Trans leak

[Beals]

When to check fluid level, cold or hot? It was a pint low when cold. Leaked like crazy. When it warmed up, stopped leaking and was full. Expansion of fluid?

[PwrWgnDrvr]

Auto trans?
Right on the dipstick is printed: "Check when hot, idling in neutral"

[Beals]

Thanks. Read that, but it was cold and didn't know how much to put in. It didn't shift after added fluid when changed filter. Had sat for 10-15 years.

[pismopowerwagon]

If your kick down lever is not adjusted properly that can cause converter to drain back into transmission when sitting and leak out wherever it can. Just an idea.

[Beals]

Will check it out. i thought it was just low. Would not even engage before i added fluid.

[Beals]

Linkage was way out of adjustment. Adjusted it, and i think the leak stopped. So much fluid everywhere.

[marklein]

Linkage adjustment won't cause it to leak. Seals get old, they then leak from evrywhere. If a torqueflite drains back, the pump gears or pump bushing may have excess clearance, or valves in the valve body may have some wear as well. Check it hot, idling in neutral, if it is overfull, it will appear to leak out the front, as that is where the breather is. In my shop, I use good grade silicone to seal the pan these days, those pans weren't designed for a gasket other than cork, and imho a cork gasket is a waste of energy. At full throttle, the trans tv linkage should be all the way to the back of travel at the trans, with a small amount of free play.