Automatic Gearbox - Oil usage

[D366Y]

Hi all

Just a quick query as to how much oil should I really be getting through in the auto? I topped it up with some last week as it wouldn't engage a gear, same problem this morning so just seems a little quick to be wanting more again... The gearbox sump has looked a little wet for a while and I know I really need to change the gasket there but just wanted to see if there was any other reason it might be getting through it quickly?

Cheers!
Danny

[Lord Flasheart]

Shouldn't be using any to speak of, have you checked the level with the engine up to temperature & while its still running ?

[Paul G]

Automatics don't usually burn oil so it must be losing it from leaks. I assume it was filled correctly after your recent flex plate work.

[340truck]

Its leaking. Simples.

Look for a puddle or stain where you park it up....my money on the transmission fluid cooling system somewhere, probably radiator end of the pipes.

[D366Y]

Thanks guys, it never leaves a patch on the floor or anything that big so isn't a big leak, but I think the gearbox sump gasket needs doing but haven't checked the radiator hoses, they've always looked alright but could be an issue... I need to get the radiator re-cored really anyway at some point which is enough of a ball ache so fingers crossed it isn't that haha

Was all up to the right level and things when I got it back, and I checked it within the first couple of days so must have a slight weep somewhere - Never noticed it before as I never had the bloody thing working long enough to notice

Thanks for confirming though guys

Cheers
Danny

[Mr B]

Year's ago my mum had a Mk 5 Cortina with a 2 litre pinto and auto box, it to was using/losing ATF but there were no visible leaks, it turned out to be the vacuum modulator on the side of the gearbox, a vacuum line run's from the modulator to a small connection on the intake manifold, if the seal in the modulator fails it will allow the engine to suck ATF up the pipe and into the intake manifold, the engine may smoke if it's doing this although the amount of smoke depends on how much ATF is being drawn up the pipe, simple check is pull the small pipe off it's connection at the intake manifold and see if it's wet inside - it should be bone dry.
Wayne

[340truck]

Year's ago my mum had a Mk 5 Cortina with a 2 litre pinto and auto box, it to was using/losing ATF but there were no visible leaks, it turned out to be the vacuum modulator on the side of the gearbox, a vacuum line run's from the modulator to a small connection on the intake manifold, if the seal in the modulator fails it will allow the engine to suck ATF up the pipe and into the intake manifold, the engine may smoke if it's doing this although the amount of smoke depends on how much ATF is being drawn up the pipe, simple check is pull the small pipe off it's connection at the intake manifold and see if it's wet inside - it should be bone dry.
Wayne

Good call if there's no patch on the floor.

[Taff50ish]

Hi Danny,

On top of this, I note you said you topped the ATF up and the sump is weeping. 95% of Auto gearbox faults are down to old, dirty ATF and filter. I will admit I don't know if the Autobox you have will have a filter, but drop the sump and you will soon know, but I would strongly recommend you do all above and change the fluid for nice fresh clean stuff... Dirty ATF will give poor selection, slopy changes, holding wrong gear etc...

Best of luck and hope to see you at the Ace, cheers,

John...

[Mr B]

Year's ago my mum had a Mk 5 Cortina with a 2 litre pinto and auto box, it to was using/losing ATF but there were no visible leaks, it turned out to be the vacuum modulator on the side of the gearbox, a vacuum line run's from the modulator to a small connection on the intake manifold, if the seal in the modulator fails it will allow the engine to suck ATF up the pipe and into the intake manifold, the engine may smoke if it's doing this although the amount of smoke depends on how much ATF is being drawn up the pipe, simple check is pull the small pipe off it's connection at the intake manifold and see if it's wet inside - it should be bone dry.
Wayne

Good call if there's no patch on the floor.

I should have also said that if the modulator is the culprit the smoking from the engine will be worse at idle as an engine normally creates alot of vacuum at idle (unless it has a nasty cam in it) and will suck more ATF up the line.

Wayne

[Lord Flasheart]

Ford C3 autobox Transmission definitely has a filter. Put a new one on mine & new ATF when Biscuit got restored

Have a look here

http://jpat.co.uk/uploads/1/0/3/5/10354 ... 3_a4ld.pdf

[D366Y]

Year's ago my mum had a Mk 5 Cortina with a 2 litre pinto and auto box, it to was using/losing ATF but there were no visible leaks, it turned out to be the vacuum modulator on the side of the gearbox, a vacuum line run's from the modulator to a small connection on the intake manifold, if the seal in the modulator fails it will allow the engine to suck ATF up the pipe and into the intake manifold, the engine may smoke if it's doing this although the amount of smoke depends on how much ATF is being drawn up the pipe, simple check is pull the small pipe off it's connection at the intake manifold and see if it's wet inside - it should be bone dry.
Wayne

Good call if there's no patch on the floor.

I should have also said that if the modulator is the culprit the smoking from the engine will be worse at idle as an engine normally creates alot of vacuum at idle (unless it has a nasty cam in it) and will suck more ATF up the line.

Wayne

Hi Danny,

On top of this, I note you said you topped the ATF up and the sump is weeping. 95% of Auto gearbox faults are down to old, dirty ATF and filter. I will admit I don't know if the Autobox you have will have a filter, but drop the sump and you will soon know, but I would strongly recommend you do all above and change the fluid for nice fresh clean stuff... Dirty ATF will give poor selection, slopy changes, holding wrong gear etc...

Best of luck and hope to see you at the Ace, cheers,

John...

Awesome advice so thank you both - will have to get some parts ordered I think... More money from my stainless steel exhaust funds gone

Cheers

[D366Y]

Ford C3 autobox Transmission definitely has a filter. Put a new one on mine & new ATF when Biscuit got restored

Have a look here

http://jpat.co.uk/uploads/1/0/3/5/10354 ... 3_a4ld.pdf

I've contacted these guys but wouldn't let me buy straight from the website - is this where you get/got parts from previously?

Thanks

[Lord Flasheart]

Yes Danny its where I got my bits from, they were very helpful, told them what I had, Ford C3 box in a 1981 3.0 Capri.

They are a bit old school so you have to ring them up, the parts man advised me what I needed & ordered & paid for the parts over the phone

Parts arrived quickly to my work address IIRC, it was 3 years ago

[D366Y]

Yes Danny its where I got my bits from, they were very helpful, told them what I had, Ford C3 box in a 1981 3.0 Capri.

They are a bit old school so you have to ring them up, the parts man advised me what I needed & ordered & paid for the parts over the phone

Parts arrived quickly to my work address IIRC, it was 3 years ago

Fair enough - will have to give them a tinkle then I think!

[Mr B]

Come to think of it after I changed the autobox in my Capri last year it developed a leak from the autobox that looked like it was coming from the small sump on the bottom of the box, so I bought a new filter and gasket and changed both, but guess what the leak was still there, turned out to be my fault - there are 2 transmission cooler line's that go from the gearbox to the radiator, these line's attach/bolt to the gearbox above the sump and if they leak/weep the ATF run's down the side of the box and onto where the sump joins the box giving the impression that the sump gasket has failed, when I attached them to the box I never tightened the nuts up enough..
Wayne

[D366Y]

Come to think of it after I changed the autobox in my Capri last year it developed a leak from the autobox that looked like it was coming from the small sump on the bottom of the box, so I bought a new filter and gasket and changed both, but guess what the leak was still there, turned out to be my fault - there are 2 transmission cooler line's that go from the gearbox to the radiator, these line's attach/bolt to the gearbox above the sump and if they leak/weep the ATF run's down the side of the box and onto where the sump joins the box giving the impression that the sump gasket has failed, when I attached them to the box I never tightened the nuts up enough..
Wayne

Another good shout - thanks Wayne, will have to check when I get under the car next

Cheers
Danny

[D366Y]

Finally got round to calling those JP Auto transmission guys - sump gasket was only £1.84! Modulator and new filter ordered as well - might as well change it all if it's coming off any way so not a bad way to spend £50 really - cheers for the link Gary!

Danny

[Lord Flasheart]

Glad to help mate, they are proper old school but in my experience they know their stuff, never had a problem with them so fingers crossed your all sorted

[D366Y]

Glad to help mate, they are proper old school but in my experience they know their stuff, never had a problem with them so fingers crossed your all sorted

Don't worry - if anything goes wrong it'll probably be when I try to fix it myself rather than anything they do!

[D366Y]

So spent the afternoon rolling around under the car, changed the gearbox filter and sump gasket, all nicely torqued up so fingers crossed that helps solve the issue

One thing I did notice was that the cooling pipes that go to the rad are a little bit wet on the gearbox end - before I go filling the whole box up again with ATF is there anything I can put in/on these connections to stop them seeping? Like Loctite or similar?

Cheers
Danny