My car is bleeding fluid. Please help.

[DissFigured]

Currently, I am putting about half a bottle of transmission fluid in my mustang every week. I probably drive it about 3 hours a week. So, it sits most of the time.


Anyway, I put it up on ramps today, and was surprised to see how much fluid was leaking and the location of the fluid. I have no idea of the source of the leak, but the under carriage of the car is pretty much soaked, and I have no idea where to start.

By the way, I am a software engineer not an auto mechenic, so try and dumb it down for me.

Look in the pics in this link, and let me know the following:
1: Is there something obvious that looks like it might be the problem
2: How bad is it? Am I stupid to even be driving this at all?
3: What are some of the components in the pics that I have highlighted. What do they do
4: is there anything else you see in the pics that is a red flag even if not related to the leak.
5: how is the integrity of the content of the photos. Does any of that stuff look like it needs to be replaced.

Here is a link: http://www.numberonesite.com/leak/leak.html

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[bnickel]

ok, the source of the leak is that compression fitting that you pointed out, probabaly just needs to be tightened up a bit. worst case is that the fitting will need to be replaced. the open tube you have also pointed out is the vent tube, it's supposed to be open, nothing wrong there. everything else appears to be ok.

 

[Max Power]

Fliud doesn't soak "into" metal.

Your leak appears to be the cobbled together fitting. Other than the mess, it's pretty harmless.

Fix the fitting, replace that tranny pan, steam clean it and see if it stays dry. They make aftermarket pans with drain plugs now.

 

[GrandeStang73]

The bolts had drops of tranny fluid, maybe you should replace the filter and seal. The fitting will have to be re-paired, take it apart and use teflon tape. Should be all set to go after that.

 

[1320stang]

Don't use teflon tape on that fitting, it's a compression fitting and needs no tape, you stand the chance of getting tape in your tranny, and the threads don't seal anything anyway, the farrels on the tubes do.

 

[D.Hearne]

Congradulation, you're the proud owner of a tough as nails FMX. That line leaking with the comp fitting is a trans cooler line. Doesn't look like it's leaking where it screws into the trans. Yea , the pan looks knarly, you could replace it with a new one, change the oil and filter in the process. At least you don't have a C-4, as little as you drive it, it would not only be leaking outside, but internally too and slipping and shifting funny to boot.

 

[Soaring1]

Yeah, that is the transmission cooling line. Just tighten it up and see if that fixes it.

 

[Capt Dan]

You might lightly scrape on that oil pan. It looks to me like someone just painted over years of oil and dirt.

Looks like that one little leak has been spraying fluid all underneath. Half a quart a week will make it drip everywhere.

Once you get the leak stopped, wipe it down and put some fresh cardboard underneath to check for additional leaks. I'll bet that one leak is most of your problem, looks like it has pretty good flow.

PS - it should smell better too once it stops burning oil off the exhaust.

 

[69 Capecod]

I personaly dont like the conpression fittings . I would just go online and buy new tranny lines. This way you never have to worry about that getting loose again. I know they are not made to get loose but they do. One piece is better then two connected togetter.

 

[DissFigured]

That all sounds like good news.

The guy that sold it to me said it had an FMX transmission and that it was a great one to have. I know nothing about cars, so he may as well have been speaking Russian. Its funny though, when people ask about the car, I always say "With an FMX Transmission" to test and see if they say "yeah, that is a good one"

So, Good to know that really is a good thing to have.

Also I was wondering if that little tube was "Spraying" fluid all over. I thought if it was just dripping, it surely wouldn't be all over the undercarriage. But, it makes sense if it actually sprays.

As far as shifting funny, it does, but only when the fluid gets low. I have to gun it to get it in to gear. That is my sign to pull over and top her off.

I will check that line and see what the results are.

Thanks for the help.

 

[1320stang]

fmx = tough as nails, heavy as several boxes of nails, as much performance modification as a nail.....

I don't know of many older autos that don't leak, regardless of make.

My toploader 4-speed doesn't leak though......

 

[yeloxr7]

The fitting may spray some - it is under some pressure, but the reason the fluid seems to be all over the place is due to the moving air under the car as you drive. Quite a bit of turbulence that will cause any leaking fluid to go all over the place.

 

[Max Power]

That's an FMX? I thought FMXs had removable aluminum bell housings on a cast iron main body?

Also, didn't all small block 65 66 Mustangs come with C4s?

My FMX bellhousing is removable, but I guess they made that tranny a long time, so anything is possible...

 

[1320stang]

All the FMX's I've seen were integral bellhousings, that one is.

 

[Max Power]

Interesting. Mine is removable.

 

[Jester67]

Funny I thought they where suppose to leak as a way to mark there territory and as a rust preventives. Dang now I have to fix mine.