Hey everyone,

I just changed my oil and tranny fluid in my 99 with Mobil 1 Oil and ATF. Here's the problem... I'm leaking some ATF. I didn't replace the gasket on the tranny fluid drain plug, and I'm thinking that may be it. Does anyone think that could be it, and if so, how hard is it to track a new gasket down?

Thanks,
Rob

EDIT: Also, I filled it with 7.4 quarts per Autozone's computer lookup. I have the a 4WD SR5. I hope I did that right...

 

I hope you didn't trust that Autozone knuckle head and actually checked it with the dip stick (hot and engine running).

 

I did. Everything's running good and the level looks fine, but it's gone down a little since it's been leaking. I usually don't rely on Autozone, but that's all I had to go with at the time.

Do you have to replace that gasket? Does it make sense that it might be leaking because of that?

 

typical tranny drain and refil is about 4 quarts and at most 5 you might want to check that level again and make sure that the engine is running and that it is hot and on a level surface

 

I've done a tranny drain and refill and was only able to get about 4.5 quarts out... seems like that is pretty normal. The actual transmission capacity is about 16 quarts. Who knows where Autozone pulled 7.4 qts from... I did a manual flush about 2 weeks ago after I installed a tranny cooler and man did it need a flush. It has all new fluid in it now though. Anyway, either way you go it makes it a lot easier if you measure how much fluid is coming out so you can put the same amount in. Then of course you need to get it to operating temperature and use the good ole dipstick.

Anyway, I have done a drain and refill without replacing the crush washer... with no problems, BUT most guys will tell you to replace the crush washer so that it doesn't leak. Should be pretty cheap from the dealer parts dept. Can you see where it's leaking from? It'd be pretty easy to tell if it's coming from the drain plug or not.

 

Yeah I've reused crush washers many times without a problem but I always wipe them good with a clean rag, look them over for burrs or problems and reinstall them the same direction they came off.

 

I have used the original tranny pan drain bolt washer for 4 + years in draining fluid. As Dale said, clean it well before reinstalling it correctly. The only place I will NOT reuse crush washers is where fluid is under pressure (ex: fuel).

I have had from 2.5 qts to 3.5 qts drain out each time. To tighten the drain bolt, hand tighten it and then tighten it with a wrench 1/4 turn more. It ends up being about 12~13ft/lbs torqued.

35178-30010 is the OEM part number. It should run you about $2.

 

OP,
Did you drop the tranny pan or just drain fluid from the drian plug. If you dropped the pan, then 7.4 quarts isn't too far off, but a little high still. If you just drained it from the plug, you overfilled the tranny by ~3-3.5 quarts. My guess is it's coming out of the split in the dipstick tube.

 

So there is 3 - 3.5 quarts of fluid in the pan that doesn't drain out of the drain plug?

-Dan

 

Well, I get ~ 4qts. if I just pull the plug and about 6-6.5 qts. total if I drop the pan and remove the filter. 7.4 is still a little more than I have ever needed to put in.

 

Okay, I redid everything this afternoon. I went to the dealer and got that part from them after a trip back to AutoZone was a no-go. Everything is right now, so hopefully it won't leak. Thanks!