A/T Fluid Loss on 98 4Runner
 

Hey fellas. Seems like forever since I've posted here. Have been playing with the car lately instead of the truck. Anyway, i have a friend who has a 98 4Runner with about 130k on it. She's been losing transmission fluid for about the past year, just adding it ever so often. The latest problem was when the tranny slipped, and the trans was 4 qts low. The wierd thing is, is that there is no sign of fluid leaking out on the ground or anywhere around the tranny. Can someone give me some guidance? She took it into toyota where they replaced a seal where the transfer case hooks to the tranny, yet the transfer case had the normal amount of gear oil in it, no tranny fluid. So where else could this fluid be going?!

Thanks,

How are you guys checking the fluid? (I know via the dipstick, but is the engine running?)

Transmision's don't burn oil like engines do, so if it's low it must be leaking somewhere. The only possible places are the input shaft seal, the output shaft seal and the cooler and lines. I know you can by fluorescent leak detector for engines, it glows under black light. Maybe you can find some for the tranny, or find a shop that can do it.

And tell her to check it more frequently, it should never be allowed to get 4 quarts low.

Does the tranny have a vacuum modulator? If the diaphram is broken then the engine will suck the tranny fluid inside and burn it. That is the most likely culprit for low fluid in a tranny with no leak.

Good Q Tom. I've no idea. I wouldn't have thought it would be necessary with a tranny shifted electronically, but this is the only way I can explain it. Her dad was a mechanic ages ago, and the dealer couldn't find any signs of fluid loss either. Yes, 4qts low is too much, I know... as does she. Oh well.