Does this look like a transmission leak?

[Cryptothedog]

I had my transmission rebuilt about 25k miles ago because the torque converter went out. I crawled under my truck today to see where my transmission thermostat was because I want to install a bypass to keep it cooler while towing…anyways I saw fluid on this aluminum plate above the cooler lines as well as the cooler lines and it looks like it’s coming from the transmission. There is an aluminum plate that is right behind it.

Does anyone know if there is a plug or bolt behind this plate that may need to be tightened? I checked my fluid after getting the transmission temp up to 196 and it is totally full and there aren’t any puddles on my driveway. So I’m kinda stumped where this fluid is coming from because my levels are full and it looks like trans fluid.

 

[OR VietVet]

It does look like transmission fluid. Slight seepage.

You can pop that bigger cover off, to the right, and look inside to see if you can see the source.

 

[Cryptothedog]

Thanks for all your help! I do a lot of work on my own vehicles but I don’t mess with transmissions lol. I was wondering if I could just pop them off so that’s good to know.

Now when I look at the dipstick after I’ve gotten the transmission fluid to 196 degrees and pull the dipstick it looks over filled to me. It’s super hard to see though because the fluid is almost clear. Could it being over filled cause it to leak somewhere? I’ve heard there is a vent in a transmission that will leak out fluid if it is too full. Not sure if that is true or not.

That being said I’m gonna throw in either the new trans thermostat that GM put out to cool these down or do the shift bypass kit. I’m still getting hotter than I would like while towing up long steep mountain hills. Even after the rebuild. They did throw a billet torque converter in there to make it a little stronger but I still don’t want to run it too hot.

 

[Fless]

What year?

I'm going to assume that you're checking the fluid level with hot fluid, on a level surface, and with the engine running. Is that how the owner's manual says to check it?

 

[Cryptothedog]

What year?

I'm going to assume that you're checking the fluid level with hot fluid, on a level surface, and with the engine running. Is that how the owner's manual says to check it?

2015. It has 213k miles on it. Trans was rebuilt at 195k. Yes I’m checking it on level ground with transmission hot. Yes that’s what the manual says. I put the shift transmission bypass in it this morning and it runs about 20 degrees cooler now but I need to fix the fluid level. It is definitely to full.

I’m not sure how to really get fluid out since the pan doesn’t have a drain plug. Maybe I could suck some out using a drill pump do n the dipstick tube. Or maybe I should just get it flushed. I dunno. I’m worried if I get it flushed by someone they will just fill it too full anyway like the oil change place always does lol

 

[OR VietVet]

You can use a pump thru the dipstick tube.

 

[Cryptothedog]

You can use a pump thru the I have read that having the transmission fluid too full will make it run hotter too, so hopefully that will help.

 

[the 18th letter]

2015. It has 213k miles on it. Trans was rebuilt at 195k. Yes I’m checking it on level ground with transmission hot. Yes that’s what the manual says. I put the shift transmission bypass in it this morning and it runs about 20 degrees cooler now but I need to fix the fluid level. It is definitely to full.

I’m not sure how to really get fluid out since the pan doesn’t have a drain plug. Maybe I could suck some out using a drill pump do n the dipstick tube. Or maybe I should just get it flushed. I dunno. I’m worried if I get it flushed by someone they will just fill it too full anyway like the oil change place always does lol

Any warranty on transmission work? Have you added any fluid since the replacement? I would take it back to transmission shop if nothings been done to it since.

 

[Cryptothedog]

Any warranty on transmission work? Have you added any fluid since the replacement? I would take it back to transmission shop if nothings been done to it since.

Yeah it’s under warranty, that was my first thought but I just found out the shop went out of business about 2 months ago. It came with a 3 year 35000 mile warranty and I’ve put 20-25k on it. I haven’t added fluid myself but it’s possible the oil change shop I go to did when they check all of your fluids. I dunno though.