gushing ATF

alfesti

alfesti

Member
Hi,

Wondered if anyone had seen this before and before I have to take the 'box out. My 73 3500 was on the ramps half way through its MOT when a stream of ATF started pouring out from the front of the gearbox - I couldnt see where it was originating as they pulled it out of the bay sharpish, but it was running from between the bellhousing and the square pan under the box.

I topped up and drove home, stopping at intervals to check the level, but while in drive or neutral no leak, but back home with it running in Park, the leak returned.

Trying to re-create the leak next day, I ran the car on ramps for over half an hour to get the car as hot as it had been for the MOT, but not a drip - just lots of fluid everywhere from the day before, so no chance to trace it back.

The car had been in the garage for nearly 2 years, just running up and down the drive no and then, so its possible something gummed up and jammed or cracked, or could it just have been overfilled?

Any ideas before the box comes out?

Thanks

Matt
 
Hello Matt,

It sounds like a seal has gone. My understanding is that fluid will only leak from that part of the box...between bell housing and pan when such occurs. It may be a stand alone problem, or it may be associated with something more expensive. Either way, the box will need to be removed completely from the car and dismantled so as to repair the problem.

Overfilling the transmission will see fluid expelled via the breather tube, not from anywhere else.

Ron.
 
The most likely culprit is the front pump seal, in fact other than the unlikely possibility of a cracked pump or casing I can't think of much else it could be. If the car has been out of use the seal may have dried out and hardened. Firstly I'd check that the breather tube on the dipstick is clear, then top up to the correct level and clean up underneath and see what happens. It's possible that the oil will soften up the seal again and it will be OK, if not it's box out and renew the seal which is about £7 IIRC.
 
My 2000 auto always does that first outing of the season then thats it for the rest of the year. Changed the seal a couple of years ago missed a year and then it did it again.
 
Thats reassuring to hear, Ill give it a clean and a run round the block. The garage where it wee'd itself though it was either the tourque converter or the seal, but as it stopped that does sound possible. Lets hope so anyway...

This is the first new or old auto Ive had in 17 years of driving, so its a new set of character traits to get used to!

thanks everyone
 
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