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Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? #620354 02/21/10 09:47 PM 02/21/10 09:47 PM
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia W wh23g3g OP member
wh23g3g OP member W Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia	I'm finishing up the details on my 73 Charger 400 refurbish. I'm adding the transmission fluid to my remanufactured 727. It's got a new converter and I added almost a quart when I installed the transmission. I then added 7quarts through the fill tube. Then I noticed a few minutes later on the driver's side transmission pan flange the fluid was dripping out. It leaked about a quart and then has stopped dripping. I know one veteran mechanic that runs a shop told me only to put about 5 or else the fluid will bleed out since the pump isn't turning. Do you think this is what happened? The 73 owner's manual says 16.25 quarts total. So I had almost 8. Will the converter scream when I initially start up the motor?

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: wh23g3g] #620355 02/21/10 09:53 PM 02/21/10 09:53 PM
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,460 oklahoma F forphorty pro stock
forphorty pro stock F Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,460 oklahoma	I would think you could fill it to the gills and it shouldnt leak out just sitting. Drivers side? might be leaking at the gear selector seal or at cooler line fittings.

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: wh23g3g] #620356 02/21/10 09:54 PM 02/21/10 09:54 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	The 16.25 qt figure is not right. Not sure how much it needs now but no damage has been done, Start it up & keep adding fluid until it is full live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: forphorty] #620357 02/21/10 09:57 PM 02/21/10 09:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,111 Bowie, MD R Reggie top fuel
Reggie top fuel R Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,111 Bowie, MD	Quote: I would think you could fill it to the gills and it shouldnt leak out just sitting. Drivers side? might be leaking at the gear selector seal or at cooler line fittings. Ditto. Look for the source of the leak and then you'll have an idea what the problem is.

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: wh23g3g] #620358 02/21/10 10:12 PM 02/21/10 10:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,506 Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC J JDMopar master
JDMopar master J Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,506 Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC	I'll bet it's leaking out of the vent behind the torque converter. I over filled one once, and that's what it did. You should only half fill a new transmission till startup, and then fill it to the proper level with it warm and in neutral after startup. If it's leaking from around the dipstick tube, the o-ring isn't seated properly. Good luck.

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: JDMopar] #620359 02/22/10 01:55 AM 02/22/10 01:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 5,221 Branson, Mo. J joedust451 super gas
joedust451 super gas J Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 5,221 Branson, Mo.	It shouldn't take but 10 qts. max, but i'll bet its only 9, 5 for the pan, 4 for the converter, you most likely have a leaky "selector shaft seal", just crawl under it & feel around the shaft, if its leaking, you will know it, i wouldn't think 6-7 qts. would leak prior to start-up if all seals are good. 75 Duster, 451 10.87 @ 123.58 NA 97 Z28 6sp., 12.01 @ 115 on a 100 shot 71 Swinger. 360 magnum. 12.58 @ 105 78 cutlass, 469 BBC. 12.70 @ 108 on street tires. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2kqNmMfheU

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: wh23g3g] #620360 02/22/10 01:58 AM 02/22/10 01:58 AM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 5,221 Branson, Mo. J joedust451 super gas
joedust451 super gas J Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 5,221 Branson, Mo.	Quote: I'm finishing up the details on my 73 Charger 400 refurbish. I'm adding the transmission fluid to my remanufactured 727. It's got a new converter and I added almost a quart when I installed the transmission. I then added 7quarts through the fill tube. Then I noticed a few minutes later on the driver's side transmission pan flange the fluid was dripping out. It leaked about a quart and then has stopped dripping. I know one veteran mechanic that runs a shop told me only to put about 5 or else the fluid will bleed out since the pump isn't turning. Do you think this is what happened? The 73 owner's manual says 16.25 quarts total. So I had almost 8. Will the converter scream when I initially start up the motor? I'll bet that was 16.25 PTs., not QTs. 75 Duster, 451 10.87 @ 123.58 NA 97 Z28 6sp., 12.01 @ 115 on a 100 shot 71 Swinger. 360 magnum. 12.58 @ 105 78 cutlass, 469 BBC. 12.70 @ 108 on street tires. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2kqNmMfheU

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: joedust451] #620361 02/22/10 02:03 AM 02/22/10 02:03 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	You'd want to add a certain amt (a qt or 2 I'd guess) to the TC and smear some on the OD of the snout before installation then several quarts in the dipstick tube then immediately start adding qts when the eng fires. why several helpers are needed on a new eng/cam breakin. live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: RapidRobert] #620362 02/22/10 03:57 AM 02/22/10 03:57 AM
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia W wh23g3g OP member
wh23g3g OP member W Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia	I checked obvious places like the selector shaft and the cooler line fittings since I had just installed the lines and they weren't the easiest to route pre-bent. But everything was totally dry. I've ruled it's probably not the best pan gasket the rebuilder could've put on and that's seeping from there, but the gasket is not cracked. Or it could be coming from the vent by the converter. It's stopped now and it was probably less than a quart when I looked at the puddle it made. The dipstick got a new o-ring, the speedometer got a new o-ring, the pump seal, and rear seal all new. It's a reman trans, hopefully it will work.

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: wh23g3g] #620363 02/22/10 06:18 PM 02/22/10 06:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 26,008 Rio Linda, CA John_Kunkel Too Many Posts
John_Kunkel Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 26,008 Rio Linda, CA	In a standard pan, 6 quarts is the correct initial fill with a dry transmission, any more can run out the vent in the front pump. The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: wh23g3g] #620364 02/22/10 07:55 PM 02/22/10 07:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,160 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,160 Mass	Jon the trannys capacity is 16 pints not qts,...2 pints equal a quart,...so 8 qts is enough, chances are it the selector shaft that's leaking on the drivers side just above the pan rail, if so, you'll need to drain the pan, and drop the valve body to R&R

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: DAYCLONA] #620365 02/22/10 08:14 PM 02/22/10 08:14 PM
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia W wh23g3g OP member
wh23g3g OP member W Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 153 Georgia	It's got to be from the vent then. Overnight I checked and the puddle was a little bigger, probably 2-3 quarts now. But I've been working on the engine bay all day and it's not dripping anymore and the puddle isn't getting any larger. That's what a mechanic around here that I know told me would happen if I tried to put all 8 quarts in. I didn't put 16 quarts in, that's what I thought 2 pints in a quart so I put 8 quarts in.

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: DAYCLONA] #620366 02/22/10 08:14 PM 02/22/10 08:14 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,481 Mesa, AZ P Pat_Whalen super gas
Pat_Whalen super gas P Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,481 Mesa, AZ	Quote: Jon the trannys capacity is 16 pints not qts,...2 pints equal a quart,...so 8 qts is enough, chances are it the selector shaft that's leaking on the drivers side just above the pan rail, if so, you'll need to drain the pan, and drop the valve body to R&R There is a tool made that can remove the seal without removing the valve body (if that's a problem). It's KD tools #2392and this is it:

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: wh23g3g] #620367 02/22/10 08:16 PM 02/22/10 08:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,481 Mesa, AZ P Pat_Whalen super gas
Pat_Whalen super gas P Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,481 Mesa, AZ	Quote: It's got to be from the vent then. Overnight I checked and the puddle was a little bigger, probably 2-3 quarts now. But I've been working on the engine bay all day and it's not dripping anymore and the puddle isn't getting any larger. That's what a mechanic around here that I know told me would happen if I tried to put all 8 quarts in. I didn't put 16 quarts in, that's what I thought 2 pints in a quart so I put 8 quarts in. I don't think 7 quarts will be enough to fill a trans case up to the vent (at the top of the pump). That's an awful lot of room to fill before you get up there.

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: Pat_Whalen] #620368 02/23/10 12:25 AM 02/23/10 12:25 AM
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 347 north west, IN L larry890 enthusiast
larry890 enthusiast L Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 347 north west, IN	Its most likely the vent, the same thing happened to me when i put 6or 7 qts in. Just look into the bell housing area. the car has to be running in neutral when you fill it completely.

Re: Trans is leaking prior to initial startup, why? [Re: wh23g3g] #620369 02/23/10 01:52 AM 02/23/10 01:52 AM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,759 So Cal HealthServices Why would you even post that?
HealthServices Why would you even post that? Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,759 So Cal	The shift shaft seal is on of the places I would look at. My shaft never really showed the leak unless I parked it on a incline or over filled it. As soon as I over filled it... click to enlarge. Click the picture in the newly opened box to see larger view. I used the same tool Pat used to change it. Easy 30 minute job once you have all the tools. Basically if you take a look at your pan, you can clearly see it cannot hold 9 quarts of oil at once, it must be distributed thru out the trans. The Shift shaft seal is one of the first locations to be covered when the fluid level rises above the pan. Allen Here's a novel idea, let's not throw a bunch of parts at the car hoping it will fix the problem and instead spend a little time diagnosing it first. Life was a little easier when I was just a wrench.

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