ok so my trans loses fluid very slowly maybe a quart a month, i can see the tranny fluid on the pan, but not where it's coming from...i've cleaned it off and drove it, but it's still difficult to find the leak as my tranns is a big ball of grease...lol. any ideas, or any common things to check...trans pan obviously...but what else
I would first check the modulator hose - if there is oil there then it needs to be replaced. When the diaphram in the modulator ruptures it lets the engine suck the oil into the manifold and it burns it. Sometimes it is a large enough rupture that your engine smokes on decelleration but most often it doesn't. Then check the o-ring seal at the kick-down lever. If it leaks it will be a slow leak and run down to the pan rail looking like the shift lever seal is leaking. Replace the o-ring (you can do that from outside the transmission with the pan on). If the leak persists then you may have a shaft seal leak or leaking pan. When the front seal goes it usually isn't hard to spot - they rarely leak a little and the bell housing is covered in oil that leaves spots when you park it. The rear seal leaves a ring around the tunnel at the drive line yoke and is also easy to spot. NOTE: You can make finding leaks easier if you buy a short flourescent fixture (12 - 24" long) and put a black light tube in it. The oil will glow under black light and you can follow the trail up hill to the leak. You do NOT need to add the expensive dye to the oil - the oil will glow all on its own.
i think it's the shift lever leaking, b/c theres no oil from the front, it seems to be coming from there, and i should probably replace my pan gasket anyway seeing as it's probably never been changed. my mav was really neglected before i got it
