Could my 42RLE be leaking?

[Mrbibby]

Hey guys,

Here’s a query for you! I bought my Jeep 3 or so years ago at which point in time the gearbox wouldn't go into reverse. (2005 TJ wrangler, automatic).

This being the case I decided to get the gearbox rebuilt, before you ask why, it’s because where I live (rural Australia) there isn’t exactly an abundance of Jeep parts. So sourcing another wasn’t really an option. Anyways skip forward to this date now. The Jeep sat for about a year and a half while I built the diffs, and although it’s drivable it’s still just been a project. Meaning I’ve only put a few hundred miles on it since the rebuild of the gearbox. A few weeks ago I was messing about and noticed a little bit of oil at the inspection plate (in front of the flywheel). I immediately assumed, rear main seal. I ordered new parts to fix the issue. But today when I was underneath I noticed it was red atf fluid as there was actually a full droplet formed as you can see in the photo

It looks like it’s coming from the output shaft area of the motor and dripping down hence why I thought rear main. (This could just be the torque converter flicking it everywhere?)

So here’s my question, what do you think is actually leaking, surely not any seals being the recent rebuild?

Could it be because I’ve over filled it? I checked the level today when the engine was running In neutral and it looked too full?

Any help would be fantastic! Sorry for the huge post too just tried to keep it as detailed as possible.

 

[Chris]

When you wipe the fluid off, does it come back? Is that the only area it's coming from? If so, the only thing I could think of would be the output shaft.

How much did you overfill it by?

 

[Mrbibby]

When you wipe the fluid off, does it come back? Is that the only area it's coming from? If so, the only thing I could think of would be the output shaft.

How much did you overfill it by?

So I wiped the fluid off when I made this post, and have returned to look underneath the car just now and there is still no ATF there? I took it for a drive around the block and I’ll see if any builds up since then.

As far as “how much did you over fill it?” Quite a bit by the looks of things:

That is from just after starting the car with outside temperature being 30c/86f. when I topped it up a while ago I was a complete noob to autos and didn’t even read the dipstick specs looking back I feel very stupid.

 

[thomat65]

That is from just after starting the car with outside temperature being 30c/86f.

Was the engine warmed up and running with the transmission in neutral after shifting through the gears when you checked it? Apparently that's how it's done. Park works too.

 

[Chris]

Yep, I have the same questions.

 

[Mrbibby]

Was the engine warmed up and running with the transmission in neutral after shifting through the gears when you checked it? Apparently that's how it's done. Park works too.

Engine wasn’t warm as i just started it, put it in neutral and checked, everything would have been similar temperature to the outside temperature I said above. Which makes me assume due to the info on the dipstick it should be inbertween the bottom two holes?

 

[thomat65]

Engine wasn’t warm as i just started it, put it in neutral and checked, everything would have been similar temperature to the outside temperature I said above. Which makes me assume due to the info on the dipstick it should be inbertween the bottom two holes?

You might need to recheck under those conditions. I've actually not yet checked the transmission fluid in my 42rle (new owner and won't have my Jeep for a little while yet) so I'm just parroting what I've heard on this forum. @Chris will know more

 

[Chris]

It doesn't look overfilled for me. Assuming you checked it when it was cold, it's a little higher than it could be, but it's by no means overfilled. Check it again when it's up to operating temp and see where it's at.

 

[Mrbibby]

It doesn't look overfilled for me. Assuming you checked it when it was cold, it's a little higher than it could be, but it's by no means overfilled. Check it again when it's up to operating temp and see where it's at.

Yeah alright, I’ll start her up tonight and take her for a bit of a drive around the block a few times and check again to see how we are looking!
I just looked under there again before though and still no oil build up since I wiped it off which is strange, but I’ll keep you updated! Thanks a lot for the speedy useful responses.

 

[Flivver250]

Seals aren't fond of sitting, but a year and a half is certainly no record. Could the front seal be leaking? Probable. Could the seal limber up and seal the leak? Possible. Run it a bit and check the fluid level and leak. If it continues to leak, I would just replace the seal. I'm not sure if anyone would recommend a mechanic in a can product to swell a dry seal. Those tricks can be a Trojan horse.