Hi,

something is leaking, getting worse over time. It`s an oily liquid, clear in color, probably transmission oil. It seems to gather in the flywheel cover, part of it drips down from there, some seems to be whirled up across the starter, the trans cooler lines and on the frame. It must have become somewhat bad since it seems to go all over the transmission pan and to wet the underside of the transfer case, and it drops on the driveway.

I`ve been watching it for a while; my first idea was that it`s leaking from a hose on the cooler return line. Today I found a suspicious patch on the driveway, so I decided to check it out. I couldn`t see where it`s leaking from, so I took off the flywheel cover, wiped things somewhat clean and drove around the block.

When the engine was turned off, I could see oil coming from a bolt that appears to go through the flywheel (the wheel with the gears on it for the starter) into the converter. It`s hard to describe --- the crankshaft comes out of the engine above the oil pan, and there is some kind of smaller/inner ring on it which is probably part of the flywheel.

There are some bolts screwed into this inner ring, probably 6, apparently from the side the converter goes on. Oil is dripping from one of these bolts like it`s comeing from within the converter through the bolt hole just to drip out on the engine-side of the flywheel.

Is that possible at all? Do these "inner" bolts go into the converter?

Another thing is that the converter has three bolts that hold it to the flywheel, on the outer diameter. I`ve been reading here that the converters used on Diesels are supposed to have 6 bolts instead of only 3. There is "7A" or "74" stamped into the outer side of the converter, repeatedly.

Is it likely that they installed a converter for a gasser that now fails when the transmission was rebuilt a few months ago? --- They as well forgot to refill the transfer case, so I guess everything is possible ...

Its either engine lube or diesel fuel. Trans fluid is reddish. Engine oil tends to be dark in color, so I'm guessing diesel fuel. If so you can probably smell it. The engine valley drains down the back of the engine so a leak around the injection pump (either at one of the lines or at the throttle shaft seal most likely) can cause fuel to drip or run out at the bellhousing and possibly run onto the torque converter/flywheel.

The three bolt converters are quite common even on diesel applications. Only certain early 6.2/TH400 combos had six lugs as I recall.

Hmmm, it can be fuel. Since a while I keep thinking that I should get better mileage like I`m leaking fuel. The liquid that`s leaking is too clear as I would think it`s engine oil, and it doesn`t appear to be red, either. First smell I took today made me think it`s fuel. So I need to check for that now, good to know.

It`s a 700R4 transmission. It seems that you can get converters with 6 lugs for them.

Let`s hope it`s fuel, that would be easier to fix ...

Seems to be fuel, the engine valley is all wet. It seems to be leaking from the injector lines on the pump, but it`s hard to tell. Fortunately, this is covered under warranty.

Yeah, with the engine running, I can see it dripping from the connection of the injector line to the pump.

What`s the way to fix that? The shop that replaced the IP told me it`s the first Diesel they ever replaced an IP on. They did a good job, but it`ll probably be helpful if I can tell them how to do it. Just tighten the nuts on the connectors, or are there some gaskets involved?

Might be able to fix it by just tightening the line. The ones on the bottom are difficult to get to and often don't get tightened enough. Then again I suppose if one of those fittings got overtightened it could damage the line and then it would always leak. There's no gaskets involved.

So yeah, just have the shop look at it and fix it if it is under warranty.

Thanks --- I`ll take it to the shop tomorrow ...

I had a similar problem with my old 85 Suburban. The 700R4 tranny took a S*** on a vacation trip, towing a 25 foot travel trailer. The shop I was towed to installed a rebuilt tranny, but could not get a 6 lug torque converter so installed a 3 lug to get me on the road and back on vacation. About a week after I got home, it started to leak, just like yours. The rebuilder shipped me a replacement 6 lug converter and a local shop installed it. Never had the problem again. The 6 lug converter not only has more lugs, but is also made of thicker steel. You can immediately tell the difference if you lift the two. The 6 lug weighs twice as much. Under load, so much pressure is built up from the diesel torque, the converter actually expands, like a balloon and can even rub against the pump housing or bell housing. Mechanically they are identical and theoretically interchangable, but the 3 lug will not hold up. Go back where you had it worked on and insist they replace it with a 6 lug. They probably won't like it because I'm sure the 6 lug costs a whole lot more. Good luck!:grd: