Now what???

[pasvorto1]

Yesterday I stopped by the garage where I kept my Vette over the long winter. I got a new battery for it and wanted to start it and let it run for a while; get the fluids moving again. I have to move it today.

Under the car, running to the drain, was a puddle of reddish, oilish, fluid. It appears to be transmission fluid. I started the car and, while it was warming up, checked the transmission fluid. It was down a pint. No big problem, I guess. At least it's not dry.

What would cause this to happen while it was just "sitting" there minding its own business? Dry seals? Something contract from the cold? Damn mice?

I plan on topping it off after work and taking it home. I only live a few miles from where it is stored.

Another thing... The upholsterer won't be done with the seats until Monday afternoon, so I will drive it home with no seats. I think I will look like an L.A. lowrider.

Thus the season begins...

 

[Hib Halverson]

Now what??

Well, you've got a 27-year old transmission. No doubt some seals or the pan gasket have hardened or otherwise failed.

A bandaid fix is to locate the leak and see if just replacing a gasket or a seal will fix it. A better way to go is pull the trans and "resea" it or, if the trans is high-mileage, overhaul it.

 

[pasvorto1]

Funny thing is... is wasn't leaking when I put it away last fall.

 

[celeryman22]

my tranny would leak every once and awhile. It ended up the rear yoke had a flat spot and it would only leak if the flat spot was on the bottom. I replaced the seal and the yoke and it works great now.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

I've heard of auto trannys doing this without anything actually being wrong. A friend with a '67 base engine has the same thing every winter.

I'd just monitor the leakage rate and if acceptable, hurry up and do nothing about it.

 

[Koop]

My car used to have a Trans leak, turned out to be a bad modulator...Then came the fire! Transmission fluid is quite flammable and fiberglass smells real bad when on fire. Of course you have to get it very hot.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Mine does it every winter. Loses about a pint sitting and burns it when running hard. The torque converter seal or the front pump seal is leaking and dispite a full rebuild it still does the same thing. I think the bolts on the pump need to be RTV'd.

 

[pasvorto1]

I put in a pint of TF and drove her home (without seats - El Chicano). I parked her on some cardboard - to sop up any gravy. So far not a drop. Go figure.

 

[JohnZ]

Probably the O-ring on the fill tube where it goes into the case; that area is below fluid level when the trans is full, and it's a common leak point.