Within the past year I had my transmission rebuilt by a friend of the
family and essentially got no kind of warranty or anything. This
person has since moved out of the area.
My truck transmission works fine as far as shifting (automatic) and
everything goes but it seems I need to add tranny fluid about 2 or 3
times per week.
My question are as follows.... Because of a severe lack of funds
getting any mechanical work done at this time, although I do realize is
the correct way to go, is just not possible.
I was wondering if any of you guys have ever tried any of the products
they have on the the market that "supposedly" will stop a transmission
leak, condition it etc.... Products such as Transmission HONEY and
other products of that nature...
Do they work? Have you had any success with them? If they can't stop
the leak can they at least slow it down a little?
Again.. I know there is no subsitute for good mechanical repair but
would any of these products at least help me get through the summer?
Thanks in advance.
DAVID
Kevin - 18 May 2006 12:34 GMT
> Within the past year I had my transmission rebuilt by a friend of the
> family and essentially got no kind of warranty or anything. This
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> DAVID
Transmissions normally began to leak as the seals or gaskets get old and
harden or deteriorate. There are some products that will soften or swell up
the old seals which will temporarily decreases the leaking. The problem is
that they soon begin leaking again, only worse than before. In your case,
there should be no old seals or gaskets, so the leak is more likely a
mechanical problem rather than one of deterioration. I would suggest
parking the car on a clean slab or over some card board. Observe where the
fluid drips onto the surface and then take a close look in the area above
the drip. You might just find that you only need to tighten the pan gasket
or maybe replace a transmission cooler line hose clamp. There are a number
of places the leak could come from, but since you recently had it overhauled
it will probably just be something loose rather than something that needs
replacing. If you are adding that much transmission fluid and there are no
puddles of fluid on the ground where you park, then there are some other
things to check that could be causing the fluid to be consumed. Post back if
that is the case. BTW, make sure you are checking the fluid level correctly
and not overfilling it.
good luck,

Signature
Kevin Mouton
Automotive Technology Instructor
"If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy"
Red Green
David_nj_7@mailbolt.com - 18 May 2006 12:50 GMT
Thanks... One more question. Is it important that the truck be parked
on a LEVEL surface when checking the fluid?
Thanks
DAVID
* - 18 May 2006 13:17 GMT
David_nj_7@mailbolt.com wrote in article
<1147953013.387457.263830@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>...
> Thanks... One more question. Is it important that the truck be parked
> on a LEVEL surface when checking the fluid?
Only if you want an accurate reading........
lugnut - 18 May 2006 13:14 GMT
>Within the past year I had my transmission rebuilt by a friend of the
>family and essentially got no kind of warranty or anything. This
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
>DAVID
STOP! Don't put anything in that trans until you have some
idea of what your are trying to do. First, you haven't
bothered to mention what make, year model or other pertinent
info that may be needed to get some idea of what your
problem may be. There are several causes of transmission
fluid loss that may or may not be related to something that
an additive may be helpful with. These additives are
usually effective for the short term and may result in other
transmission problems if they work at all. You may have
another problem with which an additive may not be effective
at all while risking other problems. If nothing else, call
the person who built the trans. Phone calls are still
cheaper than a screwed trans. They may have knowledge of
something easy since they built it in the first place. When
I build a trans or any other repair, I consider it an insult
for the owner to call someone else before they ever bother
to ask me about a problem. I think most others who take a
bit of pride in their work feel the same way. If that
doesn't get you anywhere, please post back with more info so
that someone here may be able to offer some relative advice.
Regards
Lugnut
Ad absurdum per aspera - 18 May 2006 18:12 GMT
You didn't say how much you have to add, but having to do it two to
three times a week is a lot. Certainly far beyond what you could
expect a stop-leak product to accomplish even if this were the sort of
problem within its realm (slightly dried and shrunken gaskets, etc.)
Also, something going wrong that badly could get worse with little
warning.
You need mechanical repair, which as others have noted could be
something minor and external and well within the abilities of a general
do-it-yourselfer type. Give it a chance to be easy.
The first step is to clean things off with old rags or paper towels and
figure out where the leak is. Just be sure to take safety precautions
for working under a car (safety glasses, proper lifting and
supporting, etc.) Wear rubber gloves and old clothes too, since a
large-scale transmission fluid leak tends to carpet-bomb the underside
of a car with dirt-attracting petrochemical yuck.
Cheers,
--Joe
David_nj_7@mailbolt.com - 19 May 2006 02:46 GMT
OK, I found out from a "friend" with what I believe to be a decent
amount of mechanical experience that what I have is a leak from the
TAILSTOCK SEAL or something to that effect.
Does this tell you guys anything?
I usually have to add about a PINT about 2 or 3 times a week.
Thanks
DAVID
lugnut - 19 May 2006 14:32 GMT
>OK, I found out from a "friend" with what I believe to be a decent
>amount of mechanical experience that what I have is a leak from the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>DAVID
Still don't know what vehicle but, if it is conventional
rear drive vehicle, it is an easy one to replace. You have
to pull the drive shaft and pry out the old seal and drive
in a new one. If you have a way to support the vehicle and
a decent assortment of basic tools, you can DIY replace it
for under $20 in most vehicles. If the front yoke or the
tailshaft bushing are worn, the repair may or may not last.
Replacement of the yoke and/or bushing are also relatively
simple repairs that do not require removal of the trans to
repair/replace. Removal of the tailshaft housing or
replacement of the yoke on your drive shaft are bes
accomplished by someone with some knowledge of what they are
doing. Most shops can do a bench replacement of the yoke on
your drive shaft at a reasonable price. Even if these are
the problem, they are cheaper to repair that chancing a
damaged trans because of low fluid or having the mess of a
bad leak in the drive all the time.
Good luck
Lugnut
Ted Mittelstaedt - 20 May 2006 11:41 GMT
> OK, I found out from a "friend" with what I believe to be a decent
> amount of mechanical experience that what I have is a leak from the
> TAILSTOCK SEAL or something to that effect.
Stop-leak will NOT fix that. The driveshaft is not just turning
there, it is going in and out as the car suspension travels. A new
seal is what you want.
Ted