"Leaking" C4

Discussion in 'Technical' started by dspr, Jul 21, 2012.

  1. dspr

    dspr Member

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    Finally started to get finished with upgrades after last season, and began refilling my car with fluids.
    When trying to fill up the gearbox, I was only able to get about 2 litres on it. Everything else ended up on the floor.. I tried to check and see where the leak was coming from, but it was dripping from the top of the C4 so i couldn't really tell..
    I figured I'd try to drain it, and got out about 5.5 litres of oil. (Had leaks from both the speedowire hole as well as from the tail-housing after removing the driveshaft..) Thought I had drained the transmission completely during this period, but I obviously forgot to drain the C4-sump.

    Do you think the leak is just due to me putting in way to much oil and the trans is overflowing, or do I need to examine to top-side of the C4 more thoroughly for leaks?
     
  2. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    way too much...:Handshake
     
  3. bikerbuck65

    bikerbuck65 Member

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    Probably too much fluid..Did you run it ? Checking for leaks can be a pain but other areas to look at would be the dip stick seal and the trans lines where they bolt up to the trans..I had a leak and swore it was the pump seal but it was just the lines leaking and running downward below the front pump area..
     
  4. dspr

    dspr Member

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    Haven't run it yet, I seem to remember putting in between 3 and 4 litres during last winters oil change, so I am aware that 5+ litres is way to much:p
    But is it enough to cause overflowing? I can't really seem to remeber touching anything on the gearbox this winter, so I don't really understand how it could develop a leak :p
    It would be awesome if the only thing wrong was the amount of oil put in:)
    I still haven't been able to drive it after this winters upgrades, it's been sitting for almost a year now.. Took on too much this time:p
     
  5. bikerbuck65

    bikerbuck65 Member

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    Sitting is one of the worse things for seals..After you get the fluid level correct run it and start checking things.seals can leak from sitting but can also seal again after warm up..Good luck.
     
  6. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    Fill a transmission while the car is running.
     
  7. dspr

    dspr Member

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    Guess I'll just have to try it, I probably will have to pull the gearbox out to find to leak.. Impossible to tell just where it is coming from..
     
  8. strokermaverick

    strokermaverick Member

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    If your transmission was leaking do to being overfilled, it shouldn't leak after you properly fill it, as long as, you haven't driven the car. Did you crank the engine or attempt to drive it. Or did you just notice fluid leaking from a static transmission?

    If your transmission is drained and your torque converter is empty, ad 4 quarts and start the engine. The transmission pump, should immediately start pumping fluid into the torque converter. Cycle through reverse and drive a couple times. Insert the dry dipstick and ad fluid in 1 quart intervals (checking the fluid level between between each quart. DO NOT OVERFILL the c-4. It can act as eratic overfilled, as it can underfilled.

    If your torque converter is filled, just crank the engine and ad fluid in 1 quart intervals (checking the fluid level, between quarts).

    Your dipstick should have COLD and HOT full readings. Do not fill the transmiision to the hot full mark if the transmission is cold. Note: the transmission shouldn't reach HOT status, untill it has been driven or the engine has been idling for about 15 minutes. :Handshake
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2012
  9. dspr

    dspr Member

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    Like I said earlier, I started refilling everything and after the second bottle of atf oil i heard that it started to drip lots of oil under the car. Turned out that there was way to much oil on it. I didn't drain the converter, just the sump, and got over 5 litres of oil :p
    I didn't try to crank it. Haven't started it since last year, cause one of the things I've done this winter is take out and clean the gas tank :p
     
  10. strokermaverick

    strokermaverick Member

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    Sounds like you should be fine, then. IF you filled it to the top, it had to come out somewhere. :D
     
  11. Jsarnold

    Jsarnold Senior Member

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    The C4 can't be filled to the proper level when the engine isn't running. When starting with an empty pan add about four quarts to give the pump some fluid to work with then start the engine and let the pump fill the cooler, lines and torque converter. At that point, there will be no fluid showing on the dip stick. Then, with the engine running, add about a quart at a time till fluid shows again on the dip stick. Move the shift lever thru the gears. With the transmission cold, don't add up to the "Full" line -- leave it about 1/2" below. Drive the car to get the transmission hot and add more fluid if necessary. I don't fill it all the way to "Full" but leave it 1/4" below that line.

    You should insert a small, long tube into the dip stick/filler tube and siphon or otherwise pull fluid out till the level is somewhat below the "Full" line. Don't top it off till the car can be driven.
     
  12. dspr

    dspr Member

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    I'm going to drive out to where the car is sitting tomorrow and fill it with oil and try to start it to see whether it's leaking or not :p
     

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