have a small oil seep/leak at the trans pan, dealer won`t do anything until it drips?

[xumengpeter]

I bought the truck 2 month ago and found the trans pan was covered in grime and gunk. I cleaned it off with brake cleaner and watched while it is running. I can tell there is oil seeping out from the bolts but I don`t think it is going to drip. I brought it to the dealer and they saw what I was talking about but just told me to bring it back until it drops. I was told some seepage is normal, they can`t do anything until it starts dripping. I have 8k miles to go before I lose the powertrain warranty. Now I`m just worried it won`t start dripping within the warranty then I have to fix it out of pocket. Anyone has similar experiences?

Thank you!

 

[misfit77]

I say induce the problem.

Happens all the time. Once i had a house built. Some of the two-by-fours are warped like scoliosis. I complained everyday to fix it because drywall was going to be performing next week. Finally I just broke the two by fours so they had to fix them.

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[NJMOPAR]

Did you check the bolts to be sure they're snug?
If you loosen a few to 'accelerate' the problem they may notice and tell you all bets are off.

 

[Travelin Ram]

How many miles on it? If the trans fluid is original I might be inclined to have the pan dropped and a fluid and filter change done, depending on miles, and how long you intend to keep it.

 

[AE5548]

How many miles on it? If the trans fluid is original I might be inclined to have the pan dropped and a fluid and filter change done, depending on miles, and how long you intend to keep it.

Good advice. Or just snug the bolts. That's all the dealer will likely do anyhow.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Make sure you DO NOT over torque if you dangling around with the bolts. Good luck brother!

 

[Hootbro]

You are pretty much at the point were most would recommend you get your transmission serviced with a fluid drain and fill with filter replacement. Since the filter is built into the trans pan on the 8spd, that means a pan replacement anyways.

I would not sweat this unless you just really plan to never service your transmission.

 

[Wild one]

I bought the truck 2 month ago and found the trans pan was covered in grime and gunk. I cleaned it off with brake cleaner and watched while it is running. I can tell there is oil seeping out from the bolts but I don`t think it is going to drip. I brought it to the dealer and they saw what I was talking about but just told me to bring it back until it drops. I was told some seepage is normal, they can`t do anything until it starts dripping. I have 8k miles to go before I lose the powertrain warranty. Now I`m just worried it won`t start dripping within the warranty then I have to fix it out of pocket. Anyone has similar experiences?

Thank you!

You crawled around underneath it long enough to clean it off with brake clean and watch where it's seeping from while it was running,but didn't check the bolts that were seeping to see if they are tight????. First thing i think you should do is crawl back underneath it and check those bolts ,just my 02 though,lol. It's a rubber gasket so don't go gorrilla on the bolts

 

[xumengpeter]

How many miles on it? If the trans fluid is original I might be inclined to have the pan dropped and a fluid and filter change done, depending on miles, and how long you intend to keep it.

I have 52k miles right now.

 

[BWL]

Clean it off and brush on some trans fluid in the area liberally and say you have an oil spot in your driveway. If the pan is wet with fluid and you say there's a spot in the driveway they'll fix it. Really if the area is caked up from the leak they should fix it regardless.

 

[xumengpeter]

You crawled around underneath it long enough to clean it off with brake clean and watch where it's seeping from while it was running,but didn't check the bolts that were seeping to see if they are tight????. First thing i think you should do is crawl back underneath it and check those bolts ,just my 02 though,lol. It's a rubber gasket so don't go gorrilla on the bolts

well I don`t want to touch the bolts then leave some marks to give the dealership any excuse to say the warranty is voided because someone tampered with the bolts.

 

[Hootbro]

well I don`t want to touch the bolts then leave some marks to give the dealership any excuse to say the warranty is voided because someone tampered with the bolts.

Seriously, you are being too paranoid over this.

 

[Wild one]

well I don`t want to touch the bolts then leave some marks to give the dealership any excuse to say the warranty is voided because someone tampered with the bolts.

What are you thinking they require a couple hundred lb-ft of torque,lol. They're a low torque bolt,you'd have to be pretty rude and crude to leave enough marks on the bolts for a tech to see .

 

[xumengpeter]

What are you thinking they require a couple hundred lb-ft of torque,lol. They're a low torque bolt,you'd have to be pretty rude and crude to leave enough marks on the bolts for a tech to see .

Thanks. Will try to torque it down tomorrow and see what happens.

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[Wild one]

Thanks. Will try to torque it down tomorrow and see what happens.

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if i remember right it's 89 inch lbs,if no inch lb torque wrench,just snug them up with a 1/4" rachet to just past hand tight.

 

[xumengpeter]

if i remember right it's 89 inch lbs,if no inch lb torque wrench,just snug them up with a 1/4" rachet to just past hand tight.

Thank you so much for the information!!

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[Travelin Ram]

At that mileage I’d drop the pan and replace fluid and filter. No flushing (that creates more issues than it helps).

That’s the kind of thing I do myself, but if warranty is a concern or it’s not in your comfort zone pay the dealer.

I have had little success torquing leaking gaskets. More often a new gasket or sealant has done it for me. Buy a torque wrench if you don’t have one; they’re not expensive.

Good luck. Oil seeps are one of my pet peeves.

 

[xumengpeter]

At that mileage I’d drop the pan and replace fluid and filter. No flushing (that creates more issues than it helps).

That’s the kind of thing I do myself, but if warranty is a concern or it’s not in your comfort zone pay the dealer.

I have had little success torquing leaking gaskets. More often a new gasket or sealant has done it for me. Buy a torque wrench if you don’t have one; they’re not expensive.

Good luck. Oil seeps are one of my pet peeves.

I don`t like them either!

 

[AE5548]

I'm only mentioning this story because it's relevant to this thread as it involves a leaking trans pan and the dealer. I had brought my 06' Ram in for a tranny filter/fluid change to my Dodge dealer. Picked it up and took it home with no issues. A few days later i'm noticing trans fluid drips in my driveway. I look underneath and the pan gasket is dripping. I call the dealer and tell them and arrange to drop it off.

A few hours later they call me to come in. The Service Manager says they found the problem. He said their was a gasket installed on the pan and it's supposed to be RTV only. No Gasket. He then starts in with a condescending tone and says "Any idea how that gasket got there?" He was literally trying to suggest that i must have dropped the pan after i left the dealer and put a gasket in. I was in shock. I told him "you did the work, i have no idea" He fires back with "My mechanics know not to use gaskets so theirs no way we did it". Whatever. Then he tires to charge me labor for the "REPAIR" and for more ATF. I flipped out screaming at them for even suggesting it and it ended up being squashed. But this is what you deal with at some of these dealers.

 

[dexter]

I'm only mentioning this story because it's relevant to this thread as it involves a leaking trans pan and the dealer. I had brought my 06' Ram in for a tranny filter/fluid change to my Dodge dealer. Picked it up and took it home with no issues. A few days later i'm noticing trans fluid drips in my driveway. I look underneath and the pan gasket is dripping. I call the dealer and tell them and arrange to drop it off.

A few hours later they call me to come in. The Service Manager says they found the problem. He said their was a gasket installed on the pan and it's supposed to be RTV only. No Gasket. He then starts in with a condescending tone and says "Any idea how that gasket got there?" He was literally trying to suggest that i must have dropped the pan after i left the dealer and put a gasket in. I was in shock. I told him "you did the work, i have no idea" He fires back with "My mechanics know not to use gaskets so theirs no way we did it". Whatever. Then he tires to charge me labor for the "REPAIR" and for more ATF. I flipped out screaming at them for even suggesting it and it ended up being squashed. But this is what you deal with at some of these dealers.

One thing I always worry about is that the mechanic will screw with my truck if I yell at them.

In your situation I would have just said; why would I ask you to service the transmission if I could do it myself?