What is leaking from my truck?!?!?!?

[ubtripn]

So here is the story: Just installed a 700R4 onto my 350. The transmission had been sitting in a junkard exposed to the elements for a while. I installed it and have had a small leakage issue that seems to mostly have gone away since I re-tightned the pan bolts BUT there is a substance that seems to be coming from around the torque converter area. Between it and the bell housing I think. Anyway, it is 90% water and about 10% a yellowish substance. My engine oil is darker than that right now and the tranny oil is pinkish. I cannot figure out what this stuff is. Tranny has been in the truck for over two weeks. This leak only started after the tranny swap so I would assume it has something to do with it but here are my questions:

1. What is this stuff? Could it be water from inside the tranny as it sat outside?

2. Seperate question related to the slow leak from the tranny which is pinkish and around the tailshaft area but not coming out the end of the tailshaft (just collecting there)- do seals eventually reseal after becoming wet again? Does the Lucas stop leak harm yuor transmission? Does it work?

This is driving me a little crazy, first the tranny lines were loose, then the pan bolts, now the tranny is leaking from somewhere else plus I have this waterery yellow stuff comin out at one drop every 30 seconds.

3. What do tiny bubbles mean on my transmission dipstick?

Thanks in advance everyone.

[mr48chev]

Tiny bubbles usually mean that you have water in the fluid.

1. Did you change the filter and gasket when you installed the trans? That is standard procedure for most of us putting in a used transmission.

2. Did you change the front and rear seals in the transmission before you installed it? That is also pretty well standard procedure when most of us buy a used trans for one of our vehicles.
3. The watery fluid showing up inside the bellhousing area may be due to an engine coolant leak in one of the soft plugs at the back of the engine.

Having to re-tighten the cooler lines and pan bolts is a norm and not something to be real upset about.

I'm not sure about using the liquid tranny seal conditioner. I've never been a big fan of snake oil treatments and usually just change a seal when it tends to leak. With that seal you may also want to change the extension housing bushing but that takes a couple of special tools to do.

[ubtripn]

Thank you, I have never really bought the miracle in a bottle thing. I did none of those things (real smart.) what should I do now? I can at least do the filter without pulling the tranny right?

Man I wish I had known that, should I at least drain it and refill it to get rid of the water and then do the filter and gasket? or just do it all at once?

[Longhorn Man]

additives are never a good idea in a good tranny.
Yes, they work, they do what the claim, but the don't give the whole story.
Now, if it is an old trans that you are just trying to get some more miles out of, and it's days are already numbered, then go for it.

[ubtripn]

I think it is a good one because it came out of a 92 van and shifts really good and at the right points. Feels like new to drive it, I just don't want to ruin it out of ignorance and i am already halfway there.

[Boog]

double click

[Boog]

The trans has to come out to replace the front pump seal.
Water is an auto tranny's enemy. If ran long with water in it the friction material will steam right off the clutch plates and a rebuild will be necessary.
While the trans is out for a new front pump seal you can change the filter and take the converter to a reputable trans shop and have the converter flushed to make sure there is no water in it. Last I heard it costs less than 25 to have a pump flushed. Fresh fluid now and it should be good to go.

[ubtripn]

Good deal, and thanks. I'm going to do it.