...I just don't know what it is yet. These pics are of my truck a few minutes ago, and they ain't pretty. I caught the glimmer of something leaking as I walked by my truck about 30 minutes after driving home. Quite the puddle forming, and a slow drip just while I looked with a flashlight. No symptoms of a problem driving, but something is leaking, and its red and everywhere down low.

I'll have to wait till daylight to get a better look, but thought I'd ask those more mechanically inclined what leaks bright red and down low. Looks like it might be part of steering or front drivetrain...

Any ideas?

Doug
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3017
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3016

anitfreeze?

Wow! Check your cooler lines. Also, check your tranny fluid level. If it's low it could be leaking from there.

anitfreeze?
That too

Passenger side, back side of the radiator are two lines for tranny fluid. About the
only thing red an oily front right side is leaks from the tranny cooler lines. Anti-freeze
is more pink-ish and would run more than that puddle. My bet is a loose tranny
cooler line.

Jim

Found the leak as soon as I started the truck (thanks Socaldieseltech):


Truck running: see the fountain? Is this one of the tranny fluid lines?

Man, that's gotta suck. :mad: Grab a bucket........-:t

rubbing on aftermarket lift?

Every one. Check trans lines above the idler arm. Some rub on it. So sorry Doug.

I installed the new Fabtech idler and pitman arms recently. I didn't notice anything rubbing, the only change was a further reduced turning radius (to the right).

Anywho, about two weeks ago, I was unsticking a Tahoe pulling a flatbed trailer when I hit a 2ft hole with the P/S front tire going about 10mph. I bounced out and kept going, but later when I was hosig all the mud off, saw freshly scraped metal on the hard line fitting that is now leaking. I either bottomed out I pinched the line then, or maybe the line is or has been rubbing and causing my turning radius issue.

It's being towed over to Socaldieseltech's this morning, so we'll be able to see what's happening.

Doug i had the same problem. Mike L. noticed it when he had my tranny apart last time and used some zip ties to keep that out of the way. that crimped fitting on my truck was missing some metal from rubbing on the centerlink.... ... Glad you caught it in time Doug. That could have been a silly way to trash your tranny...

It is the idler arm rubbing on the trans line on my truck (thanks again GM). Not the center link which is on the bottom of the idler arm and pitman arm.

I'm back on the road again. A huge thanks to Socaldieseltech who ordered and installed the trans line in short order.

It was the idler arm that wore a hole through the trans line. The Fabtach idler arm is thicker than the stock idler arm, which caused rubbing probably from the time I had them installed a couple months ago. Socaldieseltech secured the new line clear of the idler arm to prevent future abrasion.

Like Super Diesel said, its worth a crawl under everybody's truck just to check the lines. I'd lost about 2-3 quarts of tranny fluid when I discovered the leak. The scary part is with the leak so low, there was no smoke or other way of knowing I was rapidly draining the tranny of fluid.

Thanks everyone for your input and to Clyde for coming by my place to diagnose the problem, and for coming in on a Saturday to do the install.

Doug

I'm back on the road again. A huge thanks to Socaldieseltech who ordered and installed the trans line in short order.

..............

Thanks everyone for your input and to Clyde for coming by my place to diagnose the problem, and for coming in on a Saturday to do the install.


You gotta love Clyde. BTW Clyde, my friend Paul told me he got to meet you the other day (Friday). I told him about you and since he lives right there, he wanted to check you out. I'll be contacting you soon for STUFF for my rig.

DMax Doug, glad your rig it back up and running.

LATER!

Doug,

Glad to hear all ended well...what would we do withour socaldieseltech...
that was certainly above and beyond..

bodysurfer- you'll have to wait in line, I'm next for Clyde..

Frank, I saw your name on the schedule for next week.

In the years I've had my Duramax, I've always wanted a resource that had the skills of a top-notch GM trained diesel mechanic, but not have to worry about GM frowning on my upgrades. Well, now we've got him, and he's just a few minutes up the road. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

Doug

SHHHHHHHHHH don't let everyone know, then we'll never get anything done, he'll be too busy...

I agree, Clyde does great work and on time...

Thanks alot guys, I really appreciate the kind words.