what fluid am i leaking

[SizzleChest]

thought it was tranny fluid, but i just opened up the filler hole today and fluid came pouring out so it defintely aint that. my engine oil hasn't gone down either. the leak would leave about a 1.5" spot overnight, but now it stopped dripping so i was afraid that whatever was leaking was empty. what else could it be????

 

[fsusteve]

Is it motor oil or gear oil?

 

[SizzleChest]

looks more like motor oil, but my eye isn't trained that well i guess. i'm not sure which grade is used in the motor (just bought the truck). judging by where the leak is, i just assumed it was tranny fluid.

 

[Landpimp]

I think this might be the key
"but i just opened up the filler hole today and fluid came pouring out so it defintely aint that."

I think that means the t-case might be empty, the seal is prolly gone between the 2 and its pumping fluid from the t-case to the trany, its prolly overfull and coming out the breather on top. and the t-case is prolly low

 

[fsusteve]

Your tranny/xfer casees use gear oil. The smell will be obvious over motor oil regardless of grade. Check and advise.

And do as Pimp says cause that's likely the problem if it's gear oil.

 

[TJDIV]

My best guess is your drive-shaft is leaking vaseline.

 

[mloudy]

I read that when the seal between the transmission and transfer case fails that oil would pour from the tranny filler hole when the plug is removed. The bad seal allows the oil to migrate from the transfer case into the tranmission. Either replace that seal or install a kit to connect the two filler holes which returns oil back to the transfer case from the tranny. This doesn't fix your leak but it will fix your other problem.

 

[Trevor]

Blahh...Leave it...The oil prevents rust!

Actually, I agree with everyone else. Check the transfer case for oil. Hopefully, you still have a little left in there.

 

[sherwood]

Oil type

(1) Pull the dip stick and wipe your finger across it.

(2) Get under the Cruiser and wipe finger from other hand in the fluid that came outta' the transmission.

(3) Smell each finger, one at a time.

Difference should be obvious and forever imprinted into your mind.

Caveat #1 (WARNING) You may become addicted to the pungency of 90W.

Caveat #2 (IMPORTANT) Make sure fingers haven't been anywhere strange that would compromise this test.

This IS supposed to be a scientifically controlled and repeatable experiment, ya know ...


John

 

[65swb45]

(1)

Caveat #1 (WARNING) You may become addicted to the pungency of 90W.


John

It's like a thousand cloves of garlic!

 

[SizzleChest]

so where exactly is the filler hole on the transfer case?

 

[hammerhead]

so where exactly is the filler hole on the transfer case?

About half way up on the back side. The fill plug should look just like the drain plug.

 

[SizzleChest]

About half way up on the back side. The fill plug should look just like the drain plug.

ok, i know the one. it's only like 3-4 inches from the bottom though...

 

[RocDoc]

Can you isolate how high up the fluid is leaking from?
You may have a breather on the tranny (at the top) that leaks fluid on steep inclines and esp. declines. Reach up and see how far up the fluid is leaking from.
Agree with the rest, check the T-case too.
Gear oil isn't that bad.. till you cook it a while!
As said above if it spent any time inside a running tcase or tranny it will stink to high heaven.
Good luck

 

[dd113]

About half way up on the back side. The fill plug should look just like the drain plug.

Is that a homosexual reference?

 

[Jman]

Is that a homosexual reference?

Uh, I think you need to spend less time in that section of the video rental store. (Not that there's anything wrong with that . . . )

It's true, though--if it's gear oil, you can smell it. Sniff some from your t-case, tranny, or diffs and soon you'll have it printed on your brain. Then you, too, can amaze your friends and neighbors by sniffing your fingers and proclaiming "That's not ATF, that's gear oil!"

Of course, it still could be motor oil being blown back while you're driving.

 

[SizzleChest]

yes, the transfer case is low. looks like i'll be replacing the seal. anything special to know or is it as straight forward as it looks to be?

 

[PabloCruise]

This reminds me of the song by the Blood Hound Gang, "Kiss Me Where It Smells Funny"

 

[Dan_J-spec_fj62]

"like a DC-10 I'm garenteed to go down"
blood hound gang rocks!!!

dan

 

[Diesel Cruiser]

Just a thought. How's your clutch fluid? If the slave cylinder is leaking, it could drip in about the same spot. Although from the sounds of it, it's probably what they've all mentioned above. Just thinking in a different direction. Could even be the seal around the input shaft on the tranny (insert transexual joke here... hee hee, I said insert and transexual in the same sentence ) coupled with the seal between the t-case and tranny being shot. Anyway, just some thoughts.
`later
Eric