After I changed my transmission oil, gasket, and filter on my 4L60E, some oil has been very slowly dripping out of the inspection hole. Why is it doing this?

When I first started the car up after the change, a little puddle squirted out, and it suddenly stopped.

It drives and shifts fine, but why is some oil dripping from that hole?

 

Most of the time you leak oil out the inspection hole, it's because of a front seal leak, but I think you may have a different issue if you had no leak before. You could have got some fluid in the dust cover when you dropped the pan. What type of pan gasket did you use when you chamged the fluid? Cork gaskets will leak most of the time. It may be leaking out the front of the gasket, just enough to fill the dust cover. Did you use the correct filer? Are you certain that the filter is seated all the way in the trans? If not, the pan won't bolt up tight in the front, and will cause a leak.
You might want to pull the dust cover off so you can get a better visual on things.

Frank

 

I used a rubber gasket and dexron-III high mileage trans fluid. It is not leaking from or around the pan. It only drips out pf the inspection hole, and it only started after I changed the fluid.

Could it be some excess fluid?

 

It's possible. The easiest way to tell is to pull the cover off and clean it out.

Frank

 

Ok, I think that may be it because when I dropped the pan, there was maybe a little less than a gallon (at least 3.5 quarts). I measured it by pouring the old fluid into an old milk container (1 gal) and it filled it 3/4 of the way. Quite a bit spilled on my driveway so I assumed it would equal about a gallon.

I poured in the entire gallon of dexron-III fluid and when I started the engine, a puddle squirted out. I went under and retightened the pan bolts, so I know the fluid came only the the inspection hole. I even sprayed the pan off with brake cleaner so it would be evident if the oil leaked from the pan.

I know it leaks from the hole, but I just want to make sure it isn't serious. I'm assuming I put a little too much fluid in (since I didn't flush out the torque converter) and it's finding it way out.

Again, drips are minimal and only when the car is off.

Thanks again.

 

The initial "squirt" was most likely it blowing a little out the vent.

Frank

 

I went under today and extra tightened the tranny pan bolts. The leaks disappeared. Thank you, sir.

 

That's cool. Atleast it was an easy fix.

Frank