Puking Tranny Fluid [Archive] - El Camino Central Forum : Chevrolet El Camino Forums

: Puking Tranny Fluid


mojowrkn
03-08-2004, 10:10 AM
My car has not been driven for approx. 2 weeks as of today. I had been driving it 2-3 times a week prior to this. Last Thursday I pulled it out of the garage to do a few things and later backed it back in. Nothing unusal with the tranny during this or at anytime before. Later that night I noticed a small puddle under it which by Friday afternoon had grown quite a bit. I have not had time to take a serious look at it, but I did crawl under to see if I could tell where it was coming from. It looks to be coming from where the tranny bolts to the engine, then pooling a little in the plastic "scatter shield" covering the flywheel before dripping through the holes in it to the floor. Could it just be fluid draining from the torque converter due to non-use over the past couple of weeks? Obviously I won't know anything for sure until I pull that shield for a clearer view. I'm just looking for some info. THANKS

ElkyPete
03-08-2004, 11:08 AM
My 4L60e in my 93 Silverado did the same thing when it went out. Turns out I blew it up and the front pump and seals were trashed. It had 77,000 on the odometer when that happened.

It could just be the front transmission seal has gone bad and it needs to be replaced. Its a 10 dollar piece and you have to pull the transmission to replace it. Then again it could be the front pump whent out along with some internal seals and is spewing the fluid out.

I'd be intrested in what you end up finding out. Is this a 350 THM?

BTW:

It now has over 110,000 miles on the replacement transmission with not another problem. I had to quit driving it in Drive (not overdrive) pulling my boat 75 Mph plus. I still pull it at 75 or 80 when I can / need to but now I do it in Overdrive.

mojowrkn
03-08-2004, 11:28 AM
Thanks for the quick response. The tranny is a TH350 and it was rebuilt in '98 or '99, I can't remember which. I would say there is less than 3000 miles on the rebuild. The car did sit for about 20 months and I got it back on the road this past Thanksgiving. I guess seals could have dried out over that period of time, but it looks like it would have been leaking before now.

Mrapii
03-08-2004, 01:54 PM
I have the same problem with a Corvette with a TH350. If I the car sits for a few weeks ATF will bubble out of the trans vent. The fluid drains out of the lines, cooler and converter and then the level in the trans pan becomes so high that it exits from the vent. It is kind of messy but not harmful.

83choochoo
03-08-2004, 03:18 PM
My elkys turbo 350 use to leak when ever it sat for long periods. and i found mine was leaking around the seal where the kick down cable goes into the right side of the trany.

mojowrkn
03-08-2004, 05:39 PM
I have the same problem with a Corvette with a TH350. If I the car sits for a few weeks ATF will bubble out of the trans vent. The fluid drains out of the lines, cooler and converter and then the level in the trans pan becomes so high that it exits from the vent. It is kind of messy but not harmful.

I thought I remembered hearing this in the past, but I wasn't sure. So I guess the fix is to top off the tranny fluid, get it down off the jack stands & start driving to make sure there are no problems. Oh yeah, and don't let it sit for two weeks! Thanks guys for all the responses.

Tommy
03-08-2004, 06:03 PM
My th350 will go a month & not leak a drop. Then I will go somewhere & there will be a puddle under it like it's coming from the front main. Then it might be two more weeks before it does it again. It's been like this for years now. I have a pan that I use in the garage just in case. If it did it often it would drive me crazier. No rhyme or reason at all.

mojowrkn
03-09-2004, 05:15 AM
Please excuse my ignorance, but can someone tell me where the tranny vent is located on the TH350? Thanks!

Mrapii
03-09-2004, 01:12 PM
The vent is located on the transmission housing right side just behind the converter housing section of the transmission case.