transmission additive

[brokebill]

as much as i hate putting any kind of additives in any part of a car, i was wondering about transmission additives.

when she gets drove regularly, she leaks no noticeable amount of tranny fluid.
but when she sits a lot, i always have to check and add a little.

it was rebuilt a few years back and works fine , just leaks a fair amount when sitting a lot.(roughly 1/4 to 1/2 a quart over a couple months of mostly being dormant)

any recomended additives to help condition the seals or make a safe ,thicker, less likely to leak tranny fluid "consistency".

thanks, Bill

[gadget73]

Where does it leak from? Might be better off just changing the seal or gasket that its leaking from. Also at 1/2 quart for a few months, I wouldn't even get concerned about it to be honest. Put a piece of cardboard under the car if its a stain issue.

[GilroyRacing]

I agree with gadget.

But if you are really that worried about it get under there and see where it is coming from.

There are some o-rings on the trans fluid lines going into the trans, it might be leaking from there.

[brokebill]

yeah, i need to pinpoint exactly where its leaking from. its kinda hard to do much to my cars with my current landlord. if i pop a hood or pull off a wheel, she acts like i'm white trashing the place up so i have to let "non fatal" stuff slide to keep her off my ass.

but since i have to top it off periodically anyhow is there anything recomended to help prolong the life of my transmission?
surely theres something out there that aint just bullshit in bottle.

thanks, Bill

[gadget73]

service the trans, drain the converter, and change the fluid to mercon v if you're not using it already. its now ford's suggested fluid for the AOD family.

[GilroyRacing]

Sea Foam has a trans flush

Since your trans is already low, I would put that in there follow the instructions, drain the fluid, drain the converter, put on a new filter, refill the trans.

[cld783]

no no no additives.. fix the leak!

[DarkKnight]

I have used Lucus tranny. Worked wonders for me./ But you dont have that problem. It conditioned my bands and made OD real tight agine.

[brokebill]

unless a little tightening is all it will take to fix it, i'm not in a position right now to do much to it.

i wouldn't dream of putting whatever the transmission version of radiator stop leak is in her. like i said , i hate additives.

but she sits a lot now due to gas prices and we all know how bad that is on a car.
just hoping there was something to keep everything lubed and conditioned overall since its had 6 hard years since the rebuild.

by it being worse when it sits makes me think something is drying out and allowing it to leak more then it seems to reseal when she gets drove.

thanks, Bill

[DarkKnight]

Humm been 6 years eh? Yea might wanna look at a bottel of Lucus conditioner then hehe. I thought this was a fresh rebuild.

[brokebill]

yep, 6 yrs. bout 50,000 miles ago. 1/2 interstate & 1/2 hard, steep, curvey, shitty back road.

overall still shifts and pulls great. the guy who did it was really good (but kept my car forever) and he added something he swore in.
i think it was in a small (maybe 12 - 16 0z) metal (not plastic) bottle.
been trying to remember the name of it the last 5 years.

thanks, Bill

[cld783]

best thing you can do is let it run in the driveway and work it through the gears every once and a while.

[GoodSamaritan]

I had a 69 skylark that was the same way. It wouldn't lose a drop, unless you left it sitting, then you could mark your calender. Around day 30, you would get up and find it dribbling fluid in the driveway. If I would start it up every once in a while, and run through the gears, it was fine.

[GilroyRacing]

best thing you can do is let it run in the driveway and work it through the gears every once and a while.

I think that is good advice.
I would still do a flush on the trans and put a new filter and fresh oil in it since it has been 6yrs since the rebuild.


Do you guys think that since his car is sitting for so long that the fluid is draining out of the converter and perhaps it is being pushed out of the overflow on the trans?

[P72Ford]

I had a 69 skylark that was the same way. It wouldn't lose a drop, unless you left it sitting, then you could mark your calender. Around day 30, you would get up and find it dribbling fluid in the driveway. If I would start it up every once in a while, and run through the gears, it was fine.

My dad had a '68 LeSabre that was the same way. No leaks, unless you let it sit. When it sat, it would seemingly lose quarts at a time (huge puddles on the floor). It was a 2 speed auto (I want to say like a 300 series), which was recently replaced with a TH350. The car still sits, but it doesn't leak anymore.