Transmission Leak ??
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Rocky Mountain High
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 135
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From: Parker, CO
Transmission Leak ??
I noticed the other day some trans fluid around the pan of the trans, mostly on the back end. I looked closer and noticed one pan bolt was completely missing (the very last bolt in the middle and back). Anyway, I got a new bolt from the dealer and when I installed that I noticed a few of the bolts around the missing one were slightly loose. Checking the ones on the side and front of the pan were fine. I cleaned up all the fluid I could see. I went for a drive in both stock and other fun settings on the DP Tuner and when I returned, there was slight fluid build up along the same seal border (of the trans pan). Fluid level is fine, for now. So, what now? Is the pan seal shot due to a bolt missing for an unknown time? Any ideas of what is causing the slow leak or how to stop it? Maybe this is normal? 
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Rocky Mountain High
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Parker, CO
Update: I put in a new pan, new OEM gasket, and torqued the bolts to 10foot/#s. The leak is still there. Again, not a bad leak, but a leak. Any ideas? Should I torque the bolts to 12 (read that number somewhere)????
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
Likes: 25
From: Damon (South East Texas)
Do you have your trans temp sensor in the test port on the left side of the trans? I had it seep from the threads before. I removed it and added some more pipe sealant on the threads and all was well again. Also, the seal on the manual lever shaft could be leaking. Check behind the DTR (digita trans range) sensor for a leak from this seal.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
Well, that should not happen. Clean the area up and make sure your cooler bypass is not clogged causing high fluid pressure. IOW make sure to isolate the source and if it is the pan then maybe you have a bad surface for sealing.
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Rocky Mountain High
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 135
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From: Parker, CO
Sorry for the delay, I wanted to wait until I had driven it some, with and without towing, and post these pictures. What do you all think? Close up, the rear bolts are very wet and it looks like the fluid is seeping from the seal as well as from around the bolt. You can see that the trans fluid sprays all over and even gets the front drive shaft all wet. The trans sensor is dry (for the Isspro gauge), so it is not leaking from there. The sides and front part of the pan are dry. Again, this whole thing started with one missing pan bolt, not sure for how long either. I was ultra diligent and had the seal surface clean and torqued to 10 foot/#s. Do I dare go to 12? Seems to me that the bolts just aren't tight enough, but I don't want to warp that thin metal of the pan. Any thoughts from the trans specialists?
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Rocky Mountain High
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Parker, CO
Just re-read this. How do I make sure my cooler bypass is not clogged? I recently installed the 6.0 cooler (after I noticed the leak) and my temps are fine.
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Rocky Mountain High
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,717
Likes: 2,642
From: SE Florida
I've never seen a cooler bypass clog. It is VERY unlikely to happen. If your temperatures are fine then it's working correctly. Plus, even if it were clogged it won't cause high pressures or leaks.
From your photos it looks to me like the leak may be at the extension housing to the case gasket, not the pan gasket.
From your photos it looks to me like the leak may be at the extension housing to the case gasket, not the pan gasket.
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Rocky Mountain High
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 135
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From: Parker, CO
Thanks Mark. I thought that too, any way to know with out removing the case? What are those bolts torqued to? If it was the case gasket, would the pan bolts get so wet? It seems like they are more wet than anything else.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,717
Likes: 2,642
From: SE Florida
You don't need to remove the case. You can remove the tailhousing. I don't have a torque chart to be able to give you the values. A leaking extension housing can make the pan bolts wet.
