Tran fluid leak - is this torque converter seal problem? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

CamryX · 10-16-2011, 07:22 PM

I just fixed distributor oil leak but found leak again under the driver side of engine. I lift car, wiped out stain and saw leak from where the arrow points in picture or it comes from behind transmission inspection cover. As it's next to transmission fluid pan, is it tran fluid? Is it the torque converter behind transmission inspection cover? Or is this rear main seal leak? Thanks for any input.

camry6 · 10-16-2011, 07:43 PM

Looks to me like a motor oil leak. Maybe a leaking crank shaft seal or an oil leak further up on the engine running down to this location. Is the oil red like transmission oil, or brown like motor oil? ..... May also be leaking from the engine base pan.... If it is the transmission input shaft seal (torque convertor seal) or the engine crankshaft seal, the engine and transmission will have to be separated to replace them. The edge of the engine base pan looks wet and there is a oil stain on the exhaust, I'd say the engine base pan is leaking....

***JohnGD*** · 10-16-2011, 09:10 PM

The color looks like motor oil. This may be the old leak from the distributor area, oil pan sealing surface, valve cover gasket, or rear main seal.

And since the raise slot on the converter cover doesn't seem to have any oil there, I'd say it's probably not the rear main seal.

CamryX · 10-16-2011, 09:56 PM

Thanks for the replies. It's black color. I did see it running out behind transmission inspection cover or from gap between black transmission inspection cover and edge of silver base. The right-bottom in picture is tran fluid pan. So I think parts behind black cover connect transmission. If rear main seal leaks, does oil drops out from behind transmission inspection cover? Any suggestion?

camry6 · 11-03-2011, 07:41 PM

Yes, oil will leak from there if the crank seal is leaking. You should clean the entire area with brake clean spray, then drive it for a while, checking periodically for evidence of oil and where it is coming from. This should narrow it down for you.

deejayphilo · 11-05-2011, 12:38 PM

Take that cover out on the tranny then if you see oil from the housing then yah you have front seal problem from the pump body. It was cheap to replace that seal its all about the labor. I only paid $20 to get dat seal replace but I jst took the pump body to them.

deejayphilo · 11-05-2011, 12:40 PM

Remove that cover, jack your car and put it drive wity idle speed then go under yor car you'll see it with drip right through if you have front seal problem. Make sure you secure the car with a reliable stand.

Rowdyrod · 11-05-2011, 12:49 PM

Having had both the rear main oil seal and the transmission torque converter seal replaced, I can offer up this advise. If either one is leaking you will be getting a leak after you shut the car off at the point where both the engine and trans meet. At stop lights while you wait, that oil will drip down on the exhaust pipe and make smoke like the car is on fire. Neither seal is cheap to have fixed. Trans leak is red, oil leak is brown.

1996camry · 11-05-2011, 01:09 PM

It looks like engine oil to me. I have the same problem like yours, but I replaced oil pump seals, crankseal, and camseal when I did the timebelt. the oil leaks went away. Also check your valve cover gasket for oil leaks in rear valve cover.
the valve cover gasket is known to leak on 5SFE engine. don't replaced rear main seal (transmission) because the color would be RED not BROWN color. Your pic looks like Brown color oil engine.

Hope this help.

CamryX · 11-05-2011, 08:20 PM

Thanks for all replies. I think it's motor oil because I do keep adding it. The oil is probably leaked from main seal and valve cover gasket. Fixing both problems seem not a easy DIY jobs. Now I don't drive this car too much and can tolerate leaking. One qt. oil/month or $2.00 should be enough to cover leaking.