Transaxle Fluid Leak at AN Fittings

[KJRGT]

There have certainly been numerous posts regarding the seepage, weepage, etc. of the tranny fluid from the breather vent and the two fittings that serve the stock bypass hose and the transaxle cooler hoses many of us have added.
My GT leaked day one from the two bypass fittings. When I had the Ford transaxle cooler installed, I figured that would solve the issue, but it did not. The dealer I used (Beverly Hills Ford) has closed down and I spent some time this weekend trying to solve the problem.
When I removed the blue anodized AN fittings from the transaxle housing, I was surprised to see there were no washers, O rings in the fitting, or some other device to seal the mating of the housing flange and the AN fitting. I purchased two thin bronze washers and installed them, thinking that would do the trick, but after a test drive today, the leak from both persisted. :confused
So what's the trick? A different type washer? Using a siicon based gasket maker? :willy
Much appreciated. I want to get this cleaned up prior to our Nov. 18 cruise from Temecula to Palm Desert.

 

[BlackICE]

I fitting may need an O ring.

BlackICE

 

[Neilda]

Take a look at:

http://www.fordracingparts.com/download/instructionsheets/FordInstShtM-7095-GT.pdf

It states here "re-use 'sealing washers'" as part of the description of how to fit the cooler - suggesting the bypass loop has sealing washers.

The transaxle cooler kit does not (I think) contain these washers - the instruction pdf says to re-use what's on there, or what should have been on there.

Make sense?

Hope this helps.

 

[Sinovac]

Neilda is correct

Your stock fittings should have had copper washers which are used for the transaxle cooler fittings. I just installed mind with the washers and have no leaks.

 

[Neilda]

KJR - I've just been looking through the Ford GT 'Service Information Disc' for about 30 minutes trying to find any information about these sodding washers.

Could I find anything? :ack No I could not.

However it seems clear from the pdf and from Sinovac that you're short of a couple of copper washers. Did you do the install yourself?

 

[nota4re]

OK, I must be real dense. I've installed about 15 Transaxle Coolers (Cool Tech brand) and I'm still not sure what you guys are referring to. All of the GT transaxles I have seen are the same (I've done several '05's in addition to the '06's).

The transaxles all have adapters in them to convert to standard AN ends. My assumption is that you are referring to the seal between these adapters and the transaxle itself?? If so, I've never seen one leaking there.... so I'm not sure what the issue is. The other side is, of course, the AN fitting. There should be no washer, seal, teflon, or anything else used in an AN fitting. These fittings seal on exactly aligning tapers.

In summary, for the Cool Tech kits, you simply remove the bypass hose and then thread on the supplied (AN) hoses. No fuss, no muss. You don't need to change any fittings or work with leaky connections.

That said, I can say that I have run across 2 bad AN Hose ends. In these hose ends the tapered seal was not completely machined and there's no way you could get them to seal. Finding these before a customer does is the payback for bench testing every hose that I make.

 

[KJRGT]

Neil,
I also saw those directions to re-use "sealing washers" but the service tech did not install them or I would have seen them when I took the AN fittings off the transaxle housing. :frown
Sinovac,
It appears to me your copper washers "sealing washers" are the ones I am missing....were they super thin? Say 1/32 thick or less?
nota4are,
I looked at the helpful photo you posted of all your labled hardware, to see if there were some washers, gaskets, etc. and saw nothing. That makes sense, as you use the stock AN fittings and attach the new hose fittings to them. I bet if you took off the stock AN fittings you'd see the copper washers. I cannot imagine getting a good seal between a surface that turns (flat bevel of AN fitting) and the flat surface of the transaxle housing.
I know the tapered ends of the AN fittings and the fittings coming from the hoses need nothing, and I am not leaking from there.
OK, I guess I just need to find me some of those copper washers.... :bored

 

[MR2Race]

Trans cooler leak

Trans cooler leak
I would also look at the Blue adaptor fittings them self.
I have seen more than a few cracked, upon installation.
As they are more delicate. And will brake if even slightly over torqued.

I also prefer a sealing washer called a Stat-O-Seal.
It is an aluminum sealing washer with a captured O-ring seal built in.
They are available from suppliers of AN fitting.

As far as using a trans cooler to correct the oil seepage problem @ the vent.
I am having a hard time seeing this work. Unless you do not add any extra oil after the cooler install.
I see vapor @ the trans vent. And the need for a trans cooler 2 separate problems.

Let us know how your repair goes
PM me or call if you want to talk about your car problem.

Alex

313-600-5383

 

[KJRGT]

Alex,
Thanks for the comments.
I did take a good look at the AN fitting surfaces and all looks good.
I really like your idea of using a washer with a built in "O" ring. Did not know that little item was available.
I noticed that Jay (GT Saver) uses an O ring on his transaxle vent extension that I installed this weekend. I would imagine that's a better solution than a flat washer, though that seems to be the stock set up and also works fine... when installed!

 

[Gerry]

I think you need two 4G7Z-7D273-AA, outlet connector assemblies @ $20 each. The copper sealing washer should come with it. The parts catalog is confusing in this illustration. It shows the connectors in the transmission cooloing sysem illustration but does not have a commodity number assigned to them. A mistake I think. I can fax the illustration if you want to see it.

 

[KJRGT]

Gerry,
Thanks for the information on the parts......I've installed a thin fiber washer on both AN fittings and will give it a go tomorrow. :willy
Hope they do the trick.

 

[KJRGT]

Bingo. 40 mile drive this morning and transaxle casing is dry as a bone.
:thumbsup

 

[Neilda]

That's good news to read....