All,

Im trying to understand what ive found under my jeep. There is what I believe to be a front transmission leak from behind the inspection plate. The fluid is Very dark like a metallic film. What is this from and why am i finding it like this?
All of the transmission leak pages ive read do not mention any such thing, nor have I found pictures of this.



Thank you for any help on understanding what and why this occurs.

 

Auto tranny fluid is red when clean. Manual tranny has golden brown oil when clean.

If auto tranny, find the tranny dip stick and check level with engine running. also note color, if not bright pretty red anymore, then time to replace. Compair fluid on dip stick to that on leak. Note if dip stick shows metal in fluid.

snap a couple bright clear photographs of leak and post them please

 

Th





Note I have recently replaced my oil filter adapter gaskets and changed my oil during that time. Evidence of metallic oil was seen once drained. The RMS area is quite damp and I'm uncertain if it's from fluid leaking back from before replacing the gasket or the RMS to is leaking. What you can see is the two fluids are completely different colors, please ignore the tan color near the tranny fluid on the paper towel, its the oil I wiped on the other side. The tyranny fluid is a clean pink with no metallic bits. The engine oil is a clean tan with no metallic bits.

 

perhaps bellhouse is loosely mounted to tranny or engine such as they rub, causing fine metal aluminum powder to mix into the leaky oil? check tightness?

 

Do you no longer think this could be from the inside of the transmission?

I'll certainly check bell housing boots just to be certain.

 

Has anyone any other thoughts to point me at how to address this? I cant find any similar pictures or threads online. This is fairly alarming seeing a film that I cannot identify and cant find information on how, what, or why this is happening.

If there is anything you can direct me to research on this issue Ide be very appreciative.


thanks you

 

it seems to be almost like a paste judging from photos. my guess is it has fine aluminum powder in it, but lack of red in it shows it likely is not tranny fluid.
is the material attracted to a magnet?

is the stuff water soluable?

can you look inside the cover plate ?

does it have an odor?

golly I am at a loss.

clean it off best you can, then run it more and see if you can detect source.

you checked tranny fluid level already, she shifts fine, correct?

check engine oil level too, just to be safe

but gosh, that stuff sure dont look like any of the fluids, even loaded with metal, i still expect red color if it is tranny fluid, and your fluid inside tranny is clean

???
it appears it is running down from the passenger side of bell house, rather from within. look on top of bell house, see the source there?

could this be a blob of antisieze lube that got mixed with some solvent?

weird, sorry I dont have an answer, please let us know what you find.

 

What Rob said!

I'd pull the inspection plate off and have a look inside. This will allow you to clean the plate easily as well as the rear of the oil pan. Follow the trail up the edge of the bellhousing and see if it continues along the block or the firewall or any lines, hoses or frame structures.

The only thing I can think of that could be (other than anti seize) it is some radiator stop leak.