Leaks everywhere!

[TOBASH]

If I were you, I would immediately vent some of that fluid. You only want that fluid at the level of the glass and not much above. Otherwise when it gets hot, it blows all over the place and looks like everything is leaking.

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

That site glass was just covered in dust. It was full to the brim . I tightened two hose clamps that I hope are the source of my problem and added the dye . I didn’t drive it yet bc of all the rain we are having;figured it might rinse off.

PS: hose clamps on important systems seem like a poor choice.

you don’t fill the PS reservoir to the brim…its just a reservoir, there is no pressure in those hoses, the high pressure hoses are
blue and steel braided, almost every hose on your truck has hose clamps.
you fill the reservoir from by removing the brass fitting on top, you don’t remove the lid.

 

[thoner7]

I didn’t add any fluid and never have, that’s how it came.

Are you all saying I should drain some out?

 

[thoner7]

Ok guys I think I’m going crazy or something. I have added dye to the power steering and the brakes. I’m not seeing any neon on the power steering pump or the motor mount which is getting wet with power steering fluid (?). I’m not seeing any leaks whatsoever on the brakes.

But my front differential is lighting up neon and, very strange, my transmission bell housing weep hole appears to be leaking neon. That’s where I thought I had a rear main seal leek.

how would brake fluid or steering fluid be getting there?

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

Ok guys I think I’m going crazy or something. I have added dye to the power steering and the brakes. I’m not seeing any neon on the power steering pump or the motor mount which is getting wet with power steering fluid (?). I’m not seeing any leaks whatsoever on the brakes.

But my front differential is lighting up neon and, very strange, my transmission bell housing weep hole appears to be leaking neon. That’s where I thought I had a rear main seal leek.

how would brake fluid or steering fluid be getting there?

you don’t add dye to multiple components at one time…just adding dye to brake fluid in the master cylinder won’t bear any fruit because the dye will just sit in the master cylinder and unless you bleed the calipers it won’t appear any time quickly.
The PS system is a closed system, PS Pump, cooler, steering gear….thats it.
Brakes Are a closed system…MC and calipers.
The only way cross contamination can occur is via The vent lines from all wet components, minus the brakes….which has no vent.

 

[thoner7]

I can’t be certain but I think my leaks are at these two joints in this small length of hose. I have tightened the hose clamps a few times now (it kept leaking) and I think they are just stripped at this point.

is there a better performing clamp I can buy? Should I go ahead and replace the hose while I’m at it?

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

I can’t be certain but I think my leaks are at these two joints in this small length of hose. I have tightened the hose clamps a few times now (it kept leaking) and I think they are just stripped at this point.

is there a better performing clamp I can buy? Should I go ahead and replace the hose while I’m at it?View attachment 961087

almost every truck I get in leaks there, replace the clamps with new “quality“ clamps, not some cheap crap, I stock only “Ideal Tridon” in the shop, and only use OEM ABA INOX clamps for Silicone hose

 

[mrandig]

Ok guys I think I’m going crazy or something. I have added dye to the power steering and the brakes. I’m not seeing any neon on the power steering pump or the motor mount which is getting wet with power steering fluid (?). I’m not seeing any leaks whatsoever on the brakes.

But my front differential is lighting up neon and, very strange, my transmission bell housing weep hole appears to be leaking neon. That’s where I thought I had a rear main seal leek.

how would brake fluid or steering fluid be getting there?

Unless your brakes have been bled since, the dye in your brake fluid probably hasn't moved. So, if dye was also added to the power steering fluid, then it's power steering fluid. I had a lot of problems on my M1123 with these same types of leaks, and it doesn't help if the system is over filled.

If you've got an oil/trans cooler up front, either the cooler itself or one of the lines could be leaking and dripping down onto the front differential. Your reservoir is towards the firewall, so that may be leaking down onto the bellhousing. Hard to say anything for certain, but gravity explains a lot. The drips on your rear brakes could even be caused by something up front, that gets sprayed rearward while driving (my Chevelle did this and looked like the gas tank was leaking oil).

Like several others have said, clean everything thoroughly before doing anything else. Once it's completely clean, drive it around a bit, then see what gets wet.

 

[thoner7]

So now it appears my transmission (4l80) is leaking, or perhaps it always was, and it just looked like motor oil before with some dirt and gunk in it??

But it’s clear/thin/red now and my dipstick is showing low fluid.

question before I top it off, the TMs show Dexron VI but my dipstick stick says Dexron III. Which is it?

do I have the wrong dipstick? For the older 3 speed perhaps? If so - are the dipsticks different length? Because then I would need the proper dipstick to judge proper level!

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

So now it appears my transmission (4l80) is leaking, or perhaps it always was, and it just looked like motor oil before with some dirt and gunk in it??

But it’s clear/thin/red now and my dipstick is showing low fluid.

question before I top it off, the TMs show Dexron VI but my dipstick stick says Dexron III. Which is it?

do I have the wrong dipstick? For the older 3 speed perhaps? If so - are the dipsticks different length? Because then I would need the proper dipstick to judge proper level!

what Makes you think you have the wrong dip stick?
Are you checking your fluid level correctly? Engine running in neutral?
your fluid isn’t low based on your pic…you are aware how to read that dip stick? The 2 dots are hight and low “cold” marks, the cross hatch’s are
“Hot” fluid level marks.
Your ”leak” as you call it, is most likely one of 2 things, you “dip stick“seal is leaking “very common” after long periods of no use because the torque converter is unloading fluid, or your pan gasket is leaking “very common“ and needs to be cleaned up, the only place a transmission will leak from at the torque converter area is the pump seal or the torque converter shaft seal…neither of these are uncommon, but in my opinion, probably not the issue. Looking at the pic? i don’t see anything serious ,your “weep hole” on the Converter cover is where fluid would drip from, is the “leak” leaving fluid on the ground?

As far as fluids, you can use any Dexron III or “equivalent“….that information will be on the container

 

[thoner7]

what Makes you think you have the wrong dip stick?
Are you checking your fluid level correctly? Engine running in neutral?
your fluid isn’t low based on your pic…you are aware how to read that dip stick? The 2 dots are hight and low “cold” marks, the cross hatch’s are
“Hot” fluid level marks.
Your ”leak” as you call it, is most likely one of 2 things, you “dip stick“seal is leaking “very common” after long periods of no use because the torque converter is unloading fluid, or your pan gasket is leaking “very common“ and needs to be cleaned up, the only place a transmission will leak from at the torque converter area is the pump seal or the torque converter shaft seal…neither of these are uncommon, but in my opinion, probably not the issue. Looking at the pic? i don’t see anything serious ,your “weep hole” on the Converter cover is where fluid would drip from, is the “leak” leaving fluid on the ground?

As far as fluids, you can use any Dexron III or “equivalent“….that information will be on the container

So I read the manual for the level check procedure and followed it. the TM for the 4 speed truck says Dexron VI but the dipstick said Dexron III which confused me.

and yes I’m getting fluids leaking. It drops a fair amount, Usually a large amount when it starts or idles. When I drive it drips on the exhaust and smokes. I’ve been checking the engine oil, as it looked dark black before, but engine oil level is not dropping. Now it’s thinner/clear/red. So I checked the trans.

 

[Coug]

DEX VI replaced DEX III in the manuals (which replaced DEX II). It is backwards compatible in trasmissions.
In all other applications GM recommends sticking with DEX III.
The military doesn't mind a little higher failure rate if it means they only have to stock one fluid instead of two or three.