Need help diagnosing leak

irunmiles · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2017 8:35 pm

280K miles and the beast still provides reliable transport with only routine scheduled maintenance throughout its life. However a slow leak has developed and it appears to be coming from the area directly below the radiator. That area looks like it has oil spray, but the leak is only producing a few drops a day on my garage floor. Any insight would be appreciated.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2017 8:57 pm

Most likely the transmission cooler.
Could also be power steering fluid.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:22 pm

irunmiles wrote:

280K miles and the beast still provides reliable transport with only routine scheduled maintenance throughout its life. However a slow leak has developed and it appears to be coming from the area directly below the radiator. That area looks like it has oil spray, but the leak is only producing a few drops a day on my garage floor. Any insight would be appreciated.

One of the automatic transmission cooler lines is located just below the radiator and the transmission cooler is located at the bottom of the AC condenser!
You did not say if the oil was ATF or engine oil. Knowing that could help greatly in diagnosing your problem!
If it is engine oil, your CAC (intercooler) could have a small leak and what you are seeing is draining of the CAC of accumulated oil that came from the CVC system that dumps into the turbo inlet. :roll:

FYI: Many on LOST along with others have installed a ProVent filter to keep the oil out of their CAC (charge air cooler)! :wink:

irunmiles · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:46 pm

I've had a ProVent since mile 0. I was guessing it's the transmission cooler. Any idea whether it's a difficult job to fix? Shade tree mechanic or pro?

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:57 pm

The transmission cooler is part of the AC condenser. Replacing it would also require evacuating the Freon and replacing the condenser.

Or you can just bypass the factory trans cooler entirely and install a aftermarket trans cooler (i.e. Hayden 678) and zip tie it inside the grille.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Mon Dec 04, 2017 12:18 pm

irunmiles wrote:

I've had a ProVent since mile 0. I was guessing it's the transmission cooler. Any idea whether it's a difficult job to fix? Shade tree mechanic or pro?

If you can pinpoint the leak, depending on where it is located, it may be fixable without replacing the entire unit! :roll:

Need to know exactly where the leak is at...

taroo · **Joined:** Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:14 pm **Posts:** 274

irunmiles wrote:

280K miles and the beast still provides reliable transport with only routine scheduled maintenance throughout its life. However a slow leak has developed and it appears to be coming from the area directly below the radiator. That area looks like it has oil spray, but the leak is only producing a few drops a day on my garage floor. Any insight would be appreciated.

280K and those are you only mods!!! Assume you have done TB a few times? ARP Studs? Weeks EGR bypass? Lift Pump? etc..just curious

papaindigo · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2017 4:15 pm

Leak possibilities
1. coolant - if proper HOAT will be slightly orange and in any case will taste sweet when drop touched to tongue and not be oily
2. engine oil - black and oily
3. transmission fluid - red and oily. Same for power steering fluid. In this location TF is more likely. If PS amount in reservoir would go down fairly quickly

Degrease area and recheck

joe_ · **Posted:** Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:57 pm

papaindigo wrote:

3. transmission fluid - red and oily. Same for power steering fluid. In this location TF is more likely. If PS amount in reservoir would go down fairly quickly

Also there's a note in the service manual stating that while ATF+4 is red when new, it's normal for it to turn brown with age/usage. So if it's brown, it could still be trans or power steering fluid (ATF+4 is used for both).

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Thu Dec 07, 2017 12:01 pm

joe_ wrote:

papaindigo wrote:

3. transmission fluid - red and oily. Same for power steering fluid. In this location TF is more likely. If PS amount in reservoir would go down fairly quickly

Also there's a note in the service manual stating that while ATF+4 is red when new, it's normal for it to turn brown with age/usage. So if it's brown, it could still be trans or power steering fluid (ATF+4 is used for both).

Easy to tell the difference, ATF has a real pungent odor, just put some of the leaked fluid on a finger tip, then bring it up to your nose and smell it! :wink:

Hoat antifreeze is kinda gold in color and has no odor!

r1perk · **Posted:** Thu Dec 07, 2017 7:30 pm

I just replaced one of the transmission coolant lines on mine. It was rubbing and wore a hole through the pipe.

Need help diagnosing leak

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