Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground (From the diff or tranny dipstick.)
| Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground [message #218289] |
Wed, 14 August 2013 10:25  |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Sunday afternoon I topped off the PS reservoir and Monday there was a 2x3' spot of red fluid under it. I assumed it was the PS pump and actually have a warranted pump on order. Was putting Manny tracks on the rear and couldn't jack up the front to get to it. However, today got under the front and realized the PS pump isn't the culprit. The leak is EITHER:
- Tranny dipstick tube. I replaced the Oring this weekend. Suspect for sure.
- Diff to tranny gasket. Lord I hope not. New gasket between the Manny tranny and the 'new' 321.
I put a ratchet on the diff bolts and they were tight...now they are tighter. I'm going to start the coach and let it idle and see if it starts to leak. Thoughts?
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground [message #218292 is a reply to message #218289] |
Wed, 14 August 2013 10:34  |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Start the engine and let it run until warm. Remove the vacuum modulator and
let the fluid run out until the level is as high as the bottom of the
modulator opening. Replace the modulator. Check for leaks. Calibrate
dipstick while you are at it. Should read full when fluid is at the bottom
of the modulator hole.
Jim Hupy
Salem, OR
78 GMC Royale 403
On Wed, Aug 14, 2013 at 8:25 AM, Kerry Pinkerton <Pinkertonk@mchsi.com>wrote:
>
>
> Sunday afternoon I topped off the PS reservoir and Monday there was a 2x3'
> spot of red fluid under it. I assumed it was the PS pump and actually have
> a warranted pump on order. Was putting Manny tracks on the rear and
> couldn't jack up the front to get to it. However, today got under the
> front and realized the PS pump isn't the culprit. The leak is EITHER:
>
> - Tranny dipstick tube. I replaced the Oring this weekend. Suspect for
> sure.
>
> - Diff to tranny gasket. Lord I hope not. New gasket between the Manny
> tranny and the 'new' 321.
>
> I put a ratchet on the diff bolts and they were tight...now they are
> tighter. I'm going to start the coach and let it idle and see if it starts
> to leak. Thoughts?
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as
> an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground [message #218321 is a reply to message #218316] |
Wed, 14 August 2013 13:33 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Be sure to check the inlet and outlet of the transmission cooler lines on top of the transmission with a flashlight with the engine running. They sometimes leak a little and it runs down over the transmission and is difficult to figure out from the bottom where it is coming from.
Emery Stora
On Aug 14, 2013, at 12:09 PM, Kerry Pinkerton wrote:
>
>
> hal kading wrote on Wed, 14 August 2013 12:41
>> ... There is a drain hole in the final drive that is to drain any tranny fluid that gets past the outer seal on the input shaft...
>
>
> Yes. I called Manny and told him there was a big puddle of transmission fluid under the coach. I only let his heart stop for a beat or two before I told him it wasn't his tranny. Once he calmed down, we discussed the various options and the weep hole was one. I cleaned the area very throughly with lacquer thinner and ran the engine for a bit...no leak. Getting ready to take a drive and inspect. Also put a bit more torque on the diff to tranny bolts but they were pretty tight already.
>
> I sure hope I don't have to drop the 3:21. :cry:
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground [message #218416 is a reply to message #218289] |
Thu, 15 August 2013 07:19 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Spent all day yesterday cleaning, testing, inspecting, etc.
The leak was leaving the vehicle on the right front tranny pan bolt but I could see red fluid on the lower right hand (Passenger) side differential bolt. After talking with John Beirski, I pulled that bolt coated it with RectorSeal (Plumbing thread sealer) and torqued it down. Also snugged up the tranny pan bolts just a tad. Went for about a 20 mile drive and parked it last night with a piece of cardboard (USPS large flat rate boxes are great).
This am, there is NO TRANNY FLUID!!!! YEA! 
There is a very small drip of differential fluid, probably about half a teaspoon. I'll track it down today. It appears to be running down the differential cover gasket. I snugged the bolts and will go for another drive today.
One disadvantage of a shiny engine is that fluid tracks are harder to see. John Beirski made two suggestions that make sense.
1 - Spray carb cleaner (or starting fluid) on the suspect area. it will clean off oil and leave a clean surface.
2 - Dust the clean area with talcum powder (foot, baby, etc) New fluid will show in the powder.
I can't stress enough how handy the air over hydraulic jack is. I can't reach these areas without lifting one side and plugging in the air hose beats the heck out of pumping a handle a jillion times. Yesterday the coach went up and down 4 times.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground [message #218423 is a reply to message #218416] |
Thu, 15 August 2013 08:16 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
|
Senior Member |
|
|
If you can still find the stuff, spary - on dye penetrant developer is perfect for finding leaks on a clean engine.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
--------------------------------------------
On Thu, 8/15/13, Kerry Pinkerton <Pinkertonk@MCHSI.com> wrote:
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Date: Thursday, August 15, 2013, 12:20 PM
Spent all day yesterday cleaning, testing, inspecting, etc.
The leak was leaving the vehicle on the right front tranny
pan bolt but I could see red fluid on the lower right hand
(Passenger) side differential bolt. After talking with
John Beirski, I pulled that bolt coated it with RectorSeal
(Plumbing thread sealer) and torqued it down. Also
snugged up the tranny pan bolts just a tad. Went for
about a 20 mile drive and parked it last night with a piece
of cardboard (USPS large flat rate boxes are great).
This am, there is NO TRANNY FLUID!!!! YEA! :d :d
There is a very small drip of differential fluid, probably
about half a teaspoon. I'll track it down today.
It appears to be running down the differential cover
gasket. I snugged the bolts and will go for another
drive today.
One disadvantage of a shiny engine is that fluid tracks are
harder to see. John Beirski made two suggestions that
make sense.
1 - Spray carb cleaner (or starting fluid) on the suspect
area. it will clean off oil and leave a clean
surface.
2 - Dust the clean area with talcum powder (foot, baby,
etc) New fluid will show in the powder.
I can't stress enough how handy the air over hydraulic jack
is. I can't reach these areas without lifting one side
and plugging in the air hose beats the heck out of pumping a
handle a jillion times. Yesterday the coach went up
and down 4 times.
--
Kerry Pinkerton
North Alabama, near Huntsville,
77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being
re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
|
|
|
|
| Re: Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground [message #218439 is a reply to message #218289] |
Thu, 15 August 2013 09:27 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
|
Senior Member |
|
|
To do the modulator spill over test, how much time do we have after key off to get an accurate level before the converter drain down comes in to play and you end up under filled? Also is this test at full operating temp, like 20 min driving? Is that then the new cal top mark or mid range on the stick?
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground [message #218457 is a reply to message #218416] |
Thu, 15 August 2013 13:59 |
George Beckman
Messages: 1085
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA
Karma: 11
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| Kerry Pinkerton wrote on Thu, 15 August 2013 05:19 |
Spent all day yesterday cleaning, testing, inspecting, etc.
The leak was leaving the vehicle on the right front tranny pan bolt but I could see red fluid on the lower right hand (Passenger) side differential bolt. After talking with John Beirski, I pulled that bolt coated it with RectorSeal (Plumbing thread sealer) and torqued it down. Also snugged up the tranny pan bolts just a tad. Went for about a 20 mile drive and parked it last night with a piece of cardboard (USPS large flat rate boxes are great).
This am, there is NO TRANNY FLUID!!!! YEA!
|
Kerry,
I chased a leak that appeared to be the front bolts of the tranny and it turned out to be a slight leak where the cooling tubes connect to the transmission.
At first blush, it would seem that the tubes are on the upper left and the leak is on the lower right. I even looked there several times. There is a small canyon under the tube connections that had no fluid in it. However, unknown to me, there is a worm hole in the bulkhead toward the front. It allows fluid to go forward, drain down the right (pan side) of the transmission, onto the top of the valve body.
The reason I mentioned this is I was sure I had it fixed several times. We were putting rear disc brakes on the coach... and testing them. Apparently the stopping and jacking the back up was causing the fluid to move forward... and drip. I could idle it for a long time and get nothing... stop fast and have a small puddle.
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground [message #218544 is a reply to message #218423] |
Fri, 16 August 2013 06:33 |
Steven Ferguson
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
What Johnny says. There is nothing that works better than dye. Hit it
with a ultra violet LED flashlight and you can instantly track any leak to
it's origin. I put the stuff in my trans, engine oil and PS fluid
reservoir. It does not take very much and there are a few sources on Ebay
where you can purchase the stuff at about 1/3 the cost of what the local
bandidos charge for it. Amazing stuff. I also found a 10 LED black light
on Ebay for not much $$ and it makes it a snap to find a leak.
Steve
On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 6:16 AM, Johnny Bridges <jhbridges@ymail.com> wrote:
> If you can still find the stuff, spary - on dye penetrant developer is
> perfect for finding leaks on a clean engine.
>
> --johnny
> '76 23' transmode norris
> '76 palm beach
> --------------------------------------------
> On Thu, 8/15/13, Kerry Pinkerton <Pinkertonk@MCHSI.com> wrote:
>
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Date: Thursday, August 15, 2013, 12:20 PM
>
>
>
> Spent all day yesterday cleaning, testing, inspecting, etc.
>
> The leak was leaving the vehicle on the right front tranny
> pan bolt but I could see red fluid on the lower right hand
> (Passenger) side differential bolt. After talking with
> John Beirski, I pulled that bolt coated it with RectorSeal
> (Plumbing thread sealer) and torqued it down. Also
> snugged up the tranny pan bolts just a tad. Went for
> about a 20 mile drive and parked it last night with a piece
> of cardboard (USPS large flat rate boxes are great).
>
> This am, there is NO TRANNY FLUID!!!! YEA! :d :d
>
>
> There is a very small drip of differential fluid, probably
> about half a teaspoon. I'll track it down today.
> It appears to be running down the differential cover
> gasket. I snugged the bolts and will go for another
> drive today.
>
> One disadvantage of a shiny engine is that fluid tracks are
> harder to see. John Beirski made two suggestions that
> make sense.
>
> 1 - Spray carb cleaner (or starting fluid) on the suspect
> area. it will clean off oil and leave a clean
> surface.
>
> 2 - Dust the clean area with talcum powder (foot, baby,
> etc) New fluid will show in the powder.
>
> I can't stress enough how handy the air over hydraulic jack
> is. I can't reach these areas without lifting one side
> and plugging in the air hose beats the heck out of pumping a
> handle a jillion times. Yesterday the coach went up
> and down 4 times.
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being
> re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Take care,
Steve
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Oh crap...tranny fluid on the ground [message #219251 is a reply to message #218544] |
Tue, 20 August 2013 12:23 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Steve,
are they different color? so you can tell the difference between Power steering and tranny fluid or oil??
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Tue Oct 08 23:26:39 CDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.01155 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
