Leaking Transmission Fluid, Cant Find Where (PICS)

[Black Stallion]

My transmission has been hard to get into gear latley. So I go out and check under my car, and see a small dab of tranny fluid ready to fall onto the ground. So I am thinking that it might be leaking from the fill plug, ( I didnt put any RTV sealant around) but it is not leaking a drop. So I need some help.

I hope these pics help. Notice it is not leaking alot but enough.

 

[Black Stallion]

Do you guys think (in the first pic) that it is coming from that shaft? Is there suppose to be a seal around that shaft?

 

[SHO_Driver]

Yep there is a seal behind that shaft. The CV joint seal or axle seal. Its mounted to the transmission case. You need to remove the shaft to change it.

 

[Ishodu]

Axle seal looks to be the leaker from the pics.

 

[drivinhard]

axle seals, get some Timken ones at AZ ($3), I forget the number off the top of my head, seems like it's 3933 but I'm not sure that's right. In the AZ computer it's under "output shaft" seal, for whatever reason....

 

[Bizzy]

S-3622 or 3622-S is the part number depending on what part store you go to.

And if you put a single goober of RTV on that trans anywhere I think I'll have to come out and personally punch you in the arm.

 

[Black Stallion]

Is this something I cant put off for a couple of weeks? Is this hard to change? Im not mechanically inclined. Would it cost me a arm and a leg for a garage to do it?

 

[rangerj]

The change of the seal can waite, but check your fluid level frequently. There is no sense in ruining the trans due to a lack of fluid.

 

[Black Stallion]

The change of the seal can waite, but check your fluid level frequently. There is no sense in ruining the trans due to a lack of fluid.

Yep thats what I am doing. I booked a date for the SHO to go into the garage. All I do is add some everyday. But im thinking that I should be able to make it at least two days then add.

 

[AREA 91]

Wish I would have known for our meet we had. I/us could have changed it in the parking lot.

 

[Black Stallion]

Wish I would have known for our meet we had. I/us could have changed it in the parking lot.

Haha, its all good. Getting it fixed (hopefully) but I gotta wait till next week.

 

[Bizzy]

You may as well have the shop replace both seals while the car is up in the air. When one goes it's probably close to time for the other one to go too.

Keep a close eye on your fluid level and you should be ok. When you put your finger in the fill plug hole and you don't feel fluid right there it's time to fill 'er up.

Also, just as an FYI, you don't need to put anything on the fill plug (ie: RTV, teflon tape, pipe dope) to keep it from leaking. The way the case is made combined with the fluid level being below the fill plug it shouldn't require anything to keep the fluid in except the fill plug itself.

 

[rangerj]

Bizzy is right. The seal should not need any sealer on its outer perimeter. However, a light coating of anaerobic sealer may be used. DO NOT use silicone for this purpose. Silicone will not compress and it will not allow the seal to seat properly. Bizzy is also correct about replacing both seals if they are both the same age/milage. Hi Bizzy.:wave:

 

[Black Stallion]

Is it possible to overflow the fluid in the transmission, and if so would it be a bad thing?

 

[kzoosho]

Is it possible to overflow the fluid in the transmission, and if so would it be a bad thing?

not in yur case . just give you longer to drive before you have to fill again lol.

 

[Bizzy]

Bizzy is right. The seal should not need any sealer on its outer perimeter. However, a light coating of anaerobic sealer may be used. DO NOT use silicone for this purpose. Silicone will not compress and it will not allow the seal to seat properly. Bizzy is also correct about replacing both seals if they are both the same age/milage. Hi Bizzy.:wave:

Heya Jack! :wave: Will you be making it up to our neck of the woods again at convention time?

I always use a small bead of anaerobic sealant on the axle seals, even on the Ford issued ones.

Is it possible to overflow the trans, I guess so but with one person doing the job of filling it, I doubt it. Even if you did overflow it, because our transmissions are already starved for fluid I highly doubt it would do any damage to it. It doesn't depend on pressure to work.

If you do overfill it the excess will puke out the vent when the car is run. If enough were to be puked out you could possibly mistake that for a leak.

 

[sdpatt]

The output shaft seals are indeed the Timken 3622S. See my parts list entry below.

MTX output shaft seals, Timken 3622S, AutoZone, $3.99, Last checked 01/12/07

The seals are inexpensive and easy to acquire, but their installation is not a simple as it could be. The Timken seals have a coated finish on the outer metal ring that does a good job of sealing against the transaxle case. The aneroboic sealer is not a bad idea. The challenge comes in installing them without bending the metal structure of the seal.

A proper seal installation tool or appropriately sized PVC pipe coupler is required to uniformly apply pressure to the seal during the pressing operation. This is complicated when the transaxle is still installed in the car, but can be done properly if caution is exercised. This is where the cheap cost of the seals may come in handy as having a spare (or two) on hand can allow a "practice" installation.

Regarding overfilling of the transaxle, the fill hole that must be open to add fluid is on the forward face of the gearcase, and unless the car is on a steep incline or raised excessively from front to rear, it will not allow you to add too much fluid without it running out the hole. Not a problem.