C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

4+3 leaking

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 3, 2025 | 11:02 AM
  #1  
Grimace@1985corvette's Avatar
Grimace@1985corvette
Thread Starter
Advanced
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 86
Likes: 9
Default 4+3 leaking

Hello all,

Now that I'm actually driving the 85 more and more I have noticed it smoking (sometimes bad) from underneath the car. I discovered it is leaking automatic transmission fluid onto the exhaust when I drive it. I cleaned everything really good and had my son sit in it and rev it up while I laid up under it. Nothing leaks while car is stationary.
I did notice that behind the small square block that is bolted on pass side of OD unit that of the coolant lines goes to there are 2 steel rods (pencil size diameter) sticking out of the transmission case about half an inch and almost looks like they were punched through from the inside. All the pictures that I have looked at, show the end of the rods are flush with the case. I did not notice the rods protruding out like this when I had the transmission out of the vehicle. Could fluid be leaking from around these rods? The OD unit worked at it should the few times I actually engaged it.

TIA
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2025 | 11:52 AM
  #2  
conniekalitta's Avatar
conniekalitta
Pro
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 537
Likes: 379
From: Northern California
Default



Are these the steel pencil nubs you are talking about?

I found this image from another forum because it was a huge mystery as to what these were. They shouldn’t leak though. My guess is that they’re the entry points for molten metal during a sand casting process. I could be wrong, though.

When my overdrive leaked onto the exhaust, it turned out to be a faulty gasket which was leaking little drops as I was driving. Is your gasket perfectly clean? No rim of ATF around the pan?
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2025 | 11:56 AM
  #3  
Grimace@1985corvette's Avatar
Grimace@1985corvette
Thread Starter
Advanced
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 86
Likes: 9
Default

I serviced the transmission before reinstalling it back in car. The OD had no filter and a ton of RTV around the pan. I removed the RTV and installed the proper filer and gasket. I will check the gasket again.
Thanks for the quick reply. You guys are a huge help.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2025 | 03:26 PM
  #4  
jdjenk's Avatar
jdjenk
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 146
Likes: 37
Default

I've always done rtv + gasket. The only time I did just the gasket it leaked.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2025 | 04:14 PM
  #5  
Grimace@1985corvette's Avatar
Grimace@1985corvette
Thread Starter
Advanced
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 86
Likes: 9
Default

I'll give that a try
Thanks
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2025 | 04:37 PM
  #6  
s carter's Avatar
s carter
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,894
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
Default

Don't sweat the rods there supposed to be there, clean up everything and make many trips under to find the leak. It's common to have output shaft seals leak,
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2025 | 08:31 PM
  #7  
AGENT 86's Avatar
AGENT 86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,316
Likes: 246
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Default

Clean well and use permatex The Right Stuff with no gasket.

Reply
Old Sep 3, 2025 | 08:33 PM
  #8  
Grimace@1985corvette's Avatar
Grimace@1985corvette
Thread Starter
Advanced
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 86
Likes: 9
Default

Thanks to all for the responses.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 7, 2025 | 01:44 PM
  #9  
walleyfisher's Avatar
walleyfisher
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 10,685
Likes: 2,249
From: north of Chicago
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C7 of the Year Winner -- Modified
2020 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

Originally Posted by AGENT 86
Clean well and use permatex The Right Stuff with no gasket.
Thanks for all the tips, just did the fluid change on our overdrive, pretty easy really, bought new filter used great stuff for the gasket, merc / dextrose fluid, filled followed gasket instructions no leaks.

Filled up to fill hole, rotated rear wheels 20 revolutions, toped off fluid again

Reply
Old Sep 7, 2025 | 03:51 PM
  #10  
Grimace@1985corvette's Avatar
Grimace@1985corvette
Thread Starter
Advanced
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 86
Likes: 9
Default

I removed the pan and cleaned it thoroughly along with the surface of the transmission. Let it sit overnight and refilled. Drove it for a while and no smoke so I figured leak was fixed. Got on it on the way home and looked like it was on fire with all the smoke. Tried to back in the driveway and the brand new clutch apparently decided to go bad. Had to shut it of to get it in reverse. Anyway when I got it parked it was dripping auto transmission fluid from everywhere under the car. Apparently my leak is under pressure and spraying from somewhere. I'm gonna walk away from it for a while before I use it for target practice lol.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2025 | 11:54 AM
  #11  
conniekalitta's Avatar
conniekalitta
Pro
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 537
Likes: 379
From: Northern California
Default

Wow that sounds extremely bad… sorry to hear you’re having so much trouble with your Doug Nash transmission.

Ive searched far and wide on these forums through decades of posts to educate myself as much as possible on these transmissions. I can’t say I’ve heard of a problem like yours before. Typically the vent on top of the OD should release pressure. Unless it’s blocked, I can’t say I can think of a reason it would just blast out all over the bottom of the car.

There are people on this forum who have physically been inside these transmissions. I have not. Perhaps they can be of more help.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2025 | 12:22 PM
  #12  
VikingTrad3r's Avatar
VikingTrad3r
Oil Producer
Supporting Gold
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,371
Likes: 2,736
Default

One thing under pressure would be the cooler sending line off the passenger side of the trans.

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 4+3 leaking





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:25 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE