Transmission leak?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 14
Transmission leak?
I have a 2008 Z-51 coupe with auto..... and 17,000 miles.
Today, while on a local drive, I noticed a burnt oil smell that got progressive worse, with occasional clouds of smoke behind....I stopped and looked underneath and saw liquid under the engine.
At first I thought oil, but after getting home, a drip pan showed a red liquid... must be tranny fluid.
Any ideas what/where might be leaking?
I am hoping it is a fitting that might have come loose?
Any suggestions appreciated....
Jim
Today, while on a local drive, I noticed a burnt oil smell that got progressive worse, with occasional clouds of smoke behind....I stopped and looked underneath and saw liquid under the engine.
At first I thought oil, but after getting home, a drip pan showed a red liquid... must be tranny fluid.
Any ideas what/where might be leaking?
I am hoping it is a fitting that might have come loose?
Any suggestions appreciated....
Jim
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
It happens but not common. Possibilities include front leak (input shaft/converter seal, cracked pump housing) and rear leak (output shaft/trans to dif gasket).
I'm thinking if it isn't obvious where it's coming from you should put some leak tracing dye in the fluid, wash the underside of the car then watch and check with a black light to find the source.
I don't have much to refer to but here's one just for info and ideas:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...leak-help.html
Oh, meant to say it could be something fairly simple too so diagnosis is the way to go.
I'm thinking if it isn't obvious where it's coming from you should put some leak tracing dye in the fluid, wash the underside of the car then watch and check with a black light to find the source.
I don't have much to refer to but here's one just for info and ideas:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...leak-help.html
Oh, meant to say it could be something fairly simple too so diagnosis is the way to go.
Last edited by RicK T; May 18, 2014 at 08:49 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
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I just searched the forum for similar problems, and this leak was pretty sudden and is a significant leak.... my wife reminded me that we drove over a "bag" on the road... maybe it was more than a bag?
The leak is somewhere under the engine area and appears to be on the right center from the drip area.... any one know if the trans cooler lines are on the right side??
I need to put it up on the floor jacks and take a look.....
The leak is somewhere under the engine area and appears to be on the right center from the drip area.... any one know if the trans cooler lines are on the right side??
I need to put it up on the floor jacks and take a look.....
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 14
Looks like I need to get the jack stands and pads out to have a good look.
And I thought that I had a free weekend for some lazy work around the house..... the garage sounds like a lot more fun.
Cheers
Thread Starter
Instructor
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It looks like the leak is probably from the fittings that are at the rear of the oil pan... there are two fittings, one for each line, but I have never seen this fitting before? It is about an inch+ long and has a hex but there is no matting place grab to allow for tightening. It appears that the tubing simply slides into the fitting.
How do I tighten this fitting?
Anyone know what type of fitting this is called?
Thanks....
How do I tighten this fitting?
Anyone know what type of fitting this is called?
Thanks....
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
It's the same type of quick connector that's on the radiator. If it's really at the connector it probably got damaged, because it wouldn't have much other reason to leak.
You might want to check the line closer to the radiator, since the fluid could travel back from a broken/cracked flexible hose that's on the front part of that line. See items 2 & 3 on the drawing Rick posted.
In either case, the disconnect can be done with a pick type tool, but be careful not to lose the wire clip.
If there is damage, cross your fingers and hope it's limited to one of the front lines, since the rear one is actually both lines and requires removal of the exhaust and the tunnel plate.
You might want to check the line closer to the radiator, since the fluid could travel back from a broken/cracked flexible hose that's on the front part of that line. See items 2 & 3 on the drawing Rick posted.
In either case, the disconnect can be done with a pick type tool, but be careful not to lose the wire clip.
If there is damage, cross your fingers and hope it's limited to one of the front lines, since the rear one is actually both lines and requires removal of the exhaust and the tunnel plate.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
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Thanks for your comments. I have just jacked up I cannot see any sign of fluid having sprayed or leaked farther forward than the area near the fittings. The leak started just a few days ago, smelted it one day when I came home from a short drive, and found a few drops on the floor the next day. Decided to drive a short trip the next day and there were clouds of smoke behind the car after 5 miles..... the leak rate was enough to send me home...... and there were drips from the bottom after getting home. Clearly something had given way and the leak was more than a little bit.
I will get it up on jacks this weekend and see if I can tell what is going on.
Thanks for your suggestions
I will get it up on jacks this weekend and see if I can tell what is going on.
Thanks for your suggestions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 14
The leak is found..... it is the fitting at the rear of the engine. It's the line closest to engine, and it is the fitting leaking. There is no sign of damage to the tubing.
Does anyone know if there is a way to repair the fitting, maybe an O-ring?
I still don't know what kind of fitting this is.....I am hoping that someone knows a way to repair the fitting seal....
Thoughts??
Thanks
Does anyone know if there is a way to repair the fitting, maybe an O-ring?
I still don't know what kind of fitting this is.....I am hoping that someone knows a way to repair the fitting seal....
Thoughts??
Thanks
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 248
Likes: 31
From: TN
The lines just push together and there is a clip that snaps over a cone on the one line to hold them together. First thing I would do is try to push them together and see if the clip snaps into place. Maybe the lines were never fully seated and just need to be pushed together properly.
Do an internet search for "GM transmission cooler fittings" and you will find plenty of info. You may need to replace the o-ring in the fitting. Also, lines may have gotten bent and need to be straightened back out.
DJ
Do an internet search for "GM transmission cooler fittings" and you will find plenty of info. You may need to replace the o-ring in the fitting. Also, lines may have gotten bent and need to be straightened back out.
DJ
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
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Thanks for the information....I will get some replacement internal o.ring and try to replace the o.ring to see if that will fix the leak...... sure don't like these fittings. This leak would dump the all of the fluid pretty fast at highway speed.....o.rings are great, but if you are not careful when assembling them, it's easy to nick the seal and then you get this situation.
Thread Starter
Instructor
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I found a replacement o.ring. I just bought a replacement fitting and can use the new o.ring from it. In case I cannot make the o.ring exchange work, I bought a tubing flaring tool, so I can cut off the female end, flare the tubing end and use a short section of transmission grade tubing to make a patch connection.
It will be a bit of a pain working with just jack stands under the car, but I cannot drive the car the way it is with the fluid spraying onto the exhaust header, so I better get it fixed!
It will be a bit of a pain working with just jack stands under the car, but I cannot drive the car the way it is with the fluid spraying onto the exhaust header, so I better get it fixed!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
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Well, sometimes the wheel turns your way!
Finally jacked the car and used two jack stands to get some working room. I was ready to either replace the O-ring or cut off the female part of the connector, flare the tubing and use a section of rubber hose.... but no, it was not to be..... the fitting had simply come apart and I was able to re-connect the existing fitting and it is now firmly connected. I cannot pull it apart. I am guessing that, as suggested, the connector was never completely hooked in place.
I am sure that I have lost a fair amount of fluid, so I think I will have a trans service done and have the fluid refilled.
Thanks for everyone's help.....I am now a happy Vetter driver again!
Finally jacked the car and used two jack stands to get some working room. I was ready to either replace the O-ring or cut off the female part of the connector, flare the tubing and use a section of rubber hose.... but no, it was not to be..... the fitting had simply come apart and I was able to re-connect the existing fitting and it is now firmly connected. I cannot pull it apart. I am guessing that, as suggested, the connector was never completely hooked in place.
I am sure that I have lost a fair amount of fluid, so I think I will have a trans service done and have the fluid refilled.
Thanks for everyone's help.....I am now a happy Vetter driver again!