Leaky trans. HELP NEEDED

[toloud4u18]

I did my own Gmax5 kit with Precision ML tc roughly 3000 miles ago. After the install I didn't see any leaks at all under the truck. Now this morning i see 5-8 drops between the bellhousing and trans as well as on the ground.

I wiped off the fluid and started up, let the truck idle and shifted trough the gears for about 20 min, no leaks noted. Then I went for a drive, about 10 miles and there was more drops in the same area. I took some pics below after I cleaned up the drops.

When I did the rebuild, I replaced the front seal as well as the three plastic rings on the main shaft where the tc slides onto, and I used sealant on all the bolts not just the bottom few. I figured better to use sealant than not to.

Do you guys think I should pull the trans to find out the cause before winter arrives? I have vacation this week but would like the input of the people who know more than I do. Thanks for the help!

 

[stroke250]

what year is the truck? are you sure it is trans fluid??

 

[Mike L.]

what year is the truck? are you sure it is trans fluid??

I agree.

 

[toloud4u18]

Yeah pretty sure its trans. Pink/red in color, and on the inspection cover in the pic you can see pink

I took another pic after driving around for 10 min, fluid at 135 at the top of cold hatch mark.

 

[stroke250]

my first guess being that it looks that transparent is coolant. may be coming from the valley or oil filter/cooler area. just a thought

 

[toloud4u18]

nothing on the side on the motor wet at all, the fluid is coming from between the bellhousing and the engine.

 

[toloud4u18]

I just went and checked again, definitely trans fluid along the area between trans and engine.

What are the possibilities for this leak? Front seal, lower bellhousing bolts inside trans, anything else you guys can think of?

I just want to know my options if I pull this thing again.

 

[Jared Duramax]

it might be the front bolts with the rubber seals

 

[toloud4u18]

I'm thinkin that it's gonna need to be pulled out. I pulled both inspection covers and cleaned the housing out, dried it out and took it for a half hour drive. There was a trail of fluid from the weep hole in the bellhousing.

What else can/should I check when I pull this thing out? Replace the seal obviously, re-torque the visible bolts to see if any loosened up, any other advise???

 

[blackdirtymax]

Its gonna be the bolts with rubber washers, had it happen to me before

 

[toloud4u18]

Were they loose, or just not sealing right? Did you just use rtv and put them back in or what? Just want to get my ducks in a row...

 

[Mike L.]

Was the pump removed from the bell housing when you did the build?

 

[toloud4u18]

Was the pump removed from the bell housing when you did the build?

Yes it was. I removed it to install the transgo shift kit if I remember correctly.

Actually it was for the shim from the Gmax kit

 

[toloud4u18]

Pulled the trans today, the seal doesn't look bad. I didn't find any tears, nicks, or dents in it at all.

The bolts were all tight, and it did not appear to be leaking from them.

After speaking with the grandmaster, the seal for the pump is kinda where I'm leaning. It's hard to see any fluid trail since the stuff was new 2 months ago.

 

[Jared Duramax]

i would say the front seal based on the pictures

did the trans seem to have a vibration to it?

 

[toloud4u18]

i would say the front seal based on the pictures

did the trans seem to have a vibration to it?

I didn't notice any vibrations, other than the re-learn process when shifting was extremely harsh. That went away after the relearn though.

It's hard to say about the seal, because when the converter was pulled it puked fluid all over. I pulled it as fast as I could, but it still spilled.

 

[Jared Duramax]

I didn't notice any vibrations, other than the re-learn process when shifting was extremely harsh. That went away after the relearn though.

It's hard to say about the seal, because when the converter was pulled it puked fluid all over. I pulled it as fast as I could, but it still spilled.

i would replace the seal and move on all the bolts dont look like they were leaking from there.

just because the seal didnt leak when you had it on the floor doesnt mean it doesnt leak while the truck is running

 

[toloud4u18]

Yeah that's true. I got it all apart and did not see anything torn or cut, so I ordered a new seal, o-ring, rubber and copper washers, and gaskets. Should be in tomorrow, then hopefully this will take care of the leak

 

[toloud4u18]

When pressing in the seal, does it sit flush with the pump housing, or slightly recessed into the housing?

Kind of a dumb question, but the seal I put in with a wood block and hammer sits flush, but on 1 side there is a very slight dip. I am wondering if it didn't get pressed all the way in.

I will be using a press with the new one tomorrow.

 

[IOWA LLY]

It should be flush. If one side was further down the rest of seal that's probably why it was leaking. Having the correct tool to install this seal makes the job much easier and less error prone.