Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

Upper tranny line leak at radiator - teflon?

Old 11-02-2014, 12:19 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tracyk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default Upper tranny line leak at radiator - teflon?

Changed both transmission lines. The top one has a healthy leak from the nut that screws down over the flared part of the line. The brass fitting attached to the radiator does not appear to be producing or adding to the leak.

I've undone the line fitting a couple of times, cleaned it off, and re-attached, thinking I had poorly positioned it. The brass nipple does not look to be compromised at all. Research has turned up the ideas of putting some teflon tape or liquid teflon sealant in the nut attached to the trans line in order to seal up the leak. Alternatively, is there a potential o-ring solution?
ARE ANY OF THESE ADVISABLE?

I don't prefer to do the "fix" by removing that hardline and using a rubber line if I can avoid it. PO did that to the bottom line (leading to my original leak at bottom line and decision to just switch both lines out)
WILDCARD: I never had a prob with the original top line, although I noticed it started a slow drip after cooling system work during which I did not remove the radiator, but displaced it a bit during the work I was doing. However, I have no indication that I didn't properly adjust the radiator's position before closing everything up (and I drove without incident since, save for the tranny line leaks). Again, it does not look like I messed up the radiator's brass fitting. But, I have been accused of being hard on the equipment
ALSO, as I was refilling trans fluid after putting new lines in, I suspect some air got in because of a couple burps then a really slow drain on the last funnel full going into the dipstick tube. Could I have a needs-to-be-burped issue (doesn't make logical sense to me b/c it is the TOP line leaking)

Sorry, not very succinct, was hoping any/all info might spark an idea from someone. Back on task though, teflon fix? O-ring of some type?

THANKS for any input, I'm dying to drive my xj again
Attached Images  

Last edited by tracyk; 11-02-2014 at 12:25 PM. Reason: add info
Old 11-02-2014, 12:25 PM
  #2  
CF Veteran
 
Turbo X_J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ☼ Blackhole Sun
Posts: 8,567
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes on 16 Posts
Year: My Jeep is a GMC
Default

Teflon tape won't do it, seal is at the flare.
Old 11-02-2014, 12:29 PM
  #3  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tracyk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Turbo X_J
Teflon tape won't do it, seal is at the flare.
How about a liquid product around the threads of the brass nipple? Seems that might help seal it? thanks btw
Old 11-02-2014, 12:32 PM
  #4  
CF Veteran
 
Turbo X_J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ☼ Blackhole Sun
Posts: 8,567
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes on 16 Posts
Year: My Jeep is a GMC
Default

Check the fitting & line for crack or serious defect. Are they the same angle?
Old 11-02-2014, 12:48 PM
  #5  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tracyk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Turbo X_J
Check the fitting & line for crack or serious defect. Are they the same angle?
Just checked them again. Line looks fine and flare part appears to be uniform/without defect (FWIW, it's all new, although I know that's not always dispositive). The nut looks good too. I don't know how much "play" there should be with respect to the nut's circumference around the line (seems like it could be snugger - slides up and down line without any resistance or assistance).

During both do-overs, I was careful to hold the line at an angle for full contact between the fare and nipple until I had the nut tightened down on it. I would be shy to crank the nut any tighter for fear of over-tightening.
Old 11-02-2014, 12:53 PM
  #6  
CF Veteran
 
Turbo X_J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ☼ Blackhole Sun
Posts: 8,567
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes on 16 Posts
Year: My Jeep is a GMC
Default

http://www.globalfluid.com/p4400_pdf/G12.PDF

Hopefully the correct torque will fix it for ya, I gotta go play with the leaf blower.
Old 11-02-2014, 12:55 PM
  #7  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tracyk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Might be silly, but I just pressed the flare against the nipple with a piece of paper between. The resulting indent suggests that one side of the flare has a "better" fit against the nipple than the other side of the flare, but it doesn't look like they don't otherwise line up against each other
Old 11-02-2014, 12:56 PM
  #8  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tracyk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Turbo X_J
http://www.globalfluid.com/p4400_pdf/G12.PDF

Hopefully the correct torque will fix it for ya, I gotta go play with the leaf blower.
Thanks! Enjoy haha
Old 11-03-2014, 07:53 AM
  #9  
CF Veteran
 
CCKen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Canton, MI
Posts: 8,357
Likes: 0
Received 81 Likes on 66 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by tracyk
Might be silly, but I just pressed the flare against the nipple with a piece of paper between. The resulting indent suggests that one side of the flare has a "better" fit against the nipple than the other side of the flare, but it doesn't look like they don't otherwise line up against each other
Return that tube as defective. Get another one in exchange.

During fabrication, someone didn't flare the tube properly.

Good test you did BTW.
Old 11-03-2014, 11:28 AM
  #10  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tracyk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by CCKen
Return that tube as defective. Get another one in exchange.

During fabrication, someone didn't flare the tube properly.

Good test you did BTW.
Thanks Ken, will do. Now I can focus the neurosis on whether I'll fubar the quick disconnect into which that piece is attached. haha
Old 11-03-2014, 11:37 AM
  #11  
CF Veteran
 
CCKen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Canton, MI
Posts: 8,357
Likes: 0
Received 81 Likes on 66 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by tracyk
Thanks Ken, will do. Now I can focus the neurosis on whether I'll fubar the quick disconnect into which that piece is attached. haha
If the tube/quick disconnect is new and you use the proper disconnect tool, it should come apart easily. If one or both of these two elements don't exist, Say Good Night Gracie. ;-)
Old 11-03-2014, 11:46 AM
  #12  
CF Veteran
 
BlueRidgeMark's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Posts: 7,964
Received 951 Likes on 767 Posts
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by CCKen
... If one or both of these two elements don't exist, Say Good Night Gracie. ;-)

You realize you just dated yourself, don't you Ken?

You and Cruiser are probably the only guys on this board that remember vaudeville!

Old 11-03-2014, 01:41 PM
  #13  
CF Veteran
 
CCKen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Canton, MI
Posts: 8,357
Likes: 0
Received 81 Likes on 66 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeMark
You realize you just dated yourself, don't you Ken?

You and Cruiser are probably the only guys on this board that remember vaudeville!

George Burns & Gracie Allen.

The family used to listen to them on the radio before TV.

That was Geoge's sign-off for the night.

There's many old radio programs that I liked; some made it to TV, others didn't. Terry and the Pirates was a good one, so was The Shadow.
Old 11-03-2014, 04:23 PM
  #14  
CF Veteran
 
Turbo X_J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ☼ Blackhole Sun
Posts: 8,567
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes on 16 Posts
Year: My Jeep is a GMC
Default

Originally Posted by CCKen
The family used to listen to them on the radio before TV.
I no longer feel old, thx.
Old 11-03-2014, 05:20 PM
  #15  
Member
Thread Starter
 
tracyk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Not wanting to disappoint, gingerly disconnecting the new parts is indeed Gracie's present struggle. Getting the desired click but not desired disconnect. NOT whining- I know my struggle's not unique but...

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Upper tranny line leak at radiator - teflon?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:16 AM.