Leaks are always an annoyance and it is really
irrating when you go to the extra trouble to fix the leak to no avail. I had a
similar problem with my transmission (which is a Volvo M46). I also did
the "replace all the seals and gaskets" thing but after sitting for a while I
would have a puddle of fluid under the car. So I pulled the transmission
and replaced all the gaskets again. Still, after a day or so the leak would
reappear. Not one to give up on this type of problem I started
really concentrating on a solution. But first I had to figure out where the
fluid was actually leaking from the transmission. I started out by thoroughly
cleaning the entire transmission and engine where these components were
absolutely "bone dry". It took me several sessions to get the transmission and
engine "clean enough". Fortunately I have a car lift so I am able to get under
the car rather easily. So once I had the transmission really
clean I didn't drive the car but I inspected it for leaks every day. The
first possible suspect that emerged was the lower drain plug (side of
transmission with a 1/4 male pipe thread). So I re-sealed the plug, cleaned
everything of fluid, and the next day it seemed to be leaking from the same
area. Now this leak was starting to get "personal". Over the next few days I
tried a variety of remedies but none of them stopped the leak. At times the plug
had enough sealant to keep the Titanic afloat. Despite my best efforts I still
had the leak. At this point I was getting really annoyed. The only place the
fluid seemed to be leaking from was the lower drain plug but after all I had
done it should have been impossible for it to leak from that area. So, once
again, I went through the cleaning routine with the car on the lift. (By this
time all the paint was off the transmission from all the cleaning I had done).
After I got it clean again, I positioned a really bright light under the car,
pulled up a chair, opened a Coke, and waited for the damn thing to start
leaking. I actually didn't have to wait long for the leak to
start but I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The leak seemed to be
coming not from the drain plug but from the transmission casting slightly above
and forward of the drain plug. (The transmission casting protrudes around the
drain plug). So I cleaned that area again and sure enough I had a seep from the
corner of the casting where the protrusion transitions into the main casting.
The fluid would go from this area to the drain plug and then on to the
floor. Even with the bright light and a pair of magnifying glasses the crack was
hard to see. I cleaned the area yet again and confirmed that I had found the
source. I got some sealer used to seal valve cover gaskets and put some over the
crack. After the sealer had dried the leak seemed to be stopped. So I left for
the day. The next day the transmission was still dry. So how was I going to
permanently fix the problem. It seemed a little excessive (even for me) to pull
the transmission again for this minor, but annoying, leak. The crack seems
to be more of a casting flaw rather than a crack caused by stress or damage. I
ended up cleaning up the area around the crack once again and applying the
sealant to the outside of the case. That was a couple of years ago and the
transmission is still dry. Probably the thing that helped the most in finding
this leak was the bright light under the car. The instant the leak started I
could see the fluid glistening under the bright light. Of course, the
transmission had to be absolutely clean for this to happen. So leaks can be
annoying and elusive but eventually the can be found and fixed. Good luck on
your problem.
Mike Denman
Chassis #4079
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2003 6:43
AM
Subject: RE: [MarcosManiacs] Transmission
HELP!!!!
Hi Michael,
I've had a minor transmission leak
myself for the last few years, even
though I've twice removed the unit and
replaced all the seals on the gearbox
and overdrive. I can understand your
frustration because the cause is often
very difficult to pin down. It was
suggested I use a special dye added to
the oil to pinpoint the exact leak
point. I was going to do it before I had
my overdrive bearings replaced
last year but I forgot to put it in. However,
I was so convinced the shop I
used would finally resolve the problem, I
wasn't concerned. Silly me. Even
though I told them about my problem and
they took extra care during the
rebuild, the leak didn't go away. I've been
warned off using any of those
stop leak products because they supposedly
soften the oil seals and cause
them to wear prematurely but at this point
I'm prepared to try anything to
stop leaving drops of oil every time I park,
even if I have to replace the
seals every few years. Rather that than
wrecking a gearbox and overdrive
through lack of oil. However, I'm going to
try the tracer dye first. Mind
you, I don't think my leak is as bad as yours
and the one positive result
is I have no rust anywhere under the rear half
of the car.
Good
hunting,
Paul Dransfield
3 litre Volvo
-----Original
Message-----
From: aoi19642003 [mailto:aoi19642003@...]
Sent:
Wednesday, June 18, 2003 9:17 AM
To:
MarcosManiacs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MarcosManiacs] Transmission
HELP!!!!
I wonder if anyone has experienced this problem. I have a
1970 Marcos
and I have a never-ending transmission leak. Initially, I
brought it
to a transmission shop and they did a complete reseal. I parked
it in
my garage, and a few weeks later I went to use it and there was a
huge puddle of transmission oil on my floor. I brought it back to the
transmissiom shop and they said it was the transmission oil pan
gasket, they replaced it and I parked it in my garage and the same
problem occured.
Since then I had the car at 2 other shops, and they
both found the
same problem and tried to correct it to no avail(they used
all types
of gasket materials). The last shop even replaced the
transmission
oil pan and it still is leaking.
Note: It always
seems to leak after the vehicle has been sitting for
a while.
Any
help will greatly be appreciated.
Thank
you.
Michael
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