First off, its an 86 GT with a Camaro 3.4 V6 mated to a 4 speed Muncie Manual transmission.

As many know, I recently finished a pushrod 3.4 swap. During the swap, I replaced the Rear Main Oil seal and the Distributor O Ring. I know for sure the leak is not from the O ring. I'm almost sure its not the Rear Main, as its brand new. Also, the fluid that is leaking appears to be thicker (more viscous) and much darker in color than the Mobile 1 Synthetic I put in the motor. In addition, the oil level on the dipstick is not changing despite the leak.

The car does not leak while sitting, it leaks while running, then the oil gets all over the bottom of the engine and transmission, then drips off. If I leave the car sitting over night, I will get a spot (not a puddle) about 4 inches in diameter under the car and several little spots.

Also, there appears to be a thin coat of oil on the boot on the passengers side axle at the transmission, as well as the rear cradle cross member. Fierobear and I think that the axle seal is bad and the cause of the leak. Of course it needs to be replaced, but until then...

I've been told by several people about an oil additive that causes seals to swell up and stops leaks for a few thousand miles. Will this stuff work with syncromesh, and will it seal up a leak at the axle seal?

Also, what is the capacity of the 4 speed Muncie Transmission?

transmission output seals arent that bad of a fix. see link, pics at:http://www.mtsu.edu/~mkr2c/trannyseal.htm

[This message has been edited by lurker (edited 06-01-2004).]

My passengers side axle seal has always leaked. Last weekend I took it apart and found that there is a small gouge on the tranny mating surface, probably from before I bought the car since this has always leaked. How do I go about sealing this up?

Thanks for the link lurker!

I will be replacing the seal as soon as time and money allow, but until then, I need to know if this additive will work and keep me from grenading the transmission until I replace the seal.

Seal swelling additive might work BUT remember it isn't selective. It will swell all the seals. Are you going to rebuild the tranny when you take it down? If it's an axel seal, that isn't to hard or to expensive. I would forget the swelling and just fix the axel seal.

Buffalo86GT- If you are real good with a dremel, I would try to fill the cut with J&B Weld and then smooth that so it matches the case contour. You will have to get it really clean and dry before appling the epoxy. All cleanliness rules apply and no dust/particles can get into the tranny while doing the procedure. That means masking and blocking the axel shaft hole. Finish by replacing with a new axel seal. Otherwise you live with the leak or replace the tranny.

mine had a small gouge, i filled it with silicone. the tranny isnt under pressure so it doesnt have to be real strong. as for the additive, seals only cost about $4 each, the rest is tools (many parts stores have loaners) and your labor.

quote Originally posted by webbee: Seal swelling additive might work BUT remember it isn't selective. It will swell all the seals. Are you going to rebuild the tranny when you take it down? If it's an axel seal, that isn't to hard or to expensive. I would forget the swelling and just fix the axel seal.

Nope. I'm gonna fix the leak and leave it at that, only because I don't have the time to have my only car off the road, don't know how to rebuild it myself, and don't have the money to have someone else do it and don't have a spare transmission. Also, I don't know how long it will be until I can do the seal, so thats why I'm looking into the seal swelling additive.

bump

Thanks for the advice. The gouge is pretty small, but I can feel it with my finger nail. I'll just pick up another seal and give the silicone fix this weekend.

A good tip for driving the new seal in if you don't have the special tool available. I took the new seal with me to the local hardware store and got a small leftover chunk of PVC that fit the outside lip pefectly. Since I'm there so much and they weren't sure how to charge for a 5" length of PVC they just gave it to me.

I wouldn't do this to my own car, or anyone else's, but... A small amount of brake fluid will cause rubber seals to swell up. I've seen it used in fleet vehicles (engines, trannys, pwr. steering pumps, etc.) that have bad leaks and will be coming in, not only to have the leak fixed but for a rebuild of the leaking system, also. I've never seen it used in a leaking system, that isn't scheduled for a routine rebuild, they just let it leak, and continue to fill the system, and keep the fluid level high.

Do what you want, but if you aren't going to be tearing the whole thing down, and replacing all seals, and possibly rebuilding the trans, I would just check the fluid every other day or so, and keep it near the top if not a hair overfilled, since it will leak out anyway, and you'd be able to go a little farther without having to check it again.

Nic

Think I could do it from the outside musicman? Could I just smear some on from the outside to swell up the axle seal for a couple of weeks till I can take the car off the road and replace the seal?

Having had the axle seals out of my car recently I don't think any sort of "seal sweller" is going to work. They aren't made like a standard gasket that actually has the capacity to swell. The axles seals are metal and hard rubber, neither of which are going to swell with any chemical additive. I could be wrong though.

It's not that big of a job to pull them. Remove the wheel, brake caliper, toe link, pinch bolt, pop the hub assembly up, pop the axle out, pound the new seal in, put everything back together. Use a huge flat head screwdriver and a hammer to tap the axle back in until it snaps in place via the snap ring. I'd rather spend an afternoon doing that than adding some mystery mix that might screw up every seal in my tranny.

Very good point. I guess I'll just keep it filled up with synchromesh till I have time to pull it all apart.