Trans pan leak

[TimF]

I changed my filter yesterday and I go a small dripping leak from my pan now. I replaced the gasket, and hand tightend them down nice and snug, but there is still a slight leak? Did I not thighten them enough? I did not use any gasket sealant because the directions on the gasket said not to. So may that be the issue?

 

[miguelmcv]

The only way is to tight the bolst a little more, But be care full not to over tight them, other wise, you will destroy the gasket..

My best advice is, To remove the Pan, Clean all the oil,,,,, When I say clean, I mean, CLEAN AND DRY, put the gasket back with some RTV, and wait from 2 to 4 Hours, To let the RTV to dry, As more time you let it dry, the more assurance you have to be sealed...
Don't put any oil in there Until everything is dry..

It doesn't need that much of time, But If you have not much experience on that, It is the best way to make sure it gets sealed.

Good luck..

 

[97gst_spyder]

Did you use a Pro-King gasket or OEM?

I used a 3/8th in ratchet and snugged them all down with no issues with the rubbery Pro-King gasket.

 

[hhuricane]

If you tightened them "nice and snug" you may have over-tightened them. They take very little torque and if you over-tighten them what happens is you dimple the bolt holes and they act as spacers not letting the pan sit flush with the flange allowing leaks to develop as the gasket never gets compressed properly. You will have to pull the pan off and make sure the bolt holes aren't dimpled. If they are you will have to flatten them out again and re-install the pan using a torque wrench to the proper torque 7-9 ft/lbs.

 

[TimF]

well I did put some strength behind them. I used the pro king, it said 12 lbs but I dont have a torque wrench and the only one we sell at work does not measure that low. So if I did over tighten them how do I reflaten the holes (I think that my be what Idid) and I did not use the RTV sealant because the box said not to. So I guess I will need to redo it whoch sucks because those bolts on top are a PITA to get to.

 

[miguelmcv]

When you take off the pan,, Check the pan where all the holes are, and you will see that is not flat,, All the surface at the pan where the gasket goes, It has, HAS TO BE FLAT, The surface where the gasket is, It has to be all even.

When you torque the bolts to much, the Pan bends toward the transmission causing uneven surface,,
Hammer all the uneven spots, to flat them down and have a nice and even surface.

After that, clean and dry very well all the oil where the gasket meets, (transmission and oil pan),,, If there is oil at the transmission or oi pan,, the RTV will not stick on it, and will cause a leak,,,,

One of the more important is, to have a clean and dry surface to make the RTV stick to the surface.

Hope this helps.