I had My transfer case oil changed last week after that I started noticing a big oil leak coming front the front seal, I think i never seen it leak before because the level was actually too low. Any ways I went to my dealer yesterday and I bought the 2 front seals and the nut. I replaced both seals being very carefull not to damage them and to put them the right way. After I was done I went for a test drive, maybe 8 miles or so. Came back home and there was nothing leaking anymore. This morning first thing I checked was if it was leaking again. And Sure enough there is like a 4 inch puddle below my tc. What the hell could be wrong now? Oil is coming from the same place.
help! transfer case leak again!
- Thread starter gmata
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Upon closer investigation i have determined that the leaks is actually not coming from the front drive shaft seal, but rather some place else higher above.
I determined this because i cleaned all the leaking oil from the transfer case, specially in the area around the Dshaft seal and above, and a few minutes lates i saw a drop coming down from the TC wall above the seal, this could only mean it is either coming from above, or it was sprayed all the way to the top from the DS seal and now it was coming back down.
Also i found a few drops forming on the area just above the transmission mount. I hope this is the same leak and i can find the source soon since it is driving me crazy and i have a 1300 mile long trip in 2 weeks.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I determined this because i cleaned all the leaking oil from the transfer case, specially in the area around the Dshaft seal and above, and a few minutes lates i saw a drop coming down from the TC wall above the seal, this could only mean it is either coming from above, or it was sprayed all the way to the top from the DS seal and now it was coming back down.
Also i found a few drops forming on the area just above the transmission mount. I hope this is the same leak and i can find the source soon since it is driving me crazy and i have a 1300 mile long trip in 2 weeks.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Attachments
the great him
Elite Member
are you sure its gear oil, not ATF or motor oil? the one pic of the drops you are showing looks like a fluid with a thinner viscosity, not gear oil....
BigFishAllDay
New member
If the leak is coming from the front of the transfer case, up high, and you're sure that it is NOT leaking from the front output shaft seals, then you've only got two other possibilities:
1. The oil deflector/seal under the shifter, at the top of the case, could be leaking, and the oil would be dripping down from the very top of the t-case, and you can fix it by removing components around the shifter from the interior of the vehicle.
2. The T-Case is leaking at the oil seal on the input shaft from the transmission.. in this case, the oil would be seeping out between the transmission and transfer case. If this is the issue you'll have to drop the t-case to fix it.
If it turns out that what is leaking is not gear oil, then you might have a leak at the back end of the transmission that is allowing trans. fluid to seep out between the transmission and the t-case.
1. The oil deflector/seal under the shifter, at the top of the case, could be leaking, and the oil would be dripping down from the very top of the t-case, and you can fix it by removing components around the shifter from the interior of the vehicle.
2. The T-Case is leaking at the oil seal on the input shaft from the transmission.. in this case, the oil would be seeping out between the transmission and transfer case. If this is the issue you'll have to drop the t-case to fix it.
If it turns out that what is leaking is not gear oil, then you might have a leak at the back end of the transmission that is allowing trans. fluid to seep out between the transmission and the t-case.
Well i have cleaned all the oil on the transfer case again just to try to find the root of the leak, again i think it is coming from the top, that would explain why there is oil all over the place front and back of the Transfer case all the way to the fuel tank plate.
Does any body know how to make sure this is the 100% the problem. do i need to remove the transmission shifter too?
Also is there a gasket in there or do i just order the oil deflector?
BigFishAllDay
New member
Take a look @ the FSM >> http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1996/SIL/fsm/repair.html
Specifically, check out:
R.M. 2002::Transfer (Vf3am): Oil Seal: Components (4Runner) ...
This will show you all of the oil seals on the transfer case...
Next, take a look at:
R.M. 2002::Transfer (Vf3am): Transfer Assembly: Components (4Runner)
That will show you what the oil deflector looks like and how it fits onto the transfer case... Also note the parts labeled as "Straight Screw Plug", "L4 Position Switch", and "Nuetral Position Switch", all of which are threaded into the transfer case and have associated washers that seal their ports.
Also.... R.M. 2002::Transfer (Vf3am): Transfer Unit: Components (4Runner)
Which should give you a good idea of what you'd have to remove to get at the oil deflector if that's the source of the problem.
Again, though, as the kid mentioned, make SURE you are looking at a GEAR OIL leak.
Specifically, check out:
R.M. 2002::Transfer (Vf3am): Oil Seal: Components (4Runner) ...
This will show you all of the oil seals on the transfer case...
Next, take a look at:
R.M. 2002::Transfer (Vf3am): Transfer Assembly: Components (4Runner)
That will show you what the oil deflector looks like and how it fits onto the transfer case... Also note the parts labeled as "Straight Screw Plug", "L4 Position Switch", and "Nuetral Position Switch", all of which are threaded into the transfer case and have associated washers that seal their ports.
Also.... R.M. 2002::Transfer (Vf3am): Transfer Unit: Components (4Runner)
Which should give you a good idea of what you'd have to remove to get at the oil deflector if that's the source of the problem.
Again, though, as the kid mentioned, make SURE you are looking at a GEAR OIL leak.
Last edited:
Thanks for the help guys i think i found the problem!
I finally figured out how to get to the oil deflector, 3 of the 4 bolts where totally loose, one was almost all the way out, and there is deffinetly a lot of oit on that area i will post pics later since i am in a hurry.
Also the gasket didn't look very good so i am going to replace it, it only cost 2 dlls at the dealer so it is a no brainer.
My only question is, when i replace the gasket do i need to add any silicone or just clean, put new gasket and torque to specs?
thanks again for all the help.
I finally figured out how to get to the oil deflector, 3 of the 4 bolts where totally loose, one was almost all the way out, and there is deffinetly a lot of oit on that area i will post pics later since i am in a hurry.
Also the gasket didn't look very good so i am going to replace it, it only cost 2 dlls at the dealer so it is a no brainer.
My only question is, when i replace the gasket do i need to add any silicone or just clean, put new gasket and torque to specs?
thanks again for all the help.
BigFishAllDay
New member
^^^^ That.
xcmountain80
New member
3rd gen T-case still leaking! - YotaTech Forums
Check here I had a similar higher up leak and I eventually found it. I had to replace the shifter seat and sourced it from marlin, I also had a 2nd time around leak and what I learned was that there are actually 2 gaskets on top so thin you'd not even notice. Of course until it leaks. So I razored the paper gasket off and RTV'd both pieces and then it didn't leak.
A
Check here I had a similar higher up leak and I eventually found it. I had to replace the shifter seat and sourced it from marlin, I also had a 2nd time around leak and what I learned was that there are actually 2 gaskets on top so thin you'd not even notice. Of course until it leaks. So I razored the paper gasket off and RTV'd both pieces and then it didn't leak.
A
Last edited:
BigFishAllDay
New member
That's a good thread, with some good pictures of the parts. I'm going to save that one in case I ever have to do this.
BTW, I just read through it quickly and you never did follow up on that thread and post the solution to your problem.
xcmountain80
New member
Thanks for the help! I actually just tighted the bolts and stopped leaking 
, However i will replace the gasket tonight the old one looks pretty bad so it won't hurt.
The scary part is that since i bought it i had some one check my differential fluids and they said they were all ok, now i am wondering if there even was any oil on the Transfer case because it never leaked before until i refilled it last week, I forgot to ask the guy who helped me how much oil came out of the TC.
I've drove my truck for 30,000 miles like that!
, However i will replace the gasket tonight the old one looks pretty bad so it won't hurt.The scary part is that since i bought it i had some one check my differential fluids and they said they were all ok, now i am wondering if there even was any oil on the Transfer case because it never leaked before until i refilled it last week, I forgot to ask the guy who helped me how much oil came out of the TC.
I've drove my truck for 30,000 miles like that!
xcmountain80
New member
I'm pretty sure I used RTV in place of a gasket.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Dealer service desk can look up the right part for you.
You need two gaskets, it will probably still leak if you only use one, or so I've heard.
Replace the deflector too, you will almost certainly bend the crap out of it getting it off. It's cheap.
You put a gasket between the t-case and the deflector, and another one between the deflector and the shifter. I also put a bit of gasket sealer on the bottom gasket, that's the way mine was from the factory so I figured it couldn't hurt. Not as much as you'd use if you were making a gasket with RTV, but a little bit to seal it up good.
Carpenterjake
New member
Saved me a lot of trouble
Thanks a lot for the information in this thread about the leaky transfer case shifter, this saved me a lot of trouble. I had the same situation: my transfer case appeared to be leaking from the front output shaft, so I replaced the seal last year, and it continued to leak.
I got annoyed and figured I'd installed the seal wrong, so was considering taking it to a transmission shop. I even sourced a free transfer case from a friend and was going to install it, (until I realized it was similar to my case, but a mirror image with the front driveshaft coming off the wrong side -- maybe from an imported truck with right-hand drive.)
When I took the shifter off, the seal had disintegrated and there was oil running everywhere.
Great tip, thank you. I look forward to not polluting my street anymore.
Thanks a lot for the information in this thread about the leaky transfer case shifter, this saved me a lot of trouble. I had the same situation: my transfer case appeared to be leaking from the front output shaft, so I replaced the seal last year, and it continued to leak.
I got annoyed and figured I'd installed the seal wrong, so was considering taking it to a transmission shop. I even sourced a free transfer case from a friend and was going to install it, (until I realized it was similar to my case, but a mirror image with the front driveshaft coming off the wrong side -- maybe from an imported truck with right-hand drive.)
When I took the shifter off, the seal had disintegrated and there was oil running everywhere.
Great tip, thank you. I look forward to not polluting my street anymore.
