Transmission fluid leak...none of the usual suspects

blankenship · Post by **blankenship** » 17 Jun 2021, 11:16

I've had a baffling persistent transmission fluid leak on the '00 Volvo V70XC I bought last year with 155k.

I've cleaned the underside a few times to better help identify the source...I don't see anything leaking from hoses or dipstick o-ring.
Worried that it might be coming from the seal between the transmission case/halves?

Red arrows in attached photo show accumulation/drip spots.
Would appreciate insights as to likely location and how to make it stop.

Post by **Clemens** » 17 Jun 2021, 11:50

It does not look too much like a tranny leak to me. Is the oil definitley red? My guess is the RMS, rear main seal. I fixed it with ATP 205 on one of mine. Has been going strong for years.

blankenship · Post by **blankenship** » 17 Jun 2021, 12:10

Reddish. Also, I've been checking dipsticks lately and I'm losing transmission fluid and not oil.
As shown in photo, the weep hole between the transmission and engine is dry; I've never seen leaks there.

Is that pink gasket material at seam in the picture factory? Or is that an indicator of someone's prior work?
Is that ATP205 safe to use in this tranmission, as well as engine?

The right side axle shaft is a bit damp where it goes into tranny, but there is no dripping or accumulation underneath it.

Post by **Clemens** » 17 Jun 2021, 13:28

Alright, I was just suspicuous about the weep hole because I had the pil that drained fromnthe weep hole accumulate in the exact flat spot where you habe that oil drip hanging.

I think that pink gasket material is there from the factory, I have it and the Tranny probably was never out of the car or touched at all according to the darkish color of the tranny fluid

I would not use ATP205 in the tranny. It might screw up the shifting characteristics

Post by **Clemens** » 17 Jun 2021, 13:43

p.s. one more thought: are the driveshaft seals okay? They get leaky and squirt tranny fluid all over the tranny

blankenship · Post by **blankenship** » 17 Jun 2021, 17:01

blankenship wrote: ↑17 Jun 2021, 12:10 The right side axle shaft is a bit damp where it goes into tranny, but there is no dripping or accumulation underneath it.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 17 Jun 2021, 18:17

I had the 4 speed on my 2000 XC leak beyond reasonable repair at about 270K. Had a shop remove it, replace the transmission input seal (this may be your issue), however my leak was from a more internal seal and continue to leak after reinstall. Ended up getting a used transmission put in.

If the transmission shifts well (these 4 speeds are pretty solid even in high miles), may be worth having the input seal replaced along with the RMS. 155K is relatively low miles though, so could just be age of the seals at this point.

blankenship · Post by **blankenship** » 17 Jun 2021, 18:35

Re: Input seal - Where, physically, is it? I did a google image search and can't really nail it down.

Re: Axle shaft seal - I just can't imagine if it was the thing leaking that there wouldn't be a drip spot off one of those bolts or whatever underneath it at rest.

Dang! I'm losing enough fluid to make me pretty nervous about maintaining the fluid level.
How sensitive are these transmissions to fluid level variation?

Post by **Chuck W** » 17 Jun 2021, 22:05

blankenship wrote: ↑17 Jun 2021, 18:35 Re: Input seal - Where, physically, is it? I did a google image search and can't really nail it down.

It's basically where the torque converter snout goes into the transmission. Inside the bellhousing.