worth getting small leak fixed?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 38
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worth getting small leak fixed?
I have a 2019 GS M7 with 9000 miles that is seeping a small drip of red transmission fluid at the junction of the manual transmission housing and the extension housing, and I'm debating whether to have it repaired (I have an extended warranty). Everything on the car is working perfectly, and I have the suspension perfectly tuned for my weekend track events. I fear that the repair will involve dropping the rear end and even tilting the motor down to open up space at that junction.
Yes, you guessed correctly that I don't have the most faith in the techs at the dealership to put everything back perfectly. Even in experienced hands, this sounds like a multistep process with a lot of areas for problems in reassembly. Should I just let it go until closer to the end of my warranty while regularly checking the transmission fluid level? I change all my own fluids a lot since I do track the car.and constantly inspect the whole vehicle on a lift.
Thank you for your opinion!
Yes, you guessed correctly that I don't have the most faith in the techs at the dealership to put everything back perfectly. Even in experienced hands, this sounds like a multistep process with a lot of areas for problems in reassembly. Should I just let it go until closer to the end of my warranty while regularly checking the transmission fluid level? I change all my own fluids a lot since I do track the car.and constantly inspect the whole vehicle on a lift.
Thank you for your opinion!
Popular Reply
Jun 8, 2022, 08:58 PM
Pro
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 500
Likes: 433
From: Queen Creek, AZ
Leaks don't fix themselves. They only get worse. Get it fixed. It may or may not be symptomatic of something else starting to go south. I had a small leak coming from the area around the primary on my motorcycle. I took it into the dealer and the simple leak turned into a bad transmission main bearing that had disintegrated and trashed the seal between the transmission and the primary. The leak was actually transmission fluid. Everything was fixed properly under warranty and the bike is still running strong to this day. 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻
By the way, pretty much every repair under the car requires the dropping of the transaxle. Pretty easy and routine.
By the way, pretty much every repair under the car requires the dropping of the transaxle. Pretty easy and routine.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,865
From: Virginia
How's the saying go? "You are better off with the devil you know, than the one you don't know".
It will most likely start leaking more as time passes, however I agree with you in that I'd leave as is for now if not leaking much.
It will most likely start leaking more as time passes, however I agree with you in that I'd leave as is for now if not leaking much.
Pro
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 500
Likes: 433
From: Queen Creek, AZ
Leaks don't fix themselves. They only get worse. Get it fixed. It may or may not be symptomatic of something else starting to go south. I had a small leak coming from the area around the primary on my motorcycle. I took it into the dealer and the simple leak turned into a bad transmission main bearing that had disintegrated and trashed the seal between the transmission and the primary. The leak was actually transmission fluid. Everything was fixed properly under warranty and the bike is still running strong to this day. 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻
By the way, pretty much every repair under the car requires the dropping of the transaxle. Pretty easy and routine.
By the way, pretty much every repair under the car requires the dropping of the transaxle. Pretty easy and routine.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,965
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From: Bonneville Salt Flats
I don't know what a "seep" is. Some better indication of the actual leakage might be of value... plus, if you KNEW of a dealer with a big enough Corvette business to have people who have already fixed such things would help with the decision. I'd NOT want to be the guinea pig for a hay-seed beginner. See what your shop and personnel options may be, then decide. All the best. 
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I tend to want any leak fixed when I firsst discover it. I would go ahead and at least have the dealer check it out.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Are you sure the leak is coming from that location? I found that my transmission tends to blow some lubricant out of the top vent while I am on track. On the street it is fine but when it gets really hot on the track I will push some fluid out of the top vent. The car was under the B2B warranty when I first saw the wet spot on my trailer after I towed the car back home. The dealer mechanic cleaned the transmission and sprayed a white coating on the transmission that would show where the oil was coming from and told me to drive the car for a week and come back. When I came back there was no leakage. However, several weeks later when I attended another 3 day track event I found spots on the ground and checked the coating and saw the fluid flowing down the sides of the transmission and then running along the bottom until it got to the spot where the transmission and the extension are joined together.
Bill
Bill
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 255
Likes: 55
From: Jacksonville Florida
I also have a distrust of dealers. However, leaks NEVER fix themselves. Go ahead & have it addressed while still under warranty. Putting the leak under the additional stress of track days may lead to a catastrophic failure. It would be less painful to retune your suspension now than have a total failure later.
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Save the Wave👋🏻
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Thank you everyone- my plan will be to take steps towards fixing it sooner rather than later. First I'll wash it down and put some street miles on it to see if its like Bill suggests and only some track related blow by. If just regular driving creates the drip, a visit to the dealer will be indicated - after some "interviews" with the local shop foremen since my two trusted referral techs have moved on. I don't want to experience a seal failure, but I'm enjoying the car sooo much right now with everything working beyond perfectly that I can't bear the thought of the return visits to sort out new issues related to the repair process. I don't want to be too negative, but I've learned that if you're expecting a delivery it will be late, if its furniture it will be damaged, if its mechanical it won't work, and if its quick information that you need, you'll be forwarded to a voice mailbox that says that its full.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,213
Likes: 397
From: Indianapolis IN
You're lucky that you still have a warranty, get it fixed while you can still use it. Don't wait until it is about up, get the problem solved and still have enough time left on the warranty to solve other issues, whether related to the repair or not.
Last edited by St.Char; Jun 11, 2022 at 06:53 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 939
From: Georgetown, Tx
Find a very reputable dealer close by and have it fixed. As many others have said, leaks don't fix themselves.
BTW, even the smallest drip will deposit oil film all over the underside of your car. Do you really want that? Of course not. You've already paid for the repair with your extended warranty.
BTW, even the smallest drip will deposit oil film all over the underside of your car. Do you really want that? Of course not. You've already paid for the repair with your extended warranty.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Are you sure the leak is coming from that location? I found that my transmission tends to blow some lubricant out of the top vent while I am on track. On the street it is fine but when it gets really hot on the track I will push some fluid out of the top vent. The car was under the B2B warranty when I first saw the wet spot on my trailer after I towed the car back home. The dealer mechanic cleaned the transmission and sprayed a white coating on the transmission that would show where the oil was coming from and told me to drive the car for a week and come back. When I came back there was no leakage. However, several weeks later when I attended another 3 day track event I found spots on the ground and checked the coating and saw the fluid flowing down the sides of the transmission and then running along the bottom until it got to the spot where the transmission and the extension are joined together.
Bill
Bill
I thoroughly cleaned the transmission and extension areas then drove for 800 miles of "regular" driving around town and on the highway. Happy to report that there is no sign of fluid at all.
Thank you Bill, the fluid that I saw must have been from the vent and driving on track in 110 degree weather (even though the transmission temp stayed manageable).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 750
Likes: 255
From: Florida
