Transmission pan leak after topside exchange (FOMOCO AX4N)

[Dino01]

Hello BITOG

Got an odd one, did a topside exchange on a Ford AX4N fwd 4 speed in a 2002 Conti and now have a small drip at the pan (it seems). I siphoned 8qts out of the ~10qt pan and poured back 8qts of Supertech Mercon V, drove it a few hundred miles with some mountain and HEAVY Socal traffic, as well as plenty of open highways 70-80mph, and now it seems to be dripping, anyone ever had such a thing happen?

Fluid level is still good and shifting is excellent, I did spill some but cleaned it fairly well and it wasn’t leaking until a longer drive over the weekend (did it last week, drove around town a hundred miles or so beforehand) and all was well until last night when I noticed some spots. I suspect I’ll have to pull the pan and change the gasket as well as filter, but I find it odd it started leaking after a simple siphon and refill, could the new fluid be doing this? It had never been done before (50k miles) and was very nasty, now it’s bright cherry red and smells perfect.

thanks

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I don't think your topside exchange caused the leak

Anyway, if you drop the pan, get an aftermarket pan that has a drain plug, and buy a new gasket too. Some aftermarket pans' drain plugs aren't tightened all the way from the factory, so make sure to double check the torque, tighten it a little more before you install it.

Dorman 265-803 should fit your car. It's not listed for the Contintneal, but does fit other AX4N cars such as the Taurus/Sable. It's still the AX4N, right?

 

[blufeb95]

It's a possibly a 20 year old gasket, maybe changing out the fluid contributed to it and maybe it didn't, it's impossible to know, but you should probably drop it and change the filter and gasket anyways