Major Gear Oil Leak

[marcman804]

I was wondering the possible places my fwd transmission could be leaking gear oil. I replaced both axle seals, thinking they were leaking. I jacked the car up and put it into to gear and it seems to be coming from behind the flywheel/clutch. I know that doesnt narrow it down but I was just hoping for some suggestions. Whether there were any seals that could be replaced? Thanks

 

[donniekak]

Are you sure it's gear oil? If it's coming from anywhere between the engine and trans, it's either a rear main, or trans input shaft seal.

 

[marcman804]

Yeah im pretty sure. I used royal purple gear oil and its definitely purple.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Rear main seal.

 

[marcman804]

Its gear oil. Just checked again. Its fresh gear oil and its not losing any engine oil.

 

[Maroon4g]

Check your axel seals, sometime the springs fallout of the seal, and it allows gear oil to come out the transmission, I have the same problem and just found it out because I remember seeing a spring just hanging around in the diff and i took it out not knowing what it was. Long story short, I asked a person about what I have and told me it was for the seal. The spring look like a ring and wraps around the side of the seal that goes into the transmission.

 

[marcman804]

Replaced both axle seals as I was thinking the same but they are perfectly fine. Unless im missing something, I would see it coming from the axles, correct? And not behind the flywheel. I tried to post a vid but it wont allow me to.

 

[mercaholik]

If you clean off the trans you might be able to spot where it's coming from. If not buy some uv dye for oil and use the black light to find it.

 

[mitsubishikid]

Clean and dry around the axle input seals, and let the car sit over night, then see if they leak the next morning, maybe a seal is not seated in the trans casing right and it is leaking past it.
I have had this issue before when using after-market seals.

also did you apply a thin layer of gear oil on the outside of the seal when installing it in the transmission casing?

 

[marcman804]

Here you can see it pouring out behind the flywheel. https://www.dropbox.com/s/owx35ne0ukgxke0/20141005_150228.3gp?dl=0

 

[pauleyman]

Good god that is not a leak. That is a major failure. Possible crack in the tranny. Only other item is the input shaft. Regardless tranny has to come down.

 

[donniekak]

Yes, pull the trans, and expect to see a hole in it by the front diff.

 

[marcman804]

I guess Ill go ahead and start pulling the trans. I've always pulled the engine and trans altogether, how tough would it be to only drop the trans without the engine?

 

[92AWDHX40]

easy i pull my trans off the pull the engine still works.

 

[marcman804]

@iugrad92turbo could you write that again. Are you saying drop it without the engine?

 

[92AWDHX40]

I did mine with the transmission off ive done that so many times and only that way, I take all my stuff apart and inspect everything when im at that point even now when doing this engine rebuild, and the transmission rebuild. Easier I think plus I don't damage my new paint in the bay, or old paint.

 

[marcman804]

Im going to try to pull it down tomorrow without removing the engine.

 

[luv2rallye]

That's the way most people remove tranny (drop under car). Here's a tip about removing the axles: http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/pulling-transmission-tomorrow.316646/#post-151688536

 

[marcman804]

Thanks @luv2rallye. That is very helpful and will definitely save me some time. Iv'e removed those axles plenty of times thinking the axle seals were bad at first when the leak wasnt quite as bad as it is now .