You look at the photos?

You are absolutely incorrect in giving that advice to the OP.

 

The front seal was first on my XJ when I go it, but it was a "while I"m at it" fix. I was putting in a new radiator, so I had great access. The hardest part was pulling the balancer. Once that was out, the old, crusty, petrified seal came out easy and the new was just as easy to install. I did the VCG next, some bolts were finger tight, then the oil filter adapter. I still have a leak, but not nearly as big as before. The oil pan and rear main are next.

 

Sh*t. Yeahhh it is a little wet but I feel like that area has far fewer drops onto my driveway than the oil areas. The oil is whatever and I can live with, but now you have me concerned with the trans. Excuse the novice question, but how exactly do I test my transmission fluid levels? And how would I top it off? Also, is it kinda like an oil leak where you just have to keep an eye on the level and deal with the drip without any major trouble other than that?

Thanks everyone.

 

the transmission dipstick is right above the oil dipstick near the firewall...check and fill there.

 

that one front seal bolt on mine was loose and stripped, so I drilled and tapped to one size bigger bolt, screwed it in and tightened it. noticed it yesterday, it looks like its still leaking from it.

 

STOP! OP stated he is a novice. You do not just check the transmission dip stick. With vehicle in park, running, warmed up is when you check the transmission fluid. If you check it with the vehicle off it will likely not register on the dipstick. If you overfill the transmission you can start blowing seals. If the fluid level is just barely on the stick (engine warmed up, running, in park), add half a quart and let it sit for 20 minutes or so. You will have to get a funnel that fits the transmission dipstick to fill it. After you add fluid it will be difficult to get an accurate reading as the tube will be coated in fluid and will transfer to the dipstick.

Running a transmission low on fluid can ruin it. In short order. You can continue to drive it with a leak, keeping it full of fluid with no damage. But it gets sketchy quick. The transmission is much more sensitive to low fluid level than the engine.

 

For the record... I was having oil leaks, and started replacing seals. The valve cover was the worst culprit. I would always have oil on my trans pan, and it looked to be trans fluid (just like your picture shows), but my trans fluid level never changed. Once the valve cover gasket was finally replaced, a good wipe down on the trans pan, and some driving to blow any excess away, and my trans pan is dry now. Still have some small oil leaks to sort, but WAY better than it was.

I say this because it may not be trans fluid. It could just be oil that collected dirt and crap on it's way to the trans pan and for some reason has a red tent to it. OBVIOUSLY check your trans fluid to confirm, but all this was from personal experience.

 

I have had a similar experience, I replaced my valve cover gasket. Still got a tiny leak. Valve cover gasket definitely cut down on the leak though.

 

from bad idea: "With vehicle in park, running, warmed up is when you check the transmission fluid"


amend that to: vehicle in 'N' (neutral). safety tip - have a helper sit in the car with their foot on the brake while the car is running.


W/mopar trans the vehicle needs to be in neutral in order to have the fluid flowing through the trans fluid cooling loop. checking in park may give you a false reading.


BTW I looked at your photos after spending the day under an old Detroit Diesel. Compared to the DD your pan looks pristine. Got a good chuckle from that. Good luck with your leaks. You may want to clean the engine (nothing fancy, dish soap & water work well) and put some leak detection UV dye in engine oil. You can run it for a few days, get out the UV light and follow the leak to its source. No guess work at all.


Welcome to the forum.

 

I stand corrected. This is my first Chrysler. Chevy's you check it in park, running. Thanks for the info. Curious to check my fluid level now.

 

^^ charlie foxtrot is right... clean, let it dry, and ad some dye or just watch it from the start... then you can find the source

 

Thanks for this ^^^^^ (and thanks to all of the other responses as well) I checked it without having it run for a while and the levels were extremely high. I'll give it a look tomorrow and see how it is. I did wipe down the trans pan to see what the true color of that liquid was. I think the photo was odd - it was dark and murky like oil, not reddish brown like trans. Still going to check levels after it's warmed up.

Well, I have a steering upgrade, tire rack bumper, and a few other things on the radar so I'm going to need to prioritize some of this work since I pay extra not having the skills/tools to work on my own vehicle and by having someone else do it. The leaks don't seem TOO bad, but I'm going to stay very vigilant on both of them to make sure levels always stay topped up.

 

It is NOT a Chrysler transmission. Just follow the instructions on the dipstick itself. Use only Dex/Merc fluid.