OCD strikes again..this time with the tranny fluid

[Eddie25]

Today I did a quick check of the transmission fluid level on My '05 Jeep GC Lauredo with 68k, since I have a slow leak in the tranny cooler lines. I know the tranny fluid is checked when in operating temperatures, but I was in a hurry I just wanted to see if there was at least enough. I think at one point I might have slightly overfilled the tranny fluid but a mechanic checked it out and he said it was alright. when I was doing the quick tranny fluid check today the vehicle had sat outside for about a day and change in about 35 degree weather. The engine was cold when I pulled out the tranny dipstick, I noticed that the fluid had a lot of air small bubbles in it. From the times that I checked when the tranny fluid is warm And engine at operating levels it's clear of any airbubbles. I's this normal or something to be worried about?

 

[45ACP]

What color is the fluid? And how does it smell?

 

[Eddie25]

It's like a red pinkish fluid I didn't smell it though and I think even if I did I couldn't, Nasty [censored] cold in effect.. lol.. the fluid is from Cam2 don't know if you heard of it. But the weird thing is when the fluid is warm there's no.airbubbles..

 

[45ACP]

Originally Posted By: Eddie25

It's like a red pinkish fluid I didn't smell it though and I think even if I did I couldn't, Nasty [censored] cold in effect.. lol.. the fluid is from Cam2 don't know if you heard of it. But the weird thing is when the fluid is warm there's no.airbubbles..

Thats what i was thinking. Something from when it cools. Sounds like it is the correct red/purplish (sometimes) color. Sometimes you can smell "burnt" fluid. I had a car with BLACK trans fluid that shifter perfectly, and it had been overheated (the trans) multiple times. high miles hard driving bad trans design = black fluid, perfect shifting, burnt fluid. just topped off, would have line flushed that one. You DO have a leak, maybe thats why though. You suspect or confirmed its TRANS FLUID leaking? Color test? Location? Running from somewhere and catching a ride, trace leak back to where?

 

[Eddie25]

Well a mechanic I took it to not to long ago told me tranny fluid was leaking from the cooler lines, from the research I've done over the net it seems as if it's not a serious issue as long as I keep my eye on it and top.off when necessary. It's also a common thing in my vehicle. Looking at the lower radiator hose there's some tranny fluid buildup, I took my finger and wiped it off and it was the same color as the tranny fluid. It's not a major leak though. What do you think?

 

[Donald]

I would get a new radiator with tranny cooler. Radiators are not forever these days. And they are not super expensive. So its not like you are buying a new radiator just for the tranny cooler. The radiator has probably used half its life by now. Now if you had to pull the engine to fix this leak that would be another thing. Who knows when it will grow to be a large leak.

 

[hardcore302]

I use cam2 as well. don't worry about it.

 

[4x4chevydude]

I would imagine the bubbles may be the air getting in through the leak

 

[Eddie25]

That's the thing though from the stuff I've read its usually bubbles that are present when the oil is warmed up that's the problem, but like I've mentioned before when it's warmed up oil looks fine. It looks like when you leave any other liquid sitting around for a while and bubbles just happen to form in it.

 

[Eddie25]

Well I just checked it back this morning. I checked it before turning the engine on an there were no bubbles as soon as I turned the engine on , I checked it again and it seems that at that point the transmission fluid drained back into the transmission from the crankcase or wherever is supposed to go and prob from the fluid moving around bubbles came from it, but I checked it again when it was warm and it didn't have any bubbles in it.

 

[KCJeep]

Remember if you have the I-6 you should be checking the level in neutral, engine running with the tranny hot. Checking it in park will give you a read that the fluid is higher than it truly is. If you have been checking it in park/hot and it's full, it's actually a bit overfilled which could be part of the bubble issue. The difference between park and neutral is only about half a quart though, so probably not.