I was under the back of the car, and noticed the transmission pan, all around it and around the bolts was completely soaked in oil (or really dirty transmission fluid). All around the pan, sides of the pan, part of the oil pan by the drain plug and where you can see the flywheel, and the front engine mount. Mothing on the driveway, though.

Can a transmission pan gasket go bad like this? Wondering if I can just replace the pan gasket and filter while I'm in there. The car is running and driving fine otherwise, and the transmission fluid and oil levels are both full. Rest of the underside of the car is bone dry. Transmission was supposedly rebuilt 5 years (26,000 miles) ago. Engine rebuilt 3 years (13,000 miles) ago.

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1984 Fiero SE

I'd determine where it's motor oil or trans fluid first. put some drips on what paper and see if you can tell. Motor oil will usually be black while trans fluid will still be somewhat translucent.
You sure it's not your distributor o-ring not leaking and running down to that area. It can put out a lot of oil.
Is this on an 84? Not sure if a 4 dist can also leak or not.

[This message has been edited by Dodgerunner (edited 05-28-2009).]

go to the do it yourself carwash, when no ones looking, pressure wash the bottom of the engine/trans. when you get home, you'll SEE where it's coming from. you MAY be able to just "snug up" the trans pan bolts.

There is uv die you can use to find where its coming from. Its like 15 dollars for the kit.

ya gotta clean it anyway, even if you use the dye. but after it's clean, you'll see it anyway.

I'll second the distributor base for the leak..... I have that problem if the bolt is just a tad loose. I made a flat gasket for the base too... I also came across a small, small oil drip from the necks of the oil pan. Both sides. It drains right into the location that your describing. Tranny side anyway.

I have a manual so no help there for the auto. but be sure what the leak is from to start with. The white paper idea seems like a good idea. Tranny fluid for autos are usually red right?

Is this on your L4? Double check that it's not leaking from the automatic transmission fluid cooler lines.

The two rubber lines that loop on the drivers side in the engine compartment. They can form hairline fractures, and it literally sprays tranny fluid everywhere.

I smoked out the ENTIRE northbound lane of I-95 back in 2001 with my 1984 Fiero 2m4 SE. I couldn't see another car for at least a mile... and there was NO ONE in front of me.

it literally smoked out all four lanes.

I pulled off to the side of the road, opened the trunk lid, and tranny fluid had been spraying directly on the catalytic converter from those lines. I put it out with water and sand from the ditch on the side of the highway.

A firetruck was called... it was an awesome commute to work that morning. A took note of two other Fiero owners that drove by me... wonder if they were impressed too...

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Todd,
2006 Pontiac Solstice
2004 Volkswagen Beetle Convt. (Wife's)
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1981 EZ-GO Xi875-A "Miami Dolphins" Medical Cart
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter
1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 350

quote Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Is this on your L4? Double check that it's not leaking from the automatic transmission fluid cooler lines.

I've had those burst, looked in the rear view mirror and saw LOTS of white smoke coming out of the center vent, thought the car was on fire. Pulled over and turned it off, called a tow truck. That was the first thing I checked, the lines are bone dry. I replaced the hoses and the metal lines with Fiero Store's stainless ones last summer, what a PITA job.

I'll take it to a nearby do-it-yourself car wash tomorrow morning, and spray down the engine compartment, it's filthy anyway.

I found a lot of threads in the archives about V6 distributor o-ring leaks, does the duke have an o-ring? The shop manual is no help.