Transmission leak - what to look for?

[mos6502]

It appears I have a pretty nasty transmission leak (automatic) on my '95 Geo Prizm. The fluid level seems to want to sit at the bottom of the cold range on the dipstick, even when checking it hot. Trying to add more, it leaks back down to this level within 48 hours, a process accelerated by driving the vehicle.

I'm going to try adding some stop leak and cross my fingers today, but I have a bad feeling this will be a temporary fix at best and a waste of money at worst.

My question is... not being familiar with transmissions much, are there some common, easy things I could check and take care of myself to perhaps stop this leak, or does everything transmission related get really involved like having to remove it from the vehicle (which I'm not going to attempt)?

Thanks,
Owen

[Callum3]

I have a 93 auto which is my parts car (not accessible at the moment tho). When I bought it I used it as a field car until I started needing parts...it use to have a trany leak, it ended up being a small line coming off the trans that was half rubber line and half steel line which had rusted thru. It only leaked when the car was running. My knowledge of these auto isn't very good, I want to say the line was going to a trany cooler but some smaller cars don't have those, but its the only auto I have owned so i'm not 100%.

[mos6502]

I looked under the car briefly (which is complicated by the fact I'm at work at it's below freezing outside :-) and found some of the pan gasket bolts were very loose. I tightened them, now we'll see if it helps, it's too cold outside to stand around waiting to see!

[speedy25]

Just tightening them up rareley seals the leak. Replace the gasket (and filter) when the weather gets a little better. Also check the axle seals and see if they are leaking too.

-SP

[mos6502]

Once I got home I jacked it up for a closer look. I wiped it down and waited a few minutes and it does appear to be leaking from the gasket only. Which is no surprise... I also noticed the gasket was bursting out the sides, and small pieces were missing entirely.

So I consider myself lucky that this is an easy, cheap fix. Thankfully it's getting up to a few degrees above freezing today, I can handle that, this is bad enough it can't wait :-)

Thanks guys.

[speedy25]

The gaskets are oozing out the sides because the bolts werent properly torqued to begin with. Pay attention to what the docs in the new gasket box say. A rubber gasket is usually less problematic that a cork one. Depending on your gasket brand either could be in the box..

-SP

[mos6502]

Originally Posted by speedy25

The gaskets are oozing out the sides because the bolts werent properly torqued to begin with. Pay attention to what the docs in the new gasket box say. A rubber gasket is usually less problematic that a cork one. Depending on your gasket brand either could be in the box..

-SP

Too bad I didn't have a torque wrench when I put the new one on... but I got one for Christmas, ironically. The new gasket is rubber. I could loosen the bolts a little and then properly torque them, but I don't know if that would just do more harm than good to the new gasket. The bolts are on tight, but not insanely tight, and I went around the pan in an opposing pattern. It isn't leaking anymore so I think we're good