- Joined
- Aug 13, 2024
- Messages
- 6
Hey folks. First time poster here with a baffling issue.
A little background… I have a 2007 Cadillac SRX (V8, AWD), which has a 6L50. I’ve owned it since 2015 and from about 60k up to its current 170k miles. I drive it hard, but I’ve always maintained it above and beyond what’s required. Trans has never been rebuilt. Pan is dropped and fluid changed (6 qts worth) roughly annually with a new filter and more thorough flush every 2-3 years on average. All I’m getting at here is that this is a super well maintained unit.
My mystery is water in the trans fluid. Specifically, it seems localized to a small section of the pan and, as I just noticed today, the case directly above that. I encountered it for the first time last year during my usual pan drop fluid exchange, but chalked it up to AC condensate having perhaps flowed in a little when I was taking the pan off. Now, a year later, I dropped the pan two days ago and found water yet again, so I’ve ruled out the original theory and am now worried. I then cleaned it all out, ran 18 qts of new fluid through, and drove the car about 100 miles until today when I dropped the pan to check again. Lo and behold, more water, as seen in the pictures from today.
If you’re still with me, I’m trying to figure out the source of this (perhaps it’s normal?). The trans cooler is independent of the radiator, so it’s not coolant. It wasn’t even raining the last two days since the clean out and 18 qt flush, so it can’t be somehow entering through the vent lines. The evaporator drain exits directly over the case on the driver’s side (same side that the contaminated fluid is in the pan and top of the inside of the case). This led me to run a hose for about a half hour positioned right where the evaporator would drip in an effort to find a possible crack or porosity issue. However, there was no sign of water intrusion after that test.
My final two theories are:
1. Water from the evaporator drain is entering through the pan gasket as it runs down the side of the case. (My thoughts against this are that the pan gasket does not leak trans fluid whatsoever, and secondly that it doesn’t explain the contaminated fluid directly above that area at the top of the case interior).
2. Due to high humidity, water is condensing on the case interior once the trans is up to operating temperature due to the cold evaporator drain water running down the side of the case. My only thought against this are why I wouldn’t have encountered more instances of this among other people during my searches for info online.
Anyway, thanks to anyone who read all this and might have a pointer!
A little background… I have a 2007 Cadillac SRX (V8, AWD), which has a 6L50. I’ve owned it since 2015 and from about 60k up to its current 170k miles. I drive it hard, but I’ve always maintained it above and beyond what’s required. Trans has never been rebuilt. Pan is dropped and fluid changed (6 qts worth) roughly annually with a new filter and more thorough flush every 2-3 years on average. All I’m getting at here is that this is a super well maintained unit.
My mystery is water in the trans fluid. Specifically, it seems localized to a small section of the pan and, as I just noticed today, the case directly above that. I encountered it for the first time last year during my usual pan drop fluid exchange, but chalked it up to AC condensate having perhaps flowed in a little when I was taking the pan off. Now, a year later, I dropped the pan two days ago and found water yet again, so I’ve ruled out the original theory and am now worried. I then cleaned it all out, ran 18 qts of new fluid through, and drove the car about 100 miles until today when I dropped the pan to check again. Lo and behold, more water, as seen in the pictures from today.
If you’re still with me, I’m trying to figure out the source of this (perhaps it’s normal?). The trans cooler is independent of the radiator, so it’s not coolant. It wasn’t even raining the last two days since the clean out and 18 qt flush, so it can’t be somehow entering through the vent lines. The evaporator drain exits directly over the case on the driver’s side (same side that the contaminated fluid is in the pan and top of the inside of the case). This led me to run a hose for about a half hour positioned right where the evaporator would drip in an effort to find a possible crack or porosity issue. However, there was no sign of water intrusion after that test.
My final two theories are:
1. Water from the evaporator drain is entering through the pan gasket as it runs down the side of the case. (My thoughts against this are that the pan gasket does not leak trans fluid whatsoever, and secondly that it doesn’t explain the contaminated fluid directly above that area at the top of the case interior).
2. Due to high humidity, water is condensing on the case interior once the trans is up to operating temperature due to the cold evaporator drain water running down the side of the case. My only thought against this are why I wouldn’t have encountered more instances of this among other people during my searches for info online.
Anyway, thanks to anyone who read all this and might have a pointer!
