Oil leak
Oil leak
2003 3.5 Qx4. I have a leak which looks to me like oil dripping from the transmission pan. (Not purple). A slow drip but I need to fix it. The dealer says it is leaking from the valve cover gasket and wants to replace those for $490. Since it looks like its coming from the transmission pan does anyone know if the oil could find its way back there from the valve covers and drip? I can barely see the valve covers and they appear to be a little "moist" but there is no obvious oil that I can see dripping from that part of the engine. The oil filter looks dry and the oil drain plug looks dry. Thanks for any ideas...
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fleurys
- Posts: 324
- Joined: Fri Apr 16, 2010 10:00 pm
- Car: 2001 Pathfinder , Locked and loaded !
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Re: Oil leak
Well, Transmission oil will be more of a reddish color (when it's not too dirty) and engine oil will obviously be black... determining the color will right away put you on the either a trans or engine oil leak... any pictures that could help us better ?
Re: Oil leak
Thanks, it's not red or purple. It looks and feels like oil. Where it's dripping from one would think the transmission pan is leaking but if it was it should be reddish. I cannot get any photos of the valve cover area - it's buried
Re: Oil leak
Between the valve cover leak and rear main seal leak on my '02 Pathfinder, enough oil was being blown back onto the transmission pan that it made it look like the transmission had a leak as well. The valve covers must've been leaking for some time as the transmission dip stick tube was coated with dried dirty oil. After I fixed the valve cover leak and before I had the rear main seal replaced I got some degreaser and hosed down the entire area and rinsed it off. After it dried I had a much better idea of where the leak was and it was obvious that the transmission was not leaking. Now that the rear main seal has been replaced everything is nice and dry with no more oil leaks.
Re: Oil leak
The oil cooler o ring is a common leak. Just had to do mine -- all three have needed this fixed. Never had a leaking valve cover or trans .. I also don't drop the pans .. if you do get the OE seal.