What's This? (Transfer Case Question)

[GUS]

Had a puddle of red fluid under the truck a couple days ago. Crawled under, and a tube on the front of the transfer case towards the top had come off, and the case had fluid running down it. I'm guessing it's a vent tube, but I'm not sure. I stuck it back on, and all is well. I checked the transmission fluid level, and it's good. Also pulled the top plug on the transfer case, and fluid came running out, so I think the level there is also fine.

My questions:
Is this the air vent tube?
If fluid came gushing out of the fill plug, was it overfull(not sure how that would could happen)?
What else should I be concened about?

I just picked up this truck last week, and the PO claims that all maintenance was done according to the book.

 

[dman726749]

all i can tell you is that yes that was the vent tube that was off, and if all fluid levels are fine then i would not worry about anything, maybe keep an eye on it for the next couple weeks though.

 

[Opera House]

Pretty rare but I have heard of this. There is a seal between the transfer case and the transmission that can leak. If bad, fluid can go from the transmission to the transfer case. This happens when you go up hills, because the transmission fluid levels are usually below the shaft. It is not unusual for some fluid to come out of fill hole depending on the slope of the vehicle. Just keep checking level of transmission.

 

[hsinc]

I just went through this on my 99 AWD V8 Mountaineer. Same problem. I was going to change fluid in my transfer case, got under the care and noticed a lot of fluid everywhere on bottom side of car. When I pulled fill (top) plug on transfer case, fluid came gushing out. For some reason the transmission fluid leaks fro transmission to transfer case. Transmission was low, by about as much as transfer case was over full.
I took it to local Mr. transmission and they pulleed transfer case, replaced shaft seal and gasket between transmission and transfer case. I looked at old seal and it did not appear that bad. However it definitely leaked from transmission to transfer case. When transfer case gets to much fluid in it, it will blow out the vent tube, and make a mess on underside.
It shouldn't happen. I don't think it has anything to do with going up hills. I think is a shaft seal failure. So far for 3 weeks now I am dry underneath.

Harold

 

[GUS]

Harold--

How much did it cost to have that seal replaced?

Thanks,
GUS

 

[jasonb]

sounds like it was overfilled. that could happen if it wasn't level when they filled it. if fluid came out the fill plug, your good. although it shouldn't really come pouring out.. just enough to let you know the level is to that point.

whether that is from the seal mentioned above or it being filled improperly, i don't know. that's the first i'd heard of the seal leaking from the trans into the tcase. that's kinda spooky.

 

[Nick26]

just make sure your checking these fludis when they're cold, that tube is an exspansion tube for the fluid to flow up when the oil gets hot.

 

[hsinc]

Checking when cold is probably a valid point. However I had almost a quart come out, much more than normal expansion. There is no way it could be overfilled by that amount. Plus my transmission was also low.
As for cost, I'm on the road today and don't have my paperwork with me. But while they were working under the car, I wanted to go ahead and have my transmission pan dropped, replace filter, new Mercon V fluid, etc. It all ended up being about $225. But I think the seal part, and dropping transfer case was about $150 of that, about 3 hours labor.
Harold