OK, so I bought this wagon a few weeks ago and got all the oil leaks stopped. I degreased the underside and did only short city trips (less than 10 miles) for the last couple weeks. I saw no leaks on the engine or tranny, everything was dry except for just a little moisture where one of the hoses connects to the tranny. It is held in place by a bracket and has a metal cover over the hose. It just looked wet at the threads. No other signs of leaks. No drips or drops on the ground. Parts bone dry.
I planned a 400 mile trip, and unknowingly added about 1.5 quarts of fluid to the tranny when I don't think it was warm enough. Meaning I drove 5 minutes and then checked the level and added.
Long story short, I am on my road trip today and after 30 miles I stopped for breakfast and saw smoke. I inspected under the car - no drips so I kept driving.
After about 200 miles we stopped again and saw more smoke - so I looked closely and saw lots of tranny fluid at this connection - but not dripping. It had blown back under the car all the way to the back. I kept checking the level, but it looked like it either had not dropped, or dropped very little.
After 400 miles at my destination, the fluid level looked the same, or close- but there was lots of fluid on the chassis. We put the car on ramps, still hot, and could find no leak or drips while in park, drive, shifting gears. We couldn't find the source.
So, I unbolted the hose clamp bracket, tightened the hose to the plastic connector - but the connector just slides in and out of the housing. Albeit I have to work it in and out - it still slides. I am assuming this is why the bracket is there, but how does this seal?
I degreased the underside, drove another couple miles and again, it is still bone dry.
So - is this something that ya'll think happens only when the fluid gets hot?
Do you think the connector was loose or maybe this slide in connector is leaking?
Could I have overfilled and it 'burped' out the excess?
I am puzzled...
Here is a pic I shot this morning. I cleaned the tranny yesterday and then drove 10 miles this morning to try and get a drip going to catch. I couldn't get a drip, but here are the shots:
I still have no idea where it could be leaking.
Thanks, Jamie