swepco leaks?

scphelps1 · scphelps1's Garage

After reading many threads regarding the benefits of using Swepco in these transmissions I decided to try it. Some of you may remember me saying that when the engine was out to adjust the valves, I changed the fluid. Now that it is running, I am leaving smurf blue puddles and smoke everywhere I go! Has anyone else experienced this? I thought it might be slightly overfull, as we were able to just pour it in with it sitting on the floor, rather than pumping it uphill, but now I'm starting to get concerned. I pulled the fill plug last night and a little trickled out, but not very much. Any ideas?

Thanks

Jim Sims · 06-04-2002, 09:04 AM

We'll if it's not overfilled (maybe it was; most 915's typically take only about 3/4 of a U. S. gallon - how much old transmission oil did you drain out and how much Swepco did you install?) and if it's not a leaky drain or fill plug or the gasket for the shift fork guide cover plate on the very bottom, or one of the detent passageway plugs then check the vent fitting on top. The hole in the fitting should be in the 90 degree sector that faces forward. If it's not one of the above items/causes, then you may have a seal failure: input shaft, drive flanges, shifter rod, reverse light switch and speedometer drive on earlier cars. Cheers, Jim

scphelps1 · scphelps1's Garage

It seemed to take the full gallon when we filled it (that may be the problem!) We filled it from the top (I'm assuming the vent that you refer to) when the engine was out. We stopped pouring in when it bagan to run out the "normal" fill hole. I will try to check the orientation of the vent plug. Is this the one directly on top of the transmission?

Thanks,
Clayton

Joeaksa · 06-04-2002, 11:03 AM

Drained the old oil and replaced mine with Swepco and no leaks and very nice improvement in shifting.

Joe

Chris Lovell · 06-04-2002, 11:38 AM

I replaced my Mobil 1 tranny oil with Swepco. Like Joe, great improvement. No leaks. I absolutely definitely used less than a gallon. More like three+ quarts.

Early_S_Man · 06-04-2002, 11:50 AM

3 liters or 3.2 qts is the proper fill quantity ... with car on level ground ... remove filler plug and allow excess to drain off. Gear oil does NOT normally ever get to the heat exchangers ... so you must be blowing it all over the front of the engine out the breather!

Jim Sims · 06-04-2002, 11:52 AM

See:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/911/911_Parts/1974-75/3-2.JPG

http://www.pelicanparts.com/911/911_Parts/1974-75/3-2-1.JPG

Part 14 in the first figure is the vent fitting and it's on the top.

I suppose given the thickness of the transmission oil (especially if it's cold) and if the transmission wasn't level, one could put too much oil into the transmission by pouring in through the vent hole and waiting for it to come out of the actual fill hole (part 11 in the second figure). However, if the vent fitting hole was used to fill the transmission it is more likely the fitting was re-installed with the wrong orientation. This allows the tube hanging down from the vent fitting to act like a scoop and collect oil thrown up by the differential gear and direct it out the vent hole. Gravity and the air flow under the car takes over from there to spread Vulcan blood (Romulan ale?) everywhere. Cheers, Jim

scphelps1 · scphelps1's Garage

Thanks for the images Jim. I will definitely see if we have the orientation on the vent correct tonight. I find it odd that the transmission would have taken as much fluid as it did because it was out of the car and level on blocks. Also, only a little bit trickled out last night when I pulled the fill plug.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Sounds waaaaay overfilled to me! Shouldn't take a gallon. Open up the top side plug again, and check.

Engine was out to adjust the valves?!?

-Wayne

Doug E · 06-04-2002, 07:09 PM

I'll agree with the experts and say it is overfilled.

When I recently did a swepco change on mine she took just about 3/4 of a gallon. Hint: when the car is level and it starts to drain out of the plug stop and let it settle before topping off.

BTW, I'll let you know the next time I am down in C'ville visiting my brother-in law and maybe we can get together for a drive.

CARRERIC · 06-04-2002, 07:20 PM

Clayton, funny you mentioned this. My transmission never leaked. I put swepco in my tranny about two months ago. I don't use the car much. Last week I noticed a few small drops of blue smelly swepco on the garage floor. I looked under the car and saw some drops on the front of the transmission on the cross bar.

Last Saturday I drove the car down to the Florida keys fro Miami and haven't seen any on the floor yet. I don't know how much I put in because I spilled alot when filling transmission. I though I didn't put in enough because I get a slight noise from the trans while driving certain speeds especially in third and fourth gear. But that may be characteristic of the 915.

scphelps1 · scphelps1's Garage

I didn't have a chance to check the vent last night when I got home, but there is significantly less smoke/dripping when I park the car. I'm positive it was overfilled by about a quart. I'm just baffled as to where it was hiding!

Wayne, the engine was out to adjust the valves because when we were standing there scratching our heads trying to figure out how to get the lower valve cover on the left side by all the turbo plumbing, much less make an accurate adjustment we decided it was the way to go. My dad has owned the car since roughly 1985 and has consequently had the engine out several times. We figured in the long run it would take just as long, plus it gave access to other items (shocks, dist cap, rotor, plugs, fuel filt, etc.) Sure these things could be done with it in the car, but it was sure easier with the engine on the floor!
Douge, that drive sounds great. I still have a couple of things to get sorted out, but hopefully will in the near future!