A4 Trans Fluid Leak only when VERY cold???
04-09-2018, 08:22 AM
#21
ukmac, that appears to be the exact location that mine was leaking from and the circumstances seem to be similar, although my diagnostics were not as extensive as yours.
I am hoping that the Dexron VI might stop the leak, but I won't know until the next time I drive it in cold temps.
I will probably try the Lucas if I am still encountering the issue next winter.
I am hoping that the Dexron VI might stop the leak, but I won't know until the next time I drive it in cold temps.
I will probably try the Lucas if I am still encountering the issue next winter.
Last edited by joelk; 04-09-2018 at 08:23 AM.
04-09-2018, 11:57 AM
#22
Racer
I wrote my original reply late last night so now have a little more time to explain further..........I live in the UK and my garage....like most others over here is very small and narrow. When parking my Vette I always used to reverse into the garage and then creep forward slightly to give me maximum space at the rear of the car where I have a storage cupboard. This meant that every time I came to get the Corvette out I had to reverse slightly before pulling forward. This is how I initially found out that the leak only occurred when putting the car in reverse. To check if my theory was correct....I put the car on 4 ramps........not easy in such a small garage......and over a period of a week started the car up each cold morning and put the car in and out of reverse a few times before getting underneath the car and checking. It was only after putting into reverse that the leak happened.......definately. Since putting the Lucas additive in the trans fluid I always garage the vette in such a position that allows me to not to have to put the car into reverse when pulling out of the garage, this means that generally the first time i have to engage reverse the car is suitably warmed up.
I periodically check for this leak using a small extending mirror and have never found any evidence of further fluid loss. Adding the Lucas additive is not particularly easy.......I had planned to pour It into the sump whilst I had the sump removed before refitting the sump.....but suprisingly to me there is not a great amount of space to do this. Instead, I added it through the fill/level hole during refilling. I was a little hesitant at first to put an additive into the trans fluid as a lot of members had voiced their concerns generally over using additives. But Lucas products...to me...were so well known that I thought it was worth a try. Now over 12 months on I have not found any reason to doubt the product. Good luck which ever way you go.
I periodically check for this leak using a small extending mirror and have never found any evidence of further fluid loss. Adding the Lucas additive is not particularly easy.......I had planned to pour It into the sump whilst I had the sump removed before refitting the sump.....but suprisingly to me there is not a great amount of space to do this. Instead, I added it through the fill/level hole during refilling. I was a little hesitant at first to put an additive into the trans fluid as a lot of members had voiced their concerns generally over using additives. But Lucas products...to me...were so well known that I thought it was worth a try. Now over 12 months on I have not found any reason to doubt the product. Good luck which ever way you go.
Last edited by bikemiser; 04-09-2018 at 11:58 AM.
04-09-2018, 12:10 PM
#23
This is a well known problem on early C-5 Vettes. There is a GM service bulletin TSB-03073-0042 you can read. There is an updated seal from GM available that should cure the problem, but a lot of labor involved to change. I have the same problem with my 2000 but will not be fixing any time soon unless I absolutely have to. I'm interested to here about Lucus product, so any further updates please post results.
bikemiser, thanks for the info.
Is it only a problem only when temperature is very cold?
Can you(or anyone) please advise how I can view that TSB and/or search for TSBs?
04-09-2018, 12:31 PM
#24
Racer
03-03-2022, 04:27 PM
#25
This is a well known problem on early C-5 Vettes. There is a GM service bulletin TSB-03073-0042 you can read. There is an updated seal from GM available that should cure the problem, but a lot of labor involved to change. I have the same problem with my 2000 but will not be fixing any time soon unless I absolutely have to. I'm interested to here about Lucus product, so any further updates please post results.
I know this is old but I have this exact same issue, my biggest worry is running low on transmission fluid, how did you manage this without fixing it ?
03-03-2022, 04:34 PM
#26
Racer
I started parking it in a heated garage. If you don't have access to heated garage, in the cold season, you need to park over plastic overnight so you can see how much fluid you are losing and add from time to time. An updated seal is available, but I never lost any more fluid, so I didn't worry about it. Hope this helps. Jim
Last edited by bikemiser; 03-03-2022 at 04:58 PM.
03-03-2022, 08:49 PM
#27
This is a well known problem on early C-5 Vettes. There is a GM service bulletin TSB-03073-0042 you can read. There is an updated seal from GM available that should cure the problem, but a lot of labor involved to change. I have the same problem with my 2000 but will not be fixing any time soon unless I absolutely have to. I'm interested to here about Lucus product, so any further updates please post results.
Curious so the seals shrink sub 10 degrees and link untill the cars up to temp?
Do you happen to know what seal it is is it the input shaft seal or trans pan seal?
03-04-2022, 10:28 AM
#29
Man you bet i was just in there replacing torque tube at 92k and for some reason i didnt replace the trans seal to the autozone orange seal. Mine is the stock black one with retainer ring. I shouldve replaced mine while i was in there it idnt leaking at 92k but i bet passed 130k-150k itll start leaking thru the drip hole in the bellhousing.
03-04-2022, 10:30 AM
#30