Does this leak familiar?

[eddielasvegas]

Hello All,

This has been happening for some time and I finally got around to trying to discover its source and taking pix.

I originally thought it was the VCG but it sure looks like transmission fluid related and the fluid appears to be tranny fluid.

The upper and lower tranny fluid dipstick tube looks like there is an O-ring between them so maybe that's the source?

Anyhoo, does anyone know of this leak?

Thanks,

Eddie

P.S. The last pic is after I cleaned it with engine degreaser and then rinsed it off.

 

[nissanh]

Sorry, No.
How is the fluid level?

 

[G_Raw]

only seen the leak at that dipstick pan connect on 2wd's. Needs full pan replacement to correct since the lower stick is one piece to the pan. You can ghetto fix it numerous ways but those are all bandaids...acutally if I don't know the material but you could probably weld and paint to fix.

The leak is usually due to bending and flexing the trans dip stick. Usually this is a result of exhaust/header work...or any other work in that area on the passenger side of the motor since the stick wraps around the exhaust manifolds.

 

[eddielasvegas]

Good, but I find determining the tranny fluid level to be very tricky for some reason. I can't seem to get a clean fluid level indication like I can on the engine oil dipstick.

I will revisit this to be sure it's not overfilled.

Thanks,

Eddie

...How is the fluid level?

 

[eddielasvegas]

Yes and I thought it was leaking where the lower dipstick tube connects to the pan, but that means the tranny fluid is moving up the dipstick tube, which sure seems unlikely, right?

Thanks for your comment.


Eddie

P.S. I will thoroughly clean the area and wipe it down to make this troubleshooting effort easier.

only seen the leak at that dipstick pan connect on 2wd's. Needs full pan replacement to correct since the lower stick is one piece to the pan. You can ghetto fix it numerous ways but those are all bandaids...acutally if I don't know the material but you could probably weld and paint to fix.

The leak is usually due to bending and flexing the trans dip stick. Usually this is a result of exhaust/header work...or any other work in that area on the passenger side of the motor since the stick wraps around the exhaust manifolds.

 

[brillo_76]

I like the others are suspecting the pan connection as that transmission fluid can creep up like that without issues..

The only other thing is your transmission fluid is too high and coming out the o ring joint.

 

[Bad Luck]

Good, but I find determining the tranny fluid level to be very tricky for some reason. I can't seem to get a clean fluid level indication like I can on the engine oil dipstick.

I will revisit this to be sure it's not overfilled.

Thanks,

Eddie

That's a problem with pretty much every transmission dipstick (at least for me). I find the bet way to get an accurate reading is to pull the dipstick out, wipe it off, and put it back in. Repeat that 4-5 times then check where it is on the dipstick. My theory is there is fluid on the higher sections of the dipstick tube caused by the transmission fluid level in the pan rising when you turn the vehicle off.

 

[phattyduck]

That's a problem with pretty much every transmission dipstick (at least for me). I find the bet way to get an accurate reading is to pull the dipstick out, wipe it off, and put it back in. Repeat that 4-5 times then check where it is on the dipstick. My theory is there is fluid on the higher sections of the dipstick tube caused by the transmission fluid level in the pan rising when you turn the vehicle off.

Use paper towel or shop towel to help you read the level. Wrap it carefully around the dipstick, open it back up and the area with a clear oil stain will show the top of the actual level. The other oil marks higher up on the stick don't really show on the paper towel. Like this:

(engine oil on a Honda dipstick, but you get the idea... it really works, especially after the first dip/wipe)

-Charlie

 

[eddielasvegas]

Thanks for everyone's replies.

Attached is a pic I took early this afternoon after it sat all night. The pan and tube were cleaned last night.

This is clearly coming from the part of the tube where the upper and lower tube join together so I removed a little over two quarts of fluid and cleaned off the pan and tube and will recheck in the a.m.


Eddie

 

[eddielasvegas]

Another update:

After removing about 2 quarts of tranny fluid and check this a.m., there was a minute amount of fluid at the elbow of the tube. See pic.

So I decided to remove about another quart of tranny fluid and will see how it fairs overnight. Updates tomorrow.

I still cannot believe I overfilled this by 3+ quarts and I know for sure I only added what I drained from the pan. OTOH, I can screw up with the best of them so we'll see.

Also, I ordered the O-ring that rests between the upper and lower tranny tube and I'll probably end up replacing that if this latest fluid removal does not work.

Lastly, I have not driven it since the fluid has been removed so that's still an open question even if the leak is no longer a problem.


Eddie

 

[Skulking]

Another update:

After removing about 2 quarts of tranny fluid and check this a.m., there was a minute amount of fluid at the elbow of the tube. See pic.

So I decided to remove about another quart of tranny fluid and will see how it fairs overnight. Updates tomorrow.

I still cannot believe I overfilled this by 3+ quarts and I know for sure I only added what I drained from the pan. OTOH, I can screw up with the best of them so we'll see.

Also, I ordered the O-ring that rests between the upper and lower tranny tube and I'll probably end up replacing that if this latest fluid removal does not work.

Lastly, I have not driven it since the fluid has been removed so that's still an open question even if the leak is no longer a problem.


Eddie

Have you actually checked where your fluid level is, or are you just going to keep removing fluid until the leak stops and hope you don't pull so much you kill your transmission before then?

 

[Vansnxtweek]

I don't mean to be Captain Obvious here but...are you checking the Trans oil using the correct procedure? The level is the level so check the stick correctly and go from there. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[eddielasvegas]

Well, the leak has stopped after the last removal of fluid.

I'll double check the procedure to ensure I'm following it correctly.

Thanks for everyone's comments.


Eddie

 

[eddielasvegas]

Just an update for those that might find this thread in a search.

I verified the fluid level is where it's supposed to be when hot and double and triple checked it to be sure.

To get it there, I had to add transmission fluid to the tune of ~3.5 qts. Unsurprisingly, the leak is back exactly like it was before.

I suspect the O-ring between the upper and lower dipstick tube has deteriorated to the point of allowing seepage or blowback.

As I said earlier, I have the O ring in question and will replace it ASAP and update the thread.

Thanks all,

Eddie

 

[eddielasvegas]

I finally resolved this problem and wanted to post an update for search posterity.

I'm hardly Mr. Goodwrench, but also not a complete knucklehead when it comes to basic car maintenance, but I "assumed" the leak was tranny fluid since it was on the tranny dipstick. I did figure this out not too long after first first post.

Anyhoo, the leak was engine oil from the VCG that was somehow finding a path down the dipstick bracket and downward to the point of accumulating as shown in the pix.

My mechanic replaced the VCG, upper intake manifold gaskets, spark plugs and spark plug tube seals and the cam shaft plugs. It is dry as a bone under my T4R now.

Happy to answer any questions and thanks to those that replied to my initial post.


Eddie

 

[repo]

With a valve cover leaks the oil thins out and runs all over the place and air blasts it all the way back while driving. If that doesn't fix it then maybe transmission front pump seal or the rear main seal but hopefully it was the valve cover.

 

[Outrider]

I finally resolved this problem and wanted to post an update for search posterity.

I'm hardly Mr. Goodwrench, but also not a complete knucklehead when it comes to basic car maintenance, but I "assumed" the leak was tranny fluid since it was on the tranny dipstick. I did figure this out not too long after first first post.

Anyhoo, the leak was engine oil from the VCG that was somehow finding a path down the dipstick bracket and downward to the point of accumulating as shown in the pix.

My mechanic replaced the VCG, upper intake manifold gaskets, spark plugs and spark plug tube seals and the cam shaft plugs. It is dry as a bone under my T4R now.

Happy to answer any questions and thanks to those that replied to my initial post.


Eddie

Kudos to you for the update.

In the nearly 15 years I have owned mine (as well as all of the other family vehicles I work on), I have learned that quite often, things are not at all what they appear to be (don't get me started on my apparent blown head gasket). And it often takes quite a bit of investigative work, and often just pure luck (or happenstance) to find the real cause of a problem.

I bet you feel very relieved now, having solved this issue.

 

[nycfyrman]

What did they charge you for the valve cover job? I just did mine yesterday and without taking a break and dealing with three meltdowns from a 4 year old and three broken valve cover studs it took me 10 hours. Didnt pee once even. Trying to convince my wife I am not cheap for keeping a 22 year old car functioning. She has no clue about my watch collection lol