AFT in Differential???

#1 01-13-2003, 02:31 PM

I began doing some general maintenance on my recently purchased 97 LSI.

Changed all the fluids this weekend and found a red/brown watery fluid (looked like burnt ATF) come running out of the front
differential when the drain plug was removed.

This is nothing like the gear oil specified on the manual either in
consistancy or color.

I replaced it with the gear oil specified.

Has anyone else seen or heard of this? Could this have casued any damage? The car does run fine.

Thanks!

Aredubjay · #2 01-13-2003, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gschabel
I began doing some general maintenance on my recently purchased 97 LSI.

Changed all the fluids this weekend and found a red/brown watery fluid (looked like burnt ATF) come running out of the front
differential when the drain plug was removed.

This is nothing like the gear oil specified on the manual either in
consistancy or color.

I replaced it with the gear oil specified.

Has anyone else seen or heard of this? Could this have casued any damage? The car does run fine.

Thanks!

Could have caused damage, if sufficient mileage was accumulated with ATF in the Diff. Just make sure now, that your ATF doesn't smell like Gear Lube. I'm having this problem as we speak. A bearing (supposedly) had gone bad and caused a leak in a seal between the Tranny and Front Diff, allowing my gear oil to go into the tranny. So far, the tranny story from hell continues. I've only gone to one meeting (the very first one) of the three Reading meets without having to spend time in the shop first. This will be Reading Meet #4, and I'm having this difficulty. When will it end?

#3 01-13-2003, 05:14 PM

Although the trans fluid was dirty, it did not appear to have any gear oil in it, thank God!!

With your bearing / seal failure, did you get ATF into the differential also?

Aredubjay · #4 01-13-2003, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gschabel
With your bearing / seal failure, did you get ATF into the differential also?

No, it seems to have made a one-way trip. The front diff is practically empty.

Subafreak · #5 01-13-2003, 06:54 PM

I'v heard of the tranny fluid getting in to front diff, I think It's the more common problem. I however experieced the disapering gear oil problem myself. There are two seals that can go bad, the pump seal, that the main shaft runs through that goes to the converter is the one that leaks ATF in to the diff. The pinion seal that the pinion shaft runs trough and is lower down, is the one that lets the gear oil in to the tranny. If I where you I'd get it fixed, or run it till it blows up and get a 5speed

#6 01-13-2003, 08:12 PM

I'm hoping that some Jiffy Lube place just put in the wrong thing, and that not too much damage was done!!

I'll have to keep an eye on it and see if the trans fluid again winds up in the differential.

Does the fix for these seals in question require removal and disassembly of the tranny, or just pulling the diff?

huck369 · #7 01-14-2003, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aredubjay

I've only gone to one meeting (the very first one) of the three Reading meets without having to spend time in the shop first. This will be Reading Meet #4, and I'm having this difficulty. When will it end?

When you install a 5-Speed

Then it'll just be a new clutch now and then....much cheaper than an auto rebuild

Aredubjay · #8 01-14-2003, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by huck369

When you install a 5-Speed
Then it'll just be a new clutch now and then....much cheaper than an auto rebuild

I know, I know.

Aredubjay · #9 01-14-2003, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gschabel
I'm hoping that some Jiffy Lube place just put in the wrong thing, and that not too much damage was done!!

I'll have to keep an eye on it and see if the trans fluid again winds up in the differential.

Does the fix for these seals in question require removal and disassembly of the tranny, or just pulling the diff?

The most common "Jiffy Lube" problem is, that they'll drain the front diff and overfill the crank case. However, one member (who shall remain nameless) once filled his tranny with motor oil.

The confusion over fluids, is somewhat understandable, but folks should always double-check WHAT they're putting in WHERE. It's like when I went for a tranny flush, I kindly let the tech know, "I know you probably already know this, but, some people don't. The tranny drain plug is the one on the Driver's side." He just nodded. If you don't act like you're telling them something they already know, then, they're much more apt to accept your instructions. "When I rotate my tires, I never torque my wheel nuts over the factory recommended 65 foot pounds. Do you think that's a good idea?" That's how I let the tech know that I'm anal about my wheel nut torque and give him the correct setting for his wrench.