Transmission leaking fluid...Suggestions?
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Transmission leaking fluid...Suggestions?
Hello,
I am new to this forum but it seems as though there are really knowledgeable people on here. Here's the prob. I drove my 1998 Navigator on a two hour drive this past weekend (interstate driving) at about 70 mph the entire time to pick up a friend of mine. When I pulled into the driveway to load the luggage I noticed oil spots all over the back hatch, not bad but like a mist so I looked under the car out of curiosity and I noticed that there was transmission fluid dripping out slowly but not very much when the car was idling in park. I then noticed when I got home that there had been little drops in the driveway over time. I checked the fluid and it was at the correct level and was not burnt. I had my mechanic look at it and he said that the fluid was leaking out of the valve on top of the transmission and that he suspected that the tourque converter may be going bad but did not say so definitively because he was not completely sure. What should I do, should I be anticipating a rebuild soon? Or could it have been overfilled? Thanks!
I am new to this forum but it seems as though there are really knowledgeable people on here. Here's the prob. I drove my 1998 Navigator on a two hour drive this past weekend (interstate driving) at about 70 mph the entire time to pick up a friend of mine. When I pulled into the driveway to load the luggage I noticed oil spots all over the back hatch, not bad but like a mist so I looked under the car out of curiosity and I noticed that there was transmission fluid dripping out slowly but not very much when the car was idling in park. I then noticed when I got home that there had been little drops in the driveway over time. I checked the fluid and it was at the correct level and was not burnt. I had my mechanic look at it and he said that the fluid was leaking out of the valve on top of the transmission and that he suspected that the tourque converter may be going bad but did not say so definitively because he was not completely sure. What should I do, should I be anticipating a rebuild soon? Or could it have been overfilled? Thanks!
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Hello,
It was def. the transmission. I did have the rear end checked and it's ok. The trans was low on fluid when I checked it today. It appears that the fluid is boiling out. I was told that this could be due to a restricted transmission cooler or filter. Does this sound reasonable? I really don't know what to do at this point and I do not want to pay for an entire rebuild if it is something dumb. To be honest aside from the transmission leaking the fluid there are no signs it could be going bad. It shifts smoothly in all gears and has no hesitation at all.
It was def. the transmission. I did have the rear end checked and it's ok. The trans was low on fluid when I checked it today. It appears that the fluid is boiling out. I was told that this could be due to a restricted transmission cooler or filter. Does this sound reasonable? I really don't know what to do at this point and I do not want to pay for an entire rebuild if it is something dumb. To be honest aside from the transmission leaking the fluid there are no signs it could be going bad. It shifts smoothly in all gears and has no hesitation at all.
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Fleet Owner
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Yes it does. Have you traced out the cooling lines looking for any signs of kinks or damage?
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I know it's been awhile but I still have the problem. I had a local transmission shop change the fluid and filter and he checked the flow through the cooler and it is fine. I also put a new radiator in it prior to this. The fluid in the transmission is not getting burnt, but it is leaking out the vent hole on the top when I go on trips over 20 min. It is a slow leak too. I will pull over and park it and there will only be a spot about the size of a jar lid. There are no indications in the transmission of slipping, hard shifts etc. In fact, he was driving it around and remarked about how smooth the SUV was overall. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Fleet Owner
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Ooooo, a clue! If you're saying that you didn't have this problem before the new radiator, but you have it now, then you have a bad radiator. To be more specific, you have a radiator that has an internal tranny cooler that's cracked.
Last paragraph on this page:
Raybestos Powertrain
"Water can be deadly when it finds its way into your transmission As you drive down the road, transmission temperatures quickly exceed 212 degrees F - water's boiling point, And when water boils and turns to steam, it expands rapidly... when an ounce of liquid water turns to steam, it can easily displace 2 quarts of transmission fluid. If that water happens to be trapped in the torque converter when it reaches its boiling point, the pressure it generates as it turns to steam can force transmission fluid out the vent or dipstick tube. And ATF has a flash point of 375 degrees F an exhaust manifold can reach temperatures well above 1800 degrees F So when hot fluid belches all over an even hotter exhaust manifold - a nasty underhood fire can occur."
Last paragraph on this page:
Raybestos Powertrain
"Water can be deadly when it finds its way into your transmission As you drive down the road, transmission temperatures quickly exceed 212 degrees F - water's boiling point, And when water boils and turns to steam, it expands rapidly... when an ounce of liquid water turns to steam, it can easily displace 2 quarts of transmission fluid. If that water happens to be trapped in the torque converter when it reaches its boiling point, the pressure it generates as it turns to steam can force transmission fluid out the vent or dipstick tube. And ATF has a flash point of 375 degrees F an exhaust manifold can reach temperatures well above 1800 degrees F So when hot fluid belches all over an even hotter exhaust manifold - a nasty underhood fire can occur."
