ATF Leak

[photo_van]

Just noticed ATF on the ground and running down front frame member. Too cold to crawl under there just yet so I thought I'd float this in cyberland in the meantime.

I checked under the hood: lines in and out of external cooler look dry. Top line into the radiator looks dry. Where does the line come out of the radiator/stock cooler?

The leak appears to be on top of the frame crossmember on the passenger side. At first glance I don't see any dampness up on the shroud. Are there lines up on top of the frame?

Any ideas?

[astrozam]

The lines are on the pass side of rad cooler, one at top one at bottom. You should be able to see both. Both lines are routed above the cross member and back to the pass side of the tranny, at least thats the way I remember...lol

[MountainManJoe]

The stock ATF cooler is just a foot long tube inside the passenger side radiator tank. ATF comes in through the bottom fitting, and out the top. From there, I think they lead down, along the engine oil pan, and back to the tranny. I do know that if you overfill the tranny, the extra fluid ends up on the ground but I don't know where it comes out of.

[photo_van]

thanks you guys. The bottom line must come out under the lower radiator hose; I can't see it from above. Almost up to freezing now, I'll crawl under there soon.

[photo_van]

yep, coming out of the bottom fitting, wonder why?

[MountainManJoe]

Check that the clip isn't missing and snug, and also the o-ring.

Check out my thread for pics.
viewtopic.php?f=57&t=6855

[photo_van]

damn this forum ROCKS! Thanks Timeless

I just got that fitting off and thought it to be a weird type fitting. Thought I was going to have to jury rig with a barbed fitting and flex line.

All pieces appear to be in place, so I'm guessing the o-ring is bad.

Took it apart, the o-ring doesn't "look" bad, maybe I see a little flat spot. Off to town for a .20 part!

[photo_van]

Well that didn't work.... maybe a hairline crack in the rigid tube. Back to plan a: barbed fitting and flex line...

You guys still rock tho

[astrozam]

Good that you've narrowed things down...

[photo_van]

Yep, crack at the flare on the rigid line. Took a dozen phone calls and 70 miles of driving to find the $10 part but got it done (one of the joys of living in the sticks).

What ya need is a 3/8 inverted male flare x 3/8 hose fitting. When you say "inverted" you either get silence or a blank stare, or both. You're probably not going to find it at the hardware or auto parts store (at least not in these parts). I ended up finding it at a hydraulic shop.

Fortunately the hydraulic guy told me that the 3/8 fuel line I was going to use would turn to mush and gave me some hydraulic hose. So this is what it looks like; pretty much like doing the external cooler. As with other tasks, I sure am grateful to have the 2" body lift, don't know how you would do it otherwise.

[MountainManJoe]

Nice work! And you're so right about the lift making everything easier. I once snaked my head into the engine bay somewhere behind the wheel.

However, the lift does put a bit of strain on those cooler lines, so that flexible line will relieve that nicely.

So what makes the fitting inverted? Awesome pics by the way

[astroturf]

[photo_van]

So what makes the fitting inverted? Awesome pics by the way

standard flare (top) is an "outty", inverted (bottom) is an "inny"

Not to be confused with compression fittings (different thread) or NPT.