Transmission - maybe problem

[helen&tony]

Hi Alacrity
Thanks...I'm beginning to wonder whether it is something more external...and PRAYING...Strange that it should start leaking in the cold , though...any connection?...as soon as I can get to look , I'll be down there. I'll post back tomorrow
Thanks a great deal!!!!
Cheers
Helen

[Alacrity]

The only thing that springs to mind is possibly a non standard cooler hose that has hardened in the cold.

[munroman]

Hi Alacrity
Thanks...I'm beginning to wonder whether it is something more external...and PRAYING...Strange that it should start leaking in the cold , though...any connection?...as soon as I can get to look , I'll be down there. I'll post back tomorrow
Thanks a great deal!!!!
Cheers
Helen

Hi Helen, it could be a leaky gasket because of the cold, I had a VW 'waterboxer' van, and they have rubber seals between the waterjacket and the cylinder head, it is common that they start leaking coolant from these in the winter, especially in some cold states of the US, but to be ok in the summer.

Or it might be a hose/pipe connection leaking, one of the reasons they use spring hose clips is that the connection expands and contracts with temperature. With worm drive clips there is no 'give' so the connection becomes 'looser' when very cold.

So basically, things shrink when they are cold, and as a hillwalker I can confirm this as true!

[helen&tony]

Hi Munro
I'm hoping that it's something simple, as the "hired help" here are blinking useless with anything technical...lovely people, and great company, 24 carat solid gold boozers, but the education ...forget it, and an auto gearbox....OOOooohhh it might as well be a warp drive Tomorrow, I hope to get more info...The strange thing is, that it was colder last winter, and no probs. Hoping is's something "hosey"
Cheers
Helen

[Alacrity]

Looking at your other post re. transmission coolers, you say you experienced trans overheat problems on you way down there. If it was this was sustained over the length of the journey you may well have done damage to it. One of the effects of running a transmission too hot is that it hardens the 'rubber' seals used throughout, both internally an externally, eventually they leak either internally (resulting in low pressure/burnt clutches) or externally (leaks). Would love to be proved wrong on this though for your sake.

Geoff

[helen&tony]

Hi Geoff
I've PMd you. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll get to look at the problem....from inside , under the passenger seat, and from underneath...with a mirror on a stick ...and , maybe, an answer. If it is a bit of dicky tubing, is there a special compound for flexible hosing on transmissions, or can I use small-bore coolant hose?...
Cheers
Helen

[Alacrity]

No don't use coolant hose - it isn't oil resistant. It must be an oil resistant hose, nothing special just not meant for water.

[helen&tony]

Hi Geoff
I had wondered if that may be the case...when I find out if it's a hose, I'll have a hunt locally
Cheers
Helen

[helen&tony]

Hi
I just risked going out to the Bongo....BBBbrrrr...I got the front doors open, and tipped the passenger seat...Well...it looks like there is something leaking over the top of the bellhousing, running down the casings and dripping off the very front left corner of the trans casing...Tony thought the puddle on the floor was pinkish, but that's not certain...Now, I don't know if it is the rear of the rocker gasket leaking down over the transmission case, and getting stained somehow, it may even be a leak from the engine breather attachment on the turbo inlet...I really can't tell at the moment, as I had to put the seat back, as my hands were starting to suffer after 10- 12 minutes....so it's round 3 tomorrow...another look. If it is oil breathing...why now?...it's hardly using oil, but the rocker area is a bit cruddy
Cheers
Helen

[apole]

Hi there,

Can you get any pics, that would really help people here identify the problem.

Regarding the colour put a bit of clean white kitchen towel or something similar on it and see the colour from there.

Trans fluid I think also smells different, kind of sweet smell so that could lend a clue. Engine oil in diesels tends to always be black.

Andy

[helen&tony]

Hi Andy
Cheers...I am inspecting again tomorrow...I haven't "sniff tested" yet, as I didn't want to move the cardboard...that's on the list to do
Cheers
Helen

[helen&tony]

Hi
No luck in getting down to look at the Bongo today, as it's blowing a Gizzard ...nasty white stuff
I'll take a look tomorrow , and post my findings
Cheers
Helen

[helen&tony]

Hi
Just a quick test today...freezing...I found some straw coloured oil forward of the drip mark...smells like oil, but clean...and that appeared a foot further forward from the transmission????odd...
I hope to check again tomorrow and get some photos when my fingers work
Cheers
Helen

[helen&tony]

Hi
Some poking around in the cold, and managing to get the driver's door open, a quick look at the power steering reservoir reveals a 1/4 inch drop in fluid level in the last couple of weeks? maybe 3?...It was previously a bit low, so topped up. Kirsty...you've been watching Sherlock again...your thoughts on the steering may well be right....next job, e-bay to get a bottle of "stop leak" sent...I doubt the shops here have it!...I also checked the transmission pan, and it only has a dry stain round the flange all round, ABOVE and below, suggesting that the stain is blown back, and more like dried engine residue...
SO....PRAY for me folks...steering we can fix...transmission is a no-no over here....
Cheers
And thanks for the advice so far...much appreciated
Helen

[Alacrity]

Good news, happy for you