Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

[lncoop]

My 2005 Expedition has had a very slight T case leak for a year or so. I've just been telling them to check it at every oil change and it's never even been low. That's how small it's been. At the first of the year I took it to the dealer for a bunch of maintenance; ignition tuneup, tranny flush and fill, and some other items. A week or so ago I noticed the stain on the garage floor had grown A LOT. I just crawled under and took a peek, and it appears to still be just the T case leak only much worse now. This is a very recent development. Is it possible they could have made the leak worse somehow, maybe when they did the tranny service? They're supposed to look at it tomorrow, but I really don't like the service advisor I've been dealing with and I'd like some opinions as to whether I'm way off base. Not looking for a free lunch as they say. I just find it really suspicious that a negligible leak has suddenly become a big one in a matter of days following service on that part of the drivetrain, and I don't want to be barefoot and pregnant when I talk to them. Thoughts?

 

[bassman284]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Well, could be the transfer case gasket just gave up the ghost all at once, maybe due to exposure to the new fluid. I had the same thing happen with my Jeep 6 or 7 years ago. Had the fluid changed with about 120K on it and a couple of days later I had a big leak where the transfer case joined the transmission. Turned out that gasket had pretty much disintegrated and it was transfer case fluid that was leaking. I have a very high level of confidence in the transmission shop I went to so took their word for it. Since yours was already leaking it was probably due to fail.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Well, if you have had a small leak, I would say, that perhaps, when they were servicing it, the jarring around probably damage the seal in the weak spot it obviously had when you took it in. I know that over the years, I have had similar situations happen when I service a component on one of my vehicles, I know I had a small leak on the oil pan on one of my rigs a while ago and after I changed the oil, I had a big leak on the oil pan. I figured the act of draining the oil created a vacum in the pan and finally pulled the weak part of the gasket loose and created a bigger leak. I did this service myself so had no one to blame. Sometimes it just happens. If you had a small leak, I would think that something loosened that area on the seal when they serviced the T-case.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Clean fluid does a better job of eating crud. I'm assuming your tcase has ATF in it. Likely the output shaft seal on the tranny has given up and its leaking through to the tcase adaptor.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

I had a similar experience with my 2000 Jeep Wrangler...took it into the one of them quicklube places and had all the fluids changes (Motor, transmission, x-case and both pumpkins). Noticed the next day that I was leaking oil pretty heavy from the back of the motor...called the quicklube place and asked how many quarts of oil he put in..."six" was his reply, I told him that was too many and he blew my rear main seal...Took it to the local Jeep dealership and they confirmed both, yes, the RMS was leaking and the correct amount of oil was 6qts. I had them replace both my clutch and RMS, called the guy back at the quicklube and apologized for accusing him.

Moral of my story...

Sometimes things are negligence and sometimes it's just timing...based on the info you've given, I'd say yours was bad timing!? You've admitted that it leaked (however, small) and the change in fluid was probably enough to get to leak more?! You stated you had a flush done on the transmission which essentially pushes fluid back through your transmission (under pressure) in reverse (in most cases) which would definitely expose an existing leak and exacerbate the issue...IMHO

Most transmission shops (reputable) will advise against a flush for high-mileage transmissions, unless flushes were part of your normal maintenance schedule done previously on the vehicle...in those cases a fluid change is what is recommended?

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Sure it is but the problem is still a problem isn't it? just yank out the Tcase and fix it sheesh.....


your expedition uses ATF and that is pretty thin oil, not at all like motor oil and very possibly the same oil used in your transmission, I think that if they had done something it would be pretty obvious but you would have to get under it and look and that may be an issue depending on how high your expedition sits off the ground, but as I sarcastically stated above its still a problem and there is only one way to fix it, someone has to find the leak, it could be the cases need a new gasket and that would mean pulling the tcase completely, not a big deal for some but being your from Arkansas......

Or it could be as simple as the drain or fill bolt needing help either way you or someone you trust needs to find the leak and see if things have been tampered with, yes I find it to be suspicious but you have known about the leak for awhile and it is plausible that the leak has for some reason gotten worse and has nothing to do with foul play. ATF does have a natural detergent that helps to prevent buildup.

What is your relationship at this shop? if you don't like the writer get another one or get another shop, you have to trust your mechanic. I guess the barefoot and pregnant thing is an Arkansas thing I'm not sure where to go with that one...

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

You stated you had a flush done on the transmission which essentially pushes fluid back through your transmission (under pressure) in reverse (in most cases) which would definitely expose an existing leak and exacerbate the issue...IMHO

Most transmission shops (reputable) will advise against a flush for high-mileage transmissions, unless flushes were part of your normal maintenance schedule done previously on the vehicle...in those cases a fluid change is what is recommended?

Nobody actually "flushes" transmissions any more, but most people seem to refer to a fluid replacement machine as a flush.

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Bottom LIne!! If you have a leak FIX IT!! Could of done that on the Hwy. And sized up.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Nobody actually "flushes" transmissions any more, but most people seem to refer to a fluid replacement machine as a flush.

Yep. That's what they did, and what you guys are saying makes sense. The existing leak was minimal but was exacerbated by the process or the new fluid or both, which wouldn't be their fault. FWIW the truck has 92k miles. I guess that could be considered high mileage, but in any case this procedure was part of the recommended maintenance at 90k miles. We'll see what they say. I appreciate the input.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

For what its worth Bud 90k on a 7 yr old truck is really pretty good, you are probably killing your seals due to lack of use more then anything!

I put 50k-60k on my trucks a year until I changed careers. Take care of it like that and your likely to get a lot of miles/years from that truck.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

For what its worth Bud 90k on a 7 yr old truck is really pretty good, you are probably killing your seals due to lack of use more then anything!

I put 50k-60k on my trucks a year until I changed careers. Take care of it like that and your likely to get a lot of miles/years from that truck.

Thanks Lipp. That's the plan. It's been a good truck so far. Very capable and comfortable.

 

[rbh]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Coop, you have to give it a good wipe down to determine exactly were the leaks coming from.
Input shaft, 2x output shafts, were the halfs come together, drain plugs loose, the 4x4 sender, the trannys leaking through its input shaft, ETC

 

[lncoop]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Coop, you have to give it a good wipe down to determine exactly were the leaks coming from.
Input shaft, 2x output shafts, were the halfs come together, drain plugs loose, the 4x4 sender, the trannys leaking through its input shaft, ETC

Had it looked at when I first noticed it and they determined it's where the halves meet.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Bottom LIne!! If you have a leak FIX IT!! Could of done that on the Hwy. And sized up.

Huh?

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

At this point, it is probably just best to fix it, or get it fixed, that tranny will do a whole bunch more miles, if you take care of it.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Huh?

I think what he is trying to say is that you could fix that on the side of the highway by simply pulling the Tcase


Like I did a couple months ago....


I got huge props for that one, certainly upgraded my McGyver status two fold!!


Yeah in the Dodge 3500 4X4....

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

I think what he is trying to say is that you could fix that on the side of the highway by simply pulling the Tcase


Like I did a couple months ago....


I got huge props for that one, certainly upgraded my McGyver status two fold!!


Yeah in the Dodge 3500 4X4....

Sorry boys! My Alzheimer's kicked in again. I had a tranny seize up on me once in the middle of winter on the hwy. a gasket let go that I knew was leaking. 4 spins later I ended up backwards in a 5' snow bank at -30 100 miles from the nearest help. couple thousand $ later I learned my lesson. Fix it !! First.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

Unless this vehicle is different from the trucks I've worked on, the transfer case and transmission are separate devices, and don't share fluid, so servicing the transmission won't cause a transfer case leak. However, if a novice wrench-turner mistakenly removed the transfer case drain bolt...

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

My thought is the new oil is thinner.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Transfer Case Leak Suddenly Much Worse After Service

My thought is the new oil is thinner.

Transfer case still has original fluid. It was the transmission that had fluid replaced. They just called and told me it's the front output shaft seal.