Fluid leak Tranny, tcase ??

[84blue]

Hey guys,
New Cj owner here. This site is great. Ive got a problem. Had my 84 for about a month. Got her running good engine wise. Problem is is have a leak that is pretty signifigant when i drive. I get home and its always dripping. I checked the gear oil level and it is fine. The fluid is reddish and dies not smell like the gear oil. It all over the front drive shaft and is slung all over under there. It stops when I dont drive. Ive also checked the steering fluid rez, and fine... Anyone have any advice for a newbie. Is there anothe rez i can check. Transmission feels fine and shifts fine. Thought it might be a pinion seal but not sure. Oh, and ive searched other threads and cant seem to find what im looking for. Thanks in advance.

 

[jamie]

sounds like automatic Transmission fluid to me. mabye the po put that in the Transmission instead of gear oil? or in the ps resivoir or Transfer Case .

 

[84blue]

Ive got a 5speed manual Transmission . Im going to look at the haynes tonight and check for where all the resevoirs are. Nothing is acting weird (at the moment) but I do not want to drive it. I did notice a little play in the front drive shaft. I also checked the vent tube going to the front case. Dont know if it is related but I put it in 4wheel the other day and it seemed the fluid startted coming out more. Or maybe b/c since i got the motor right ive been driving it more. Just cornfused

 

[CJim7]

A 5spd manual in an '84 CJ is going to be a T-5 .

This Transmission uses ATF...and that is what you are seeing

 

[84blue]

Any ideas where the most common fail places are for that tranny if it is the ATF? Sorry so many q's but ive figured out most of its problems with this site and my haynes but this one Im having trouble with. I dont have the money to take it to a professional and dont want to Id rather have the knowledge for future.

 

[CJim7]

If it's red, I guarantee that's what it is.

Where is the area it is leaking? It could be anything from an input/output seal to a loose fill plug, to an inspection plate... Figure that out first.

It isn't a serious issue mechanically as long as you keep fluid in the tranny. You'll be okay driving it.

 

[84blue]

Thanks CJim7,
But I checked the upper square plug and thats full. It was even dripping out while i Had the plug out. Is there 2 diff kinds of fluid or 2 diff places to put it? So where do you put in the ATF to keep that full till I can figure out where its leaking from? Thanks for your patience.

 

[CJim7]

The upper plug is the fill plug. There is only one fluid and only one place to fill it, and you found it
Dont be fooled by the fact it is still full, if it is leaking substantially, keep an eye on it. Drips look bad, but in the scheme of things, it's not that much fluid volume-wise that is leaking. But over time...it will add up.

The thing about ATF is it is hard to detect on a clean surface because it is very transparent. It's almost easier to find the leak on a dirty surface where you can see a wet spot. Still, my advice is to powerwash the hell out of it if you cant find the leak and monitor it closely.

is it dripping onto the crossmember? By the bell housing? At the rear by the xfercase?

 

[84blue]

I sure appreciate it CJim7!. There is no fluid by the back end. Its pretty much concentrated to the front on the shaft and by where it comes out of the Transmission . Ill power wash it this weekend for sure. Thanks for the advice. I at least have pc of mind at this point. I literally dream about this jeep and problem soving it at night. Its crazy. IF its all the same fluid then how come it doesnt smell the same? Thatll be my last question...

 

[Old Dog]

I'd make sure the Transfer Case is full. I've heard of people filling them with ATF.

 

[steve o]

if its been leaking a while and still comes out the filler when you remove it, could it have been over filled by the p.o and its breathing out? could be worth draining out and refill just under level and keep a close eye , nice easy fix if it works

 

[Petescj]

Im a little late here but what Im getting is that someone filled your T-5 with ATF?

If thats what happened Id drain it and fill with the proper gear oil , then check for leaks. ATF is going to be alot thinner than what you require and may push past the old seals.

Am I thinking correctly on this Cjim7?

 

[CJim7]

Im a little late here but what Im getting is that someone filled your T-5 with ATF?

If thats what happened Id drain it and fill with the proper gear oil , then check for leaks. ATF is going to be alot thinner than what you require and may push past the old seals.

Am I thinking correctly on this Cjim7?

Pete, the T-4 and T-5 require Dexron III. Not gear oil.

 

[Petescj]

Didnt know that. My T-176 from the same "era" uses gear oil like the good old days.

 

[CJim7]

Didnt know that. My T-176 from the same "era" uses gear oil like the good old days.

Yep! That's one of the things I like about my T-18 ...I only have to worry about one type of fluid for the axles, tranny, and xfercase