NEED HELP!! ATF flush leaking

[lessgravity]

After reading the very informative info on the ATF change, I figured that my limited back yard mechanic skills could be utilized. Anyway I recently purchased a 2003 Pilot EX-L with 105,000 miles. Time for a transmission oil change. I went to my local Honda dealer and purchased 4 quarts of the Honda Z-1 transmision fluid and also got the lock washer. I was able to get the drain bolt loose and filled using the dip stick hole (with funnel and tubing). The only thing that I didn't do was turn the engine on and let it run for a few minutes. The Pilot had set over night. The problem is that I am leaking oil big time. It doesn't appear that there is any oil around the drain plug. It it coming from other places. The oil that I drained was black and the magnet was loaded with gunk. I replaced with approx. 3.7 quarts. What do I do? Have I messed up? I checked the fluid tonight after my wife got home and wasn't reading on the dipstick. I will take her to work tomm. w/ truck and get more fluid before it is driven again. Any suggestions???

[ceraboy]

First of all did you check the fluid level before you changed the ATF. How did you figure you used 3.7 quarts, usually this is based upon filling the tranny back to the full mark on the dipstick. Are you sure the tubing was tight around the dipstick tube, perhaps you thought you were adding fluid, but it was actually seeping out which would appear as a leak not by the drain plug.

The fact that the pilot was cold has no bearing on what you are experiencing other than you are less likely to drain all the sediment in the pan. Given the looks of the fluid you probably should do a 3x drain and refill with a 5 mile jaunt in between.

[lessgravity]

I did check the dipstick before changing. It was near the upper circle. Also I would have noticed if I was leaking that much oil as I was performing the change on concrete. I will try the 3x change. I was wondering if I put too much oil in??? I checked the oil and it was just a little above the the upper circle.

[ceraboy]

I have seen a transmission puke fluid when the vent was clogged, but not with a little overfill. You should have drained about 3.5 quarts, did you measure how much you actually drained and was the car level. Before you try any more fluid changes add some more fluid to get it back up to full, drive it around and make sure shes running ok. Good luck.

[belundy]

If it didn't leak before and the only thing you disturbed was the drain plug, that'd seem the obvious place.

If you are having trouble seeing the leak, wipe the pan and tranny off, then use an old paint brush and baby powder and coat the pan and surrounding parts.

We assume you replaced the dipstick?

Also, you are aware that it takes 20 seconds to remove the oil filler bolt or the jet that occupies the filler hole?

[N_Jay]

I am betting that what is dripping is fluid that missed the dipstick tube.

He never said he checked the level after filling and he did not touch anything else.

[TTK]

Originally posted by N_Jay
I am betting that what is dripping is fluid that missed the dipstick tube.

He never said he checked the level after filling and he did not touch anything else.

You are probably correct about the source. But he did say "I checked the fluid tonight after my wife got home and wasn't reading on the dipstick."

[lessgravity]

Just heard from the mechanic. It is isn't transmission oil. It is motor oil that is leaking. The mechanic thinks either the oil pan gasket or the rear main seal. I can't beleive it. What do you think about the prices. Rear main seal - $766 and oil pan gasket - $433. They said that a 4 wheel alignment would be required because of the way the motor is positioned.

[ctobio]

If the subframe has to be dropped, then yes, an alignment would be in order.

[belundy]

OK, something doesn't add up.

Did you or not add 3.5 qts of trans fluid to your transmission?

I'll wager that the fluid didn't make it into the tranny but leaked past your funnel.

Did you check the trans fluid level right after adding fluid?

If you put 3.5 qts in, it ought to register on trans dip stick.

Otherwise, it went SOMEWHERE, and if it didn't burn it (really impossible in that amount of time) then it leaked close to a gallon of fluid all over something.

Is the leaking fluid red? Smell like trans fluid or engine oil?

Engine oil leaks that bad don't just appear overnight.

[Blackbart]

LessGravity - What was the outcome of your issue? Did you get the engine work done, if so, what was done and at what cost?

-Russ

[samc]

I gotta ask where did you put the new tranny fluid? Did you put it into the engine?

(Meaning did you put your new tranny fluid into the engine oil cap?)

It just doesn't add up and here is why. The tranny fluid is red, there is no way to mistaken that for anything else. Obviously if you poured in 3.5 quarts in extra to the engine you'll see an overflow somewhere. Your mechanic says he sees engine oil which is always a distinct honey brown color (or dark chococlate if old) so I take it he knows the difference.

And I agree you know you were driving your car the day before and didn't see an engine oil leak so all that fluid didn't start leaking out of no where.

Did you put the new tranny fluid into 1 or 2.
ok my picture wont link in this forum but here it is
http://img62.imageshack.us/i/03pilot2.jpg/