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Yet another oil leak post

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by russo, Mar 5, 2011.

  1. Mar 5, 2011
    russo

    russo Hope is not a method

    Norris, Tennessee
    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
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    498
    Over the years I have made several posts about xfer case oil leaks and read everything in the various threads others have posted. Nothing has helped me fix the leak in my D18 xfer case, and I have tried everything.

    Last week while installing a new instrument cluster and speedometer cable, I pulled the driven gear sleeve out of the rear cap to inspect the driven gear. When I did, about a pint to a pint and a half of oil drained out. Indicating to me that the xfer case is overfull - a common state on this jeep.The sleeve is installed in the end cap at about the same height as the oil fill plug.

    I left the oil at the level it drained to, and I have had no leaks for over a week. Seems being overfull may be causing a leak at the driven gear sleeve.

    I am thinking I will just top off the trans and leave it alone. My theory is - as long as the xfer is a little over full from the oil draining back from the trans, it will be safe to operate without damaging either the trans or transfer and eliminate my leak.

    Am I crazy and courting disaster?
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2011
  2. Mar 5, 2011
    jeep2003

    jeep2003 Well-Known Member

    Upstate NY
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    yup iv noticed the same thing. the real question is why is the oil geting out of the tranny and flowing back there. and how low can it be allowed to get before it stops if ever. Iv removed alot of t case input gears and i see alot of jeeps with a cuped washer between the gear and the bearing and some without it. I wonder if that has anything to do with the flow of oil. Or perhaps something to do with the venting of the cases i dont know.
     
  3. Mar 5, 2011
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    The 3 speeds share oil between the trans. and transfer case.
     
  4. Mar 5, 2011
    jeep2003

    jeep2003 Well-Known Member

    Upstate NY
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    yes but obviously it wasnt designed to dump its fluid into the t case. There must be something arye
     
  5. Mar 5, 2011
    grannyscj

    grannyscj Headed to the Yukon

    Anchorage, AK
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    Pete will overfill the TC somewhat also. I top off the tranny for a couple of weeks after an oil change until it stays up to the port. I have an OD so the higher than normal level in the TC helps oil it. I have no leaks and no other issues. Pete goes on a cross country trip once every year at highway speeds and I've had no problems.
     
  6. Mar 6, 2011
    russo

    russo Hope is not a method

    Norris, Tennessee
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    Oct 28, 2005
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    Thanks Rocky. Did you do anything special with the driven gear sleeve or speedo cable to keep them from leaking? Every week I can put several fl. oz. of 90 wt in the tranny and when the oil gets high in the xfer, it seems to leak from the driven gear sleeve for the speedo.
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2011
  7. Mar 6, 2011
    grannyscj

    grannyscj Headed to the Yukon

    Anchorage, AK
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    Wellll.... yes. I filled it with RTV. I use a GPS for a speedometer.
     
  8. Mar 6, 2011
    1969_CJ5

    1969_CJ5 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    Feb 14, 2004
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    I don't want to hijack but instead of posting a new thread this is exactly the conversation I am looking for. My CJ has been sitting most of the winter and I have noticed a "significant" amount of leaking form the transfercase. Before driving it again I wanted to check the fluid levels; pulled the fill plug on the tcase and the level was correct. Knowing the tranny and tcase share fluid I checked the tranny, it is empty!

    I wouldn't think the sharing of fluid would allow one to go empty.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Mar 6, 2011
    russo

    russo Hope is not a method

    Norris, Tennessee
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    I think this is sorta the question I was trying to find an answer for except posed another way. It seems to keep the trans full, the xfer case has to be over full causing it to leak in places that probably should not have oil.
     
  10. Mar 6, 2011
    1969_CJ5

    1969_CJ5 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    Feb 14, 2004
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    Yep I agree.... When I first got my jeep and broke down the tranny and tcase the shared oil passage was plugged with RTV. I wonder if i should do that again. The fact that the tranny can go empty is disturbing.

    How low does the oil get in your tranny?
     
  11. Mar 6, 2011
    russo

    russo Hope is not a method

    Norris, Tennessee
    Joined:
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    I have never let it leak to its lowest point, so I am not sure how low it will get. I would think that once the xfer reaches its normal level and stops leaking the trans should hold what ever it has in it. Just not sure what that is.

    That's why I am thinking - get the xfer to the proper level; fill the trans; just run it until the fer is low. I'm not sure if the xfer would get low since I have always kept adding oil to the trans that leads to the xfer being over full (I think).
     
  12. Mar 6, 2011
    1969_CJ5

    1969_CJ5 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    When I parked my jeep in the fall I had both the tranny and tcase at full levels. From just sitting in the garage enough has leaked out past the splines and speedo gear on the tcase to leave the tranny near empty.

    I may try to fill the tranny again but I feel in a few months I will be back to an empty tranny.
     
  13. Mar 6, 2011
    grannyscj

    grannyscj Headed to the Yukon

    Anchorage, AK
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    I would think you have something else going on. The oil port in the rear of the T14 is not low enough to lose all the fluid in the case.
     
  14. Mar 6, 2011
    1969_CJ5

    1969_CJ5 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    While the tranny wasn't completely empty it took 1qt to bring up to level. I filled it today and will pay closer attention to where it is leaking.
    Posted via Mobile Device
     
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