear seal .

Or the pan gasket.


Or the modulator o-ring.


It's hard to tell from these photos. Frankly, that much fluid didn't come from a seal leak. You'd almost need a leak at one of the cooler lines to pump out that much fluid. Are you cooler lines loose? Are they all metal or do you have hoses?
joe_padavano is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 03:45 PM
  #8  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Green-machine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 29
I was thinking the same. I have hoses according to my mechanic who did previous work on transmission and I don稚 know where they connect. Is it something that I can see without getting under it? I only have a jack and don稚 really trust that.
Green-machine is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 03:52 PM
  #9  
Old(s) Fart
 
joe_padavano's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,311
Originally Posted by Green-machine
I was thinking the same. I have hoses according to my mechanic who did previous work on transmission and I don稚 know where they connect. Is it something that I can see without getting under it? I only have a jack and don稚 really trust that.

The hoses connect on the passenger side of the trans. You will need to lift the car. Get jack stands. At some point, get rid of the hoses and use correct all metal cooler lines.
joe_padavano is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 03:53 PM
  #10  
CH3NO2 LEARN IT BURN IT
 
droldsmorland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Land of Taxes
Posts: 4,846
Could be the slip yoke or trans tail shaft seal? This is generally exasperated when the car is at a slight angle...nose up which yours is not. Get it up on a lift.
droldsmorland is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 04:24 PM
  #11  
Registered User
 
therobski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth
Posts: 3,114
X2 what Joe mentioned. WOW-That's a lot of fluid! If your ride is stock and would like to keep it that way just order new replacement metal lines-plug and play (maybe) I know this is over kill but for about the same $$ spent, I went with braided lines because of all the mods on this build. I wanted to route them for best fit on this application, and it was fun! On the pictures notice that I routed them on top the passenger side fender well. Very clean application however your later A-body plus all the factory parts may not allow this to be easy. But it's darn near bullet proof. I don't like leaks...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_3083.JPG (48.1 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_3084.JPG (41.9 KB, 15 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_3548.JPG (82.0 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_3547.JPG (80.6 KB, 15 views)
therobski is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 04:49 PM
  #12  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Green-machine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 29
Wow, nice setup therobski!! I知 looking for tire cradles as we speak so that I can get under it and get a good look at it. Whatever it is I知 going to take you alls advice on getting the correct or upgraded lines. Thanks for the input guys!
Green-machine is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 05:03 PM
  #13  
Registered User
 
therobski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth
Posts: 3,114
Once you get under the car, I believe Joe is what you will discover. That said Inline tube and others have pre-bent lines for you. That maybe the best and easy way.
therobski is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 06:04 PM
  #14  
Registered User
 
Koda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 10,280
Originally Posted by therobski
Once you get under the car, I believe Joe is what you will discover. That said Inline tube and others have pre-bent lines for you. That maybe the best and easy way.

I fully expect to walk out to my garage where my Olds is one day and find Joe underneath it.
Koda is offline  
Old July 17th, 2018, 06:21 PM
  #15  
Registered User
 
matt69olds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: central Indiana
Posts: 5,246
About the only thing that could leak that much overnight and be fine while driving would be the o-ring around the modulator or around the dipstick tube. When the car sits overnight and the torque converter drains back into the pan the fluid level raises above the level of those seals. Clean the old fluid from under and around the car, add just a little A/C oil with the florescent dye, drive the car for a while, then crawl under it with a black light. The dye will highlight exactly where the leak is.

I agree with Joe, rubber hose has no place in a transmission line!! Unless the steel line has a bead or something for the hose clamp to grip, eventually that hose will slip off the line, spraying ATF all over the hot exhaus. Bite the bullet, drop the transmission pan, replace the o-ring on the modulator and dipstick tube, install new steel lines, and replace and refill the fluid.
matt69olds is offline  
Old July 18th, 2018, 05:56 AM
  #16  
Registered User
 
therobski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth
Posts: 3,114
Me too:I fully expect to walk out to my garage where my Olds is one day and find Joe underneath it.
therobski is offline  
Old July 18th, 2018, 04:46 PM
  #17  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Green-machine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 29
Originally Posted by matt69olds
About the only thing that could leak that much overnight and be fine while driving would be the o-ring around the modulator or around the dipstick tube. When the car sits overnight and the torque converter drains back into the pan the fluid level raises above the level of those seals. Clean the old fluid from under and around the car, add just a little A/C oil with the florescent dye, drive the car for a while, then crawl under it with a black light. The dye will highlight exactly where the leak is.

I agree with Joe, rubber hose has no place in a transmission line!! Unless the steel line has a bead or something for the hose clamp to grip, eventually that hose will slip off the line, spraying ATF all over the hot exhaus. Bite the bullet, drop the transmission pan, replace the o-ring on the modulator and dipstick tube, install new steel lines, and replace and refill the fluid.
Green-machine is offline  
Old July 18th, 2018, 04:48 PM
  #18  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Green-machine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 29
Matt, thanks for the advice. I値l try to figure out where it痴 coming from tomorrow and give everyone an update. I値l definitely change those lines for sure.
Green-machine is offline  
Old July 18th, 2018, 04:53 PM
  #19  
Hookers under Hood
 
76olds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,543
I hope its something as simple as your lines. As mentioned above Inline Tube is a good place for pre-bent lines.

Eric
76olds is offline  
Old July 18th, 2018, 05:00 PM
  #20  
Hookers under Hood
 
76olds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,543
Originally Posted by joe_padavano
Or the pan gasket.


Or the modulator o-ring.


It's hard to tell from these photos. Frankly, that much fluid didn't come from a seal leak. You'd almost need a leak at one of the cooler lines to pump out that much fluid. Are you cooler lines loose? Are they all metal or do you have hoses?
Quite a bit of seepage by the modulator ( easy taking the bolt out, the ear usually breaks off then you need a bracket to hold the modulator in place) but a line leak sounds more like the problem.
I would put a few seals on the repair list as well if it were me.

All the best with the repair !
Eric

Last edited by 76olds; July 18th, 2018 at 05:06 PM.
76olds is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
2blu442
General Discussion
8
March 20th, 2019 01:34 PM
72455
General Discussion
3
December 25th, 2018 01:22 PM
Christopher Michael Drew
Parts For Sale
8
December 17th, 2018 11:47 AM
Cosmic Charlie
General Discussion
47
November 25th, 2018 04:08 PM
tdhill01
Parts For Sale
6
October 9th, 2018 11:00 AM



Quick Reply: Help! Transmission leak



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:30 AM.