Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

Transmission pan gasket help, advice


  Email This Post



PleaseShootMe
User

May 7, 2021, 11:33 AM

Post #1 of 19 (2469 views)
  post locked   Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Hello, i just need some advice here on what to do. I changed the gasket on my transmission and it was still leaking. I decided to just use red rtv on it. I had to apply it thicker than usual because the tip clogged and busted the tube wile putting it on. So i took off the applicator tip and just used the tube. Now im worried it was to thick. It wasnt much thicker than with the applicator and i kept it more outside from center. Just wondering should i pull it back off and redo it, or fill it and see if it stopped leaking? I really don't know what to do. Any help would be great. Thanks all.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 7, 2021, 11:39 AM

Post #2 of 19 (2467 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

That shouldn't be a problem. I would give it plenty of time to dry before putting fluid in it though.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 7, 2021, 11:49 AM

Post #3 of 19 (2463 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Agree, time to dry - set up fully or risk that in with fluid.
If this is a steel bolted up pan AND it was ever overtightened you pound the holes back or they can make an arch in between bolts.
About any type if you tighten too much you are wrecking the seal,


T



PleaseShootMe
User

May 7, 2021, 12:12 PM

Post #4 of 19 (2459 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Wow thank you for the quick responses! Its been sitting for over 15 hrs now and reading many things it should be good to fill. Like one said after 2 hrs your good to fill..considering no mechanic lets the car sit in their bay for 24 hrs. But i wanted to ask because of all the conflicting stories you read. One says never use rtv one says its mostly whats used if you take it to a mechanic. One says the rtv will get in the transmission and mess it up, one says use the right rtv and it holds up...never a straight answer! Been fighting with this issue awile now using gaskets, thats why i tried the rtv. The pan itself looks good overall. Dont know if it was ever overtitened, i use a tourqe wrench to the 125 in pounds it says to tighten to. The bolt holes do have scrapes around them but none are bent. The pan though isnt (or seems) to not be 100% flat. Slightly off a lil bit. Before i owned the car a metal hubcap flew off another car on the highway and flew under the car at 65 mph and it hit hard enough it snapped the exhaust pipe off the manifold. But thats the only thing i can think of that could bend the pan at all. The pan is like 2mm off but even with a gasket it is just a drip leak every few days i had to add some fluid. But...you guys think 15-16 hrs is enough time to add fluds now? Thank you guys so much!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 7, 2021, 12:44 PM

Post #5 of 19 (2448 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

What is this vehicle?
RTV? There are many types and times to be fully dry. If not (I never) it could make strings of it inside that never dries - I would think.

If steel - stuff you could dent vs an alloy when it's all cleaned awaiting next step you check it with a straight edge. If bolt holes are all bent you can slide a credit card in the rise between bolts. That's what you pound back, against a piece of wood till right. If trashed you need a new one.

How long to "dry?" would never be the same for situation exactly could take a day or hours?

Last for now is are you sure it's the pan and how sealed for a rare drip? I'm not looking at it many are near a shaft seal the older are meant to seep a very little or seal on a shaft would burn up it needs to be damp with fluid.

The "how long" has to vary. I would leave stuff out in sun if the weather was warm and like that or inside (cold weather) take a whole day - more sometimes.

Some you can't get back for re-torque without removing other things so do it right ONCE. Not much uses RTV new if a gasket involved it can work but not meant to totally cover up a failed part, covers like them.

Both how warm and how humid can matter for dry time like anything else,

T



PleaseShootMe
User

May 7, 2021, 12:58 PM

Post #6 of 19 (2440 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Well yesterday was warm, today rain. The pan is alloy, the replacement i was looking at seems to be stamped steel and not as heavy as the original. I considered if it still leaks after this buy a new pan and try the gasket again. I would like to just let it sit the full 24 hrs but people have work and need to use the car. Im just afraid of making a slight issue into a larger one. The car is an 05 buick century.


PleaseShootMe
User

May 7, 2021, 1:23 PM

Post #7 of 19 (2432 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

I only ask because i just started into auto repair a few months ago. First time dealing with an issue like this.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 7, 2021, 1:37 PM

Post #8 of 19 (2427 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

No problem. If an alloy has a flaw IMO it's toast. Steel is fine or should be must fit exactly.

Forgot in my last verbose post to always stagger how you tight such things going back on. Means if 12 bolts (like a clock) go to 1 then 7 back to 11 on to 5 - you get the idea that applies to almost anything with multiple fasteners.

Seriously - if alloy damaged get rid of it I don't care if used or this steel one you found.

Steel though is more sensitive to staggering tightening back up IMO and experience. If that comes with a gasket like a cork rubber mix warm up and re-snug bolts again next day or within a week they'd feel too lose as those gaskets compress,

T

(edit in) If you go there you shouldn't need any RTV. Smear ATF on surfaces so it doesn't stick it there again later....



(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on May 7, 2021, 1:40 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 7, 2021, 3:25 PM

Post #9 of 19 (2417 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Are you even sure it's the pan that is leaking. Trans fluid is very thin an migrates and can be very deceptive to find the source.

If you have any leaks when you are done, clean it thoroughly and watch it closely for the source of the leak.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



PleaseShootMe
User

May 8, 2021, 1:41 PM

Post #10 of 19 (2388 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Yes, it is the pan for sure. Still leaking, even with rtv. So i put a camera under the car and you can see 100% its the pan. Because its still leaking i decided it must be pan damage so ordered a new pan today. Going to try the gasket i got first, but ordered another tube of Rtv red as well. Again thank you guys so much for the quick responses and help. Ill have the pan in about 2-3 days so ill keep you informed.


PleaseShootMe
User

May 8, 2021, 1:44 PM

Post #11 of 19 (2384 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Still leaking, and yes i took your advice, its alloy so probably damaged. Ordered a new pan today. Thank you so much!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 8, 2021, 2:19 PM

Post #12 of 19 (2380 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Use new pan and gasket as you said you are now. Most gaskets are made such that enough bolts will stick in smaller holes to hold it in place (some come all folded up) to install. Same game - stagger tightening. This time with a gasket snug them up like about what you could with a screwdriver for a wrench.
Run or drive till warm and do it again. Then again in a week of use find it lost where you left it a couple times usually.
Just me maybe but I HATE GASKET MAKER CRAP even the best but shops (done mostly) use it so customers aren't asked to come back for a re-torque - I was the boss so made the rules for myself.
This shouldn't fail you - you said you are sure it's that as long as new pan/gasket fits this will end it :-)


Tom


PleaseShootMe
User

May 8, 2021, 2:35 PM

Post #13 of 19 (2375 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Well, i just went under the car and tightened the bolts where the leak is, figured at least slow it down till the new pan comes...and only by pure luck the way the light from the sun hit the pan...i could see a very slight dent right in the area the leaks keep happening. Naked eye under bright light it looked fine, but indeed it is a damaged pan! It is so very slight its crazy, would have never seen it if not for the light and shadow. Wow thank you so much! I think a new pan will change the game now. Thank you! Ill post what happens in days to come.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 8, 2021, 2:42 PM

Post #14 of 19 (2371 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

YOU PROVED IT - GREAT! Metal is fine IDK why the alloys EXCEPT new they don't want to re-torque them either. Metal will usually just dent.

I've been able to take metal off and pound out damage like it went over a rock (My {late}Dad no less!

You'll win this sorry about rechecking torque - nobody like to have to despite what this gasket almost certainly is you can't do it just once,

Best of luck,

Tom


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 8, 2021, 3:50 PM

Post #15 of 19 (2360 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

If your pan is dented, you DO NOT have an alloy pan.

A cast pan will crack and break, but it will not dent. If you have a dented pan, it's stamped steel.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 8, 2021, 11:58 PM

Post #16 of 19 (2343 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

HT - I think in this thread it was said the pan was alloy now soon to be stamped steel? Alloys don't dent is sure right, they get cracks on them from trauma of some sort we can agree on that, Tom


gsferraro
Veteran

May 18, 2021, 2:17 PM

Post #17 of 19 (2264 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Hello,
Make sure it's nothing above the pan like the lines or filler tube that leak down around the pan. Gary


PleaseShootMe
User

Jun 6, 2021, 12:40 PM

Post #18 of 19 (2176 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

That was the issue...dohhh...i got a set of ramps and got way under the car...it was the seal to the fill tube...pulled it, made a wire hook to remove the old one, popped in a new seal and no more leak...so after 150 bucks a 3.48 cent seal soved the issue...lolol. Ohh well, its all a learning experience for me so i don't mind at all.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jun 6, 2021, 1:26 PM

Post #19 of 19 (2172 views)
  post locked   Re: Transmission pan gasket help, advice  

Stuff like that happens. I'll close this out as solved you can ask to re-open it if you wish,


Tom







  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap