light leak from tranny pan

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:37 pm

today i did some cleaning on the kj and it just had it full service last week. I went under and looked at everything and i could see some tranny fluid around the outside edges of the tranny pans. I went under with a socket and tightened it but it was already very tight and they have sealent all around it. I see a few drops on the ground under it also.

What do you guys suggest? take it back and say theres a light tranny leak?

Christopher · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:40 pm

If they did the tranny, then yes take it back! If not your gonna have to pull the pan and put a new gasket on. I like the ones you dont use rtv on.
Good luck

Christopher

Guest · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:02 pm

I'd venture to guess it was overtightened.

This is why I don't like using RTV on tranny pans, too...

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:05 pm

so they have to drop the pan and redo it? then i lose tranny fluid also bahhh.

How come when i ordered the tranny filter kit from jeep i didnt get a gasket with it?

Christopher · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:10 pm

The dealership always uses RTV instead of a gasket. Well maybe not always. Cheaper for them. Kinda like the rear axle differential cover. The dealership says just use RTV, they dont make a gasket but i cant get RTV to seal for the life of me. Ordered lube locker. Anyways make them fix it if they did it. Otherwise call your local parts stores, I found that a few of them had them in stock.

Chris

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:23 pm

yea, what color is rtv anyways?this stuff is grey.

I have to print out the torque specs for them so they can go by that.

Wierd...on the amsoil site it has no torque specs for an auto tranny, so what do they go by when tightenin the bolts?

Christopher · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:25 pm

rtv comes in many colors. Grey is one of them. Permatex

Chris

Christopher · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:26 pm

If I remember correctly the torque spec is low like less than 30lbs.

Chris

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:37 pm

never had luck with rtv on a trans pan. i tried it and had to dump out $40 worht of atf +4 because it was leaking.. Went to advanced and they had a pan gasket for my 45rfe.

Guest · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:38 pm

_UnLiMiTeD_ wrote:

yea, what color is rtv anyways?this stuff is grey.

I have to print out the torque specs for them so they can go by that.

Wierd...on the amsoil site it has no torque specs for an auto tranny, so what do they go by when tightenin the bolts?

uh...dude, if the shop isn't entirely capable of finding and using torque specs on their own, I'd start going somewhere else. And yeah, they have to drop the pan, and I'd throw a big hissy fit if they charged you for anything. I'll go take a picture of my pan if you like so you can print THAT out and show it to them.

And it's way less than 30 ft lbs...last time I looked up torque specs for a tranny pan it was in inch pounds. Actually that was an oil pan, and that was on an '83 Accord, LOL. (boy that's a whole nuther fun story...)

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:43 pm

well me trying to look for torque specs found nothing for the tranny pan but for everything else. And yes the 45rfe has a gasket with it, i know because when lordco gave me the wrong kit i seen the gasket for the 45rfe, but when i got the filter kit for the 42rle, there was no gasket. So rtv was the only choice. Im not going to throw a fit because this shop is friends of my dad so i just tell them how it is. That it leaks they must have overightened it and they have to drop it and re seal the pan. So they have to buy the fluid because im not forking out more money for it.

I wasnt the guy that made the mistake, im sure i wont have a problem, if there is i will let my dad take care of it since its his buddies shop lol.

C co Crusader 2/127 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 11:42 pm

i had a few problems finding a gasket too. Eventually i found one at advanced auto parts. the only had the 15 bolt gasket for the 03 i had to convince then that one from a 05 rocky mountian edition would work. The part number on the box is fk-361-a162011 and the barcode number is 7 71112 15098 2

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 11:52 pm

can this not jsut be done correctly using rtv? it was already a hude pain just finding the proper filter itself, i cant even imagine how hard its going to be to find the gasket.

Theres been tons of people on here that have done a tranny service. What is normall used for it? RTV?

I just need some torque specs

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:00 am

if it's done properly, RTV can be used and not leak. Overtorque the bolts, however, and you may have a warped pan...

I just checked my Haynes book (no, I don't have an FSM for the KJ:P) and it doesn't have a torque listing for the pans on the 42 or the 45. I didn't torque mine with a torque wrench...I used my precision calibrated ratchet, extension, and socket :lol:

In all seriousness, I'm nothing short of amazed mine's not leaking . I'm not good at pans/gaskets, oil or trans or otherwise.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:14 am

I used RTV on my tranny around 3k ago and its doing fine.

Install transmission oil pan (Fig. 139) with a bead of Mopart ATF RTV (MS-GF41). Torque oil panto- case bolts to 20 N·m (14.5 ft. lbs.).

corwyyn · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:15 am

The torque listed for the 42RLE in my FSM is 19 N-m (14 ft-lbs). For the 45RFE it lists 11.8 N-m (9 ft-lbs).

As for RTV, I have never had problems using it; in fact, a couple of months ago when I changed my fluid I used some and haven't got any leaks after 2,000+ miles. I ran into the same problem with finding a filter - every single source I tried (other than the dealer, which I didn't try) gave the transmission as a 45RFE. The main issue with using RTV, as others have stated, is to be sure the mating surfaces are fully cleaned prior to application. Luckily my pan pulled off with 90% of the RTV gasket on it, and that peeled off easily. Then a putty knife on the tranny to get the rest and I was good to go.

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:39 am

ok thanks for the torque specs guys. I will stop in there after work tuesday since they are not open mondays and tell them the details.

Cleaned surface
Torque to 14ft-lbs

Luckily this is a small leak, i already checked the fluid and its still fine

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:42 am

i hope the pan isnt warped, how do you check? can you tell visually? or can it only have to be a little bit off to cause leaks? luckily its not that expensive of a part but still a hassle.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:07 pm

I have always used RTV/permatex on my 45RFE no problems. You need to take it back, because they may have warped your pan. I had a leak once, and thought it was due to the RTV seal, or I over tightened, so I re did the job. Still leaked same place. So I took it in, and I bent the lip when I took it off. They may have done the same to yours. It is real touchy, just a little bend will leak.

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:09 pm

is there any way to tell if its bent without having to check to see if it leaks again? thats a lot of atf fluid to waste away lol

light leak from tranny pan

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