i have a 1996 jeep cherokee 4x4 classic xj 4.0l
so i got this thing last week and i finally got into it. i noticed that i had a trans leak at the back of the motor. small so i didnt really look into it a whoke lot futher. i was flusihing the coolant it it was brown no mily brown but just brown ( pic attatched ) so i did a whole system flush and thought i was go togo well today coolant is gone ( no sign of leaking) and ALL my trans fluid is gone, small leak but nothing major, i guess . oil is black and not milky or choclate milk color and no sign of it anywhere?? oh and when i add more coolant in its back to the brown color??? im confused. ive maybe drove it twice now ( waiting on a replacement title) HELLLP!









( sorry the pictures are blurry.) can post better ones in the morning. oil coolant and trans fluid were filled tonight.

 

If you drained the coolant, then it was probably still burping out air after it warmed up. The brown looks like typical rust staining to me or possibly mixing coolant types or colors, and probably needed more flushing with cleaner or coolant. That drip off the bottom of the trans bell housing looks like a typical engine oil leak because you see higher up by the crank. The usual causes there are valve cover gasket, oil filter adapter, or rear main seal. If the back of the engine block is oily, it's probably the valve cover. Any noticeable transmission fluid leaks? How much trans fluid did you have to add?

 

drain the coolant no less than 4 times via the tap on the radiator, 10 times is better..use water

a dishwasher tablet will help

Once the coolant stays clear, add the green stuff

A fully drained trans (pan off) takes about 8 litres to fill up. It wont even register on the dipstick till it has 5-6 litres

it is slightly possible you have a ruptured trans cooler element within the radiator

 

i had about a half qrt to a qrt everyday.. that why i came here, the leaks that are there dont look like they should cause it to be comoletly empty by morning.(atleastfrom what i can tell), topped it off lastnight before bed and when i checked it this morning it was gone ( atleast on the dip stick) same with the coolant . topped it off laat night and hald to put about a qrt of a jugg in to get it back right. i havent drove it today and im going to go check it now

 

I'm always reluctant to touch the plastic drain valve as it breaks off about half the time. I usually pull the lower rad hose instead.

The trans cooler is s possibility but you usually end up with coolant in the trans when that hapoens.

 

maybe itd be better to just drop the trans pan and take a better look? how difficult is it todo that?

 

or atleast pull the drain plug

 

No need to drop the pan unless you think that's what's leaking. If the trans fluid looks milky or suddenly too full, I'd be suspicious of the trans cooler that's inside the drivers side of the radiator of leaking internally.

 

can be difficult depends on your exhaust, cant see how it will help

if you are saying you fill it to the correct spot on the dipstick, and it drops below the low mark after using it, and you have a trans leak at the bellhousing ?

you should do a proper clean up with cans of degreaser and rag, run your rig for just a few mins, be underneath, see if trans fluid is dripping out one of the hard metal lines in the cooler, they can crack

if you did a half decent job of cleaning, and the leak is the Torque Convertor front seal, it will drip out the bottom of the bell housing with the engine running straight away

They dont leak with engine off

I have repaired both these faults on my XJs