Transmission fluid dissapearing act

bearhunter · **Joined:** Sat May 07, 2011 6:08 pm **Posts:** 12

I have a 06 Libby diesel with auto-trans. I had the fluid and filters changed by an "expert shop" filled to prescribed level. When I check the level it goes down a pint or more every 1000 miles or so. No leaks in the driveway and can't seem to find any leakage when I look the trans over from underneath the Jeep. There is no vacuume modulator that can be sucking fluid into the motor. At this point I'm stumped. Any ideas would be appreciated. Vehicle has 123k on the clock.

EAB · **Joined:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:39 pm **Posts:** 141

Check the level in the transfer case. If its way over full then the seal between the two is bad.

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 10:57 pm

Check the transmission cooler for leaks mine cost me about a pint every 2 weeks and had no drips in the driveway because the only time it would really leak was under pressure going down the road.

Greasey Bob · **Joined:** Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:34 am **Posts:** 228

I really do not think this is it but check the radiator for pink antifreeze that is thick, just in case. I had this happen once on a mercedes.

racertracer · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:25 am

audiboy86 wrote:

Check the transmission cooler for leaks mine cost me about a pint every 2 weeks and had no drips in the driveway because the only time it would really leak was under pressure going down the road.

audiboy86, I have the same problem with the transmission cooler / AC combo, how did you repair the leak?

Did you replace it?

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:00 am

Greasey Bob wrote:

I really do not think this is it but check the radiator for pink antifreeze that is thick, just in case. I had this happen once on a mercedes.

The Liberty does not use a trans fluid to radiator cooler, so the trans fluid can not leak into the radiator.
X2 on checking the trans cooler that is the lower part of the AC condenser/trans cooler combo unit.
When I put in my Suncoast, I had to drive at least five miles and check a few times before the level did not keep going down. Unless your Expert Shop drove the CRD several miles on the test drive and checked with the engine running, they did not get all the air out of the system.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:58 am

X2 but on the assumption under fill is not the issue and fluid is going somewhere it's certainly possible that you have a small leak (1 pt per 1000 miles is not much) that only occurs under pressure or when things expand as they warm up hence the missing fluid is likely on the road somewhere if it's not landing on something hot and immediately evaporating. The key to finding that sort of leak or any similar leak is to add the appropriate UV dye to the system; drive for a few days; look for the leak with a black light. If the engine bay and transmission are dirty I'd suggest appliction of an engine degreaser and a gentle water rinse (no pressure washing as that has caused electrical problems for some) to make sure you have a reasonably clean surface to look for dye on.

Offhand my bet would be on a very small leak at the tranny pan seal probably at the back edge so the drip sails out behind the vehicle as you drive but that's just a guess.

bearhunter · **Joined:** Sat May 07, 2011 6:08 pm **Posts:** 12

Just one more obersavition, the trany dip stick will pop up when driveing at highway speeds.

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:02 am

I replaced it for now picked up a brand new off eBay for 170. The guy had a shop order a new one for his V-6 and they ordered the wrong one. And wouldn't return it so he put it on eBay to recover some cash. I would suggest having your AC system evaced professionally before starting this project.

bearhunter · **Joined:** Sat May 07, 2011 6:08 pm **Posts:** 12

Well I checked transfercase and it was not over full. Went to a trany shop in Lake Havasu and could not find any sign of leak. Had to add 1 Quart of fluid, that now makes a total of 3 quarts in about 1800 miles. Where oh where has the fluid gone?

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 19, 2011 2:28 am

Go look the front transmission cooler over it will just look like a darker stop on it or you could add a dye to it like suggested it is cheap and easy and get a UV light. And go run the transmission for a while and you should be able to find it extremely easily.

Transmission fluid dissapearing act

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