Tranny experts, I need an opinion or 2 about what has happened.

[geosnooker2000]

I had my '96 automatic 4x4 trans rebuilt about 2 months ago. No problems with that. My radiator started leaking about 1 1/2 months ago (so, 2 weeks after getting my tranny rebuilt), so I just ordered one on line and replaced it myself. Before I did though, I happened to be @ the mechanic's shop that rebuilt my tranny (I was dropping off my old '94 sport for him to rebuild the manual tran. for my son to drive), and I mentioned to him that I was about to replace my radiator. "You just make sure you get those transmission hookups tight! I don't wanta see you in here a month from now with a burnt up transmission! I just got thru rebuilding it!"
Well, with that in mind, when I did the replacement, I tightened them as well as I could. I thought they were tight. I used the new fittings that came with the radiator instead of re-using the old ones. I didn't use any Teflon tape or plumber's putty. Was I supposed to?
Anyway, I noticed within a week that it leaked at the fittings, but it just a tinny weeping. I thought I would get them tighter when I got around to it.
Tonight I was running errands, and started to notice a burning smell like I'd never smelled before. I thought of the leak situation and pulled over on the side of the road under a streetlamp and pulled the tran dipstick. It was barely wet at the end, and smelled burnt. So I had my wife bring me some ATF. All she could come up with was about a half quart. So I poured it in with a makeshift funnel. Re-checked the level, and it was above full. Is the capacity that little? After letting the truck cool down, I drove it home about 10 miles. It seemed to drive normally.
Anyway, now I don't know what to do (aside from tending to those radiator fittings). Should I change the fluid and filter out for a period of time, and then change it again to sort of clean it out? Have I already done damage?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[troy11556]

well no you did not do enought damage to hurt if the trans was rebuilt right. i would use teflon tape although some would laugh at me but it less likely to leak. now the other thing i would do is look for another leak. it is a closed system and with a tiny leak should not of emptied out like that there has to be another leak somewhere in the system. check all the lines. wash and clean the motor and undercarriage to help id any wet spots when it dries. as a helpful hint always keep trany fluid, oil, and brake fluid in your truck as a safty measure better to have and not use then need and not have.

 

[troy11556]

did you just replace the radiator or did you put something in it to stop it from leaking until you replaced it.

 

[dynamite196]

Did you add oil after installing the new radiator? Also, how long did you wait to recheck the level, some of it could be stuck on the side of the filler tube since they're so small if you don't give it enough time to drain in. The burning smell is probably from oil spraying on to the exhaust, it would be a good idea to check the tranny fluid too so just give the dipstick a sniff and see if the fluid is still a nice red. BTW, I'm a big fan of earlier than recommended oil changes for tranny's. A family friend runs a transmission shop and he says the fluid and filter should be changed about every 30K, that's the way i've been doing it in all my vehicles and it works wonders. Also, not a bad idea to change the fluid at 10K after a rebuild just to get all those nasty particles out. Hope that helps

 

[geosnooker2000]

did you just replace the radiator or did you put something in it to stop it from leaking until you replaced it.

Third line.
"so I just ordered one on line and repaced it myself"
j/k Troy. Thank you for the suggestions.

 

[geosnooker2000]

Did you add oil after installing the new radiator? Also, how long did you wait to recheck the level, some of it could be stuck on the side of the filler tube since they're so small if you don't give it enough time to drain in. The burning smell is probably from oil spraying on to the exhaust, it would be a good idea to check the tranny fluid too so just give the dipstick a sniff and see if the fluid is still a nice red. BTW, I'm a big fan of earlier than recommended oil changes for tranny's. A family friend runs a transmission shop and he says the fluid and filter should be changed about every 30K, that's the way i've been doing it in all my vehicles and it works wonders. Also, not a bad idea to change the fluid at 10K after a rebuild just to get all those nasty particles out. Hope that helps

No, I didn't add any because I checked it after I completed the exchange, and it still read about 1/8" above max.
By the way, how are you supposed to check the fluid? I have heard while in park, but also while in nutral. Does it make a diff? I checked it in park.

 

[Pensa]

By the way, how are you supposed to check the fluid? I have heard while in park, but also while in nutral. Does it make a diff? I checked it in park.

The owners manual says to start the engine, engage all gears and put it in park.

If the tranny is cold the level should be in the cross hatched area, if it's hot it should be between the holes in the dipstick.

To answer your question about how much it takes to fill it, if it's showing on the dipstick at all it takes very little to fill it. I's best to add a small amount, check and add more in small amounts as needed, it is easy to overfill it.