How bad is it?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 305
Likes: 3
From: Newbury Park CA
How bad is it?
I finally put the car up on jacks. I knew I had a small leak but couldn't really tell where it was.
This is on my 98 6M w/69k mikes on it
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psae5d3aa3.jpg
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psbaef7abf.jpg
Thanks
This is on my 98 6M w/69k mikes on it
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psae5d3aa3.jpg
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psbaef7abf.jpg
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 64
From: Gulf Coast Mississippi
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Mine looked like that when I had about 70,000 miles on her, I had some time one weekend and I put the car up on jack stands and pressure washed the underside of my car, mainly to just clean her up, but that was 5 or 6 months ago and several thousand miles.
since then I've looked it over several tines and was amazed and how clean everything still was, so it might just look worse than it really is, you definitely have a leak, but it might could wait till your forced to pull the tranny for more major issues.
since then I've looked it over several tines and was amazed and how clean everything still was, so it might just look worse than it really is, you definitely have a leak, but it might could wait till your forced to pull the tranny for more major issues.
Last edited by skydiven4fun; Dec 27, 2013 at 09:28 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,367
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
I would clean up everything really good, then drive it for a while to see if you can pinpoint where the liquid is coming from. Has the rear end or transmission lube been changed lately? If so, it could have been overfilled a bit, and it's nothing more than seepage out of the vents.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
To me, the location and color says transmission fluid, and coming out from the interface between the rear of the transmission and the extension housing. More specifically, I think the transmission mainshaft seal inside the housing is the actual culprit, or maybe the sealing surface between the extension hoising and the diff. This is not uncommon unfortunately, especially on the earlier cars.
The seal(s) or area in question can be accessed by following the procedure for removal of the differential assembly, so that the entire drive-train need not be removed. You need to have someone who is familiar or has experience with the C5 drive-train do the work. That is important.
Here's a link to a thread from a few years ago with more info from Rick (RKT56):
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ion-leaks.html
HTH
The seal(s) or area in question can be accessed by following the procedure for removal of the differential assembly, so that the entire drive-train need not be removed. You need to have someone who is familiar or has experience with the C5 drive-train do the work. That is important.
Here's a link to a thread from a few years ago with more info from Rick (RKT56):
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ion-leaks.html
HTH
Last edited by LoneStarFRC; Dec 28, 2013 at 08:49 AM. Reason: add link for more info
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 267
From: Richmond Texas
Yea, that may not be so small of a small leak.
There is enough fluid coming out to wash the area clean of all the dirt and grime that was there. A small leak keeps the area just wet enough for dirt to stick to.
Look at both sides of the case above where it's clean, If one side is clean and the other isn't then the fluid is running down the clean side. If both sides are grungy and just the bottom is clean and oily, it's probably leaking between the case halves... and judging by your picture one side is grungy so the fluid isn't leaking down that side.
I am not familiar enough with those units to know if the case halve is sealed but seeing no weep hole it should be. It might be something as simple as tightening the bolts a little around the case half.
One thing for sure is that you need to check the fluid before you keep driving it. It may be only slightly low, but it may be lower. No use in ruining the complete unit because it's low on fluid. And if it's not very low, well then you can judge how small of a leak it is by how much fluid is missing. Never judge by the amount of oil on the ground. It could be leaking worse when driving, which you won't see, because it's spread all over the road.
There is enough fluid coming out to wash the area clean of all the dirt and grime that was there. A small leak keeps the area just wet enough for dirt to stick to.
Look at both sides of the case above where it's clean, If one side is clean and the other isn't then the fluid is running down the clean side. If both sides are grungy and just the bottom is clean and oily, it's probably leaking between the case halves... and judging by your picture one side is grungy so the fluid isn't leaking down that side.
I am not familiar enough with those units to know if the case halve is sealed but seeing no weep hole it should be. It might be something as simple as tightening the bolts a little around the case half.
One thing for sure is that you need to check the fluid before you keep driving it. It may be only slightly low, but it may be lower. No use in ruining the complete unit because it's low on fluid. And if it's not very low, well then you can judge how small of a leak it is by how much fluid is missing. Never judge by the amount of oil on the ground. It could be leaking worse when driving, which you won't see, because it's spread all over the road.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,765
Likes: 3,282
From: Phoenix area, AZ
Yea, that may not be so small of a small leak.
There is enough fluid coming out to wash the area clean of all the dirt and grime that was there. A small leak keeps the area just wet enough for dirt to stick to.
Look at both sides of the case above where it's clean, If one side is clean and the other isn't then the fluid is running down the clean side. If both sides are grungy and just the bottom is clean and oily, it's probably leaking between the case halves... and judging by your picture one side is grungy so the fluid isn't leaking down that side.
I am not familiar enough with those units to know if the case halve is sealed but seeing no weep hole it should be. It might be something as simple as tightening the bolts a little around the case half.
One thing for sure is that you need to check the fluid before you keep driving it. It may be only slightly low, but it may be lower. No use in ruining the complete unit because it's low on fluid. And if it's not very low, well then you can judge how small of a leak it is by how much fluid is missing. Never judge by the amount of oil on the ground. It could be leaking worse when driving, which you won't see, because it's spread all over the road.
There is enough fluid coming out to wash the area clean of all the dirt and grime that was there. A small leak keeps the area just wet enough for dirt to stick to.
Look at both sides of the case above where it's clean, If one side is clean and the other isn't then the fluid is running down the clean side. If both sides are grungy and just the bottom is clean and oily, it's probably leaking between the case halves... and judging by your picture one side is grungy so the fluid isn't leaking down that side.
I am not familiar enough with those units to know if the case halve is sealed but seeing no weep hole it should be. It might be something as simple as tightening the bolts a little around the case half.
One thing for sure is that you need to check the fluid before you keep driving it. It may be only slightly low, but it may be lower. No use in ruining the complete unit because it's low on fluid. And if it's not very low, well then you can judge how small of a leak it is by how much fluid is missing. Never judge by the amount of oil on the ground. It could be leaking worse when driving, which you won't see, because it's spread all over the road.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
OP: I got to looking at your location, and one shop in your general area (albeit about an hours drive) is RPM Motors in Santa Clarita. Charlie Williams has an excellent reputation and is a long time contributor to CF. He is extremely acquainted with Corvettes and very qualified to take care of this. You might give him a call.
http://www.rpm-motors-inc.com/
HTH
http://www.rpm-motors-inc.com/
HTH
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
In the meantime, I would recommend keeping a close eye on the leakage/seepage like the others here have said, and if possible check the trans fluid level to make sure it's not dropped too far. Getting this repaired quickly will also prevent the fluid from continually coating your rear spring and the rubber in the CV boots and trans mount and any nearby wiring, etc. and degrading/damaging them long term.
Post back up with what you do and let everyone know what was found. This is how many of us share info and the C5 knowledge-base for others in the future.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 23
From: Anaheim CA