A Little Known Cause of Recurring Tranny Oil Leaks

jabowman · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 2:40 pm Post subject:

wow, major design issue. I have a fairly fresh trany in my van, it it's leaking like mad around the drive flanges. About a half an inch of crud caked over the entire front of the trans case. I couldn't tell there was a separation in the case there, let alone a breather hole. I drive dirt roads a fair bit, and I'm just not even willing to mess around with this again.

This is my fix:

1. Cleaned area with brush and solvent while holding vacuum up to area

2. Sanded down the end of 1 inch section of steel brake line to about .1 mm larger than the hole (approx. 4mm), creating a press fit

3. gently tapped the steel tube into the hole with a hammer

4. put a long section of vacuum tubing over the tube, haven't decided where to route yet

I sucked on the tube to make sure the steel tube didn't bottom out inside the chamber and essential block the hole. If you suck for a while you can feel the vacuum pressure building inside the transmission, and it "wooshes" when you take your mouth off.

simple fix, took five minutes and some extra crap lying around the garage. Good luck doing it with the trans in the vehicle...

If I rebuild my trans I will absolutely be drilling and tapping a 1/8 NPT hole for a brass nipple. You could probably do it with the trans together, but need some serious vacuum and a lot of careful measuring without being able to see the inside of the case.

I'm shocked that none of the trans rebuilders do anything to fix this (or maybe some do?) It's extremely cheap and easy to fix, and what a big problem..

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

61Scout · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:30 pm Post subject:

Great fix, and thanks for the picture, jabowman. I like your modification... reminds me of what 4x4 guys do to vent their drivetrain. The tube will really let you get it out of the way and venting in a safe spot. Nice job.
_________________
1986 Westfalia Weekender Wolfsburg, RJE 2.3
1985 Tin Top, Subie 2.2 + 5MT
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-Nec Spe, Nec Metu

dhaavers · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:36 pm Post subject:

IdahoDoug · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:24 pm Post subject:

I'm actually going to suggest that you not place a constant vacuum on your trans - especially if you know your seals are leaking.

4X4 folks do put extended hoses on their drivetrain component vents, but they simply route them together up to a high spot on the vehicle where water ingress is prevented. They don't place the line onto an engine vacuum source as you are doing.

The reason I suggest you not do this is that you will have a constant bit of water migrating through your seals due to the vacuum inside. Dirty water with road chemicals, and the fine grit in it is constantly tossed on them on a rainy day. This will rapidly degrade the seals as they'll essentially be running in a fine paste as crud is constantly brought into the seal lips. Far better that clean lubricating gear oil is constantly brought into the leaky seal lips and pushed out than the situation you are setting up.

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

WLD*WSTY · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:03 pm Post subject:

I don't see where he's hooking to engine vacuum...
_________________
'82 SyncroWesty, the first ever conversion.'06 Subaru 2.5L

jabowman · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:07 pm Post subject:

hahaha! No, it's not connected to vacuum, although that would certainly keep the transmission from leaking! I'll probably take it up into the engine compartment somewhere and put a small filter or something on the end.

IdahoDoug · Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 12:08 am Post subject:

We use a simple cheap inline filter on the tip, and zip tie it up high. T's for any other nearby components you want protected, such as a diff or transfer case.

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

Tobias Duncan · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:56 pm Post subject:

Less than one year of driving on dirt roads and mine was completely occluded with the super fine Taos dust.
Thanks for the great photos guys , made this diagnosis and cleanup much easier.

2Dokas · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 9:13 am Post subject:

I have a question concerning leaks in the transmission and this seems like a good thread.

1987 Syncro

Recently had some trans fluid leaking on to the top of the trans, had a shop pull the trans and I was told it was the small breather pipe that got caught behind the fuel tank. Had the tank pulled, reassembled, paid my charges and hit the road,

After the 130 mile drive home I had trans fluid coming out between the engine (AHU) and the trans, a puddle about 6" wide.

Returned the Westy to the shop a few weeks later and by then the clutch was shot, chattering badly.

so, diagnosis:

The vent tube coming off the front differential was purging fluid out of the front differential.

I can't imagine a connection of fluid between the front and rear differentials.

I looked at the Bentley but could not see any routing of the vent lines.

anyone show me the page number illustrating the connection between the front differential and the space between the engine and trans?

peter
_________________
87 Doka 2WD Ej22,
56 Convertible

syncrodoka · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 12:41 pm Post subject:

2Dokas · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 4:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mario,
_________________
87 Doka 2WD Ej22,
56 Convertible

Nuthin2It · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 1:44 pm Post subject:

With all the photos I still had a hard time locating this atmospheric bleed hole. It is shown in the 1991 edition Bentley on page 35.44, though not labeled. It's in what's called the "Gear Carrier Cover."
_________________
1985 Westfalia 15 degree EA288 Boxeer

weisswurst · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 5:36 pm Post subject:

I would just like to say that today is the first time I saw this thread! Evil or Very Mad

My one true king Andrew posted this so thank you sir (yes I am a diesel vanagon owner so we worship him around here)
Also the fact that Colin (Amskeptic) commented on it made me really examine all the posts twice.
Now on to the reason I posted,
I have been chasing a slow but increasing by the week tranny leak in my Canadian Doka here in the US for a few months and recently changed the fluid and it went away immediately after to our surprise Confused

This seems to make sense since a opening the fill and drain plugs would release the pressure of a blocked vent if I'm reading this right! Shocked

I will be checking the vent to see if it's clogged at first chance before driving it again for sure. I agree with a past poster if this was a sticky I would have know about this YEARS ago. Thanks Andrew, you are the gift that keeps on giving in this world my leige... Cool

jeff

weisswurst · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 6:01 pm Post subject:

oh and yes, I forgot to mention the Doka was a WBX before an AAZ TD was swapped in so it must have the tranny vent.
I will be checking on my next visit to where it is garaged of course!
jeff

tlbranth · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:58 pm Post subject:

Lucy73 · Samba Member Joined: August 07, 2015 Posts: 1

?Waldo? · Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:52 pm Post subject:

Yes, you can clean the atmospheric bleed without pulling the seal. Look through the thread at the pics to see where it is located. Roll under your van with a mirror and flashlight and clean it up.

shagginwagon83

Ah man I need some pics!

Nevermind there is one on this thread.

My question is there suppose to be a mesh screen? Mine looks clogged... But I don't want to push out my screen.
_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

?Waldo?

There is no screen.

shagginwagon83

Thanks waldo. For the response and the thread.
_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan


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A Little Known Cause of Recurring Tranny Oil Leaks
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