leaky trans lines or worse?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
leaky trans lines or worse?
besides having a fuel leak, my new vette also has been leaking trans fluid, took me a while to find the source, it pools quite a bit of fluid for a min or two after starting and will stop leaking during driving. for instance i started her up and let her warm up and get to idleing right, as i backed out there was a 6 inch wide pool of red fluid on the ground passenger side front where i had been sitting, and little spots trailing following where i was backing out. but after i had been driving for ten min or so i got out and looked under and nothing, ten min goes by and not a single drip anywhere, even had my wife get in and put stress on the trans. seems to stop after the engine gets hot or something. anyway here are pictures of what i found. these are on lines located in the passenger side front, right behind the radiator. fyi this is not a stock trans and engine, both are brand new a 383 stroker and a 700r4 trans
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Can't see any photos, but it's most likely due to old/weak rubber jumper hoses from the [front] end of the tranny lines to the radiator side cooler. It could also be the fittings connected to that side tank (if leak is at front of the car) or at the connections to the tranny (if leak is under the tranny). There is the possibility of damage to the steel lines, but that would be rather unusual.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 2
From: Ocean County NJ
DISCLAIMER: I am by no means an expert however I have the same problem. This is what an expert told me:
Trans fluid expands as it cools. Being that your car only leaks when it is cool, chances are the source of your leak is toward the top of the trans lines. Could be a hole in the filler tube or any of the various lines or hoses.
Andy
Trans fluid expands as it cools. Being that your car only leaks when it is cool, chances are the source of your leak is toward the top of the trans lines. Could be a hole in the filler tube or any of the various lines or hoses.
Andy
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
DISCLAIMER: I am by no means an expert however I have the same problem. This is what an expert told me:
Trans fluid expands as it cools. Being that your car only leaks when it is cool, chances are the source of your leak is toward the top of the trans lines. Could be a hole in the filler tube or any of the various lines or hoses.
Andy
Trans fluid expands as it cools. Being that your car only leaks when it is cool, chances are the source of your leak is toward the top of the trans lines. Could be a hole in the filler tube or any of the various lines or hoses.
Andy
sounds about right wish i could get these dam pics to post ok, nub question but the only way i can attach files is by using the button in the thread that asks for a URL. any other way besides posting the url? like a direct upload from pc?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Can't see any photos, but it's most likely due to old/weak rubber jumper hoses from the [front] end of the tranny lines to the radiator side cooler. It could also be the fittings connected to that side tank (if leak is at front of the car) or at the connections to the tranny (if leak is under the tranny). There is the possibility of damage to the steel lines, but that would be rather unusual.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
Since you have a 7004r your lines could well be rubber from the trans. to the radiator. If so, there will be four hose clamps tightened onto steel stub-outs screwed into trans. and radiator. Lots of people use rubber fuel hose to make up these lines. You should use a thicker hose sold as transmission cooler hose. Use new clamps and do not over tighten. Stock lines are steel from trans. all the way to rad. except for the last four inches or so and then rubber and four clamps onto steel stub-outs into rad. Good luck with it, mike...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Since you have a 7004r your lines could well be rubber from the trans. to the radiator. If so, there will be four hose clamps tightened onto steel stub-outs screwed into trans. and radiator. Lots of people use rubber fuel hose to make up these lines. You should use a thicker hose sold as transmission cooler hose. Use new clamps and do not over tighten. Stock lines are steel from trans. all the way to rad. except for the last four inches or so and then rubber and four clamps onto steel stub-outs into rad. Good luck with it, mike...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
Looks like leaking at clamps. You can try tightening them gently and see if it stops or slows down. Hose may have a hole rubbed into it or split at steel flare out. Remember the hose itself is the "gasket" that seals to steel stub-out. May be better to just replace and be done with it. mike...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
if it was that would it still only leak untill everything got hot? its strange how it stops and wont start again till after the car has been sitting for awhile. and only will happen when car is running
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
No pressure there if not running. As everything heats up and expands leak can seal off. I have seen radiators that would not leak when hot and under pressure but would flood you out when they cooled off. mike...
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Rubber lines for the entire run of cooler oil to & from the tranny is questionable at best. Yes, the proper pressure hose will hold that amount of temp and pressure; but, you can buy well-made flexible pressure line or 'junk'. If I wanted to run flex line completely, I would opt for steel braided jacket on that line...just to be more robust against damage and/or road debris. I'd bet that the rubber line is starting to get "spongy" and fail.