I think my transmission is leaking. Is this possible as I currently don't have any transmission codes!
My car currently has close to 115k miles. I wiped that dark greasy area on the picture and drove the car for about 20miles, I
checked last night and there was some new oil, yellow clean oil lingering right at Seal of the tranny. Please see pic of the dark area.
i didn't take another pic of the clean oil that was dangling as I didn't have the phone to take it so I wiped it off with a towel I have.
Tomorrow morning I will check again if there are any oil. Please let me know if this seal can be replaced. Thank you!

 

 

The thing I do not understand is the YELLOW fluid. Transmission oil is not yellow.

Clean the area well and then in a few days blot the area again with a clean paper towel and post a photo of the towel.

 

 

It's hard to tell where the leak is because you have everything covered with something.

Also, you wiped the area with a paper towel which shows a lot of grease. Blot mean one thing and wiping is all together different.

What is the color of your coolant?

 

 

Did you ever change the transmission fluid?

The rubber plugs are for access to the torque converter drain plug which is not on your model and the other is to lock the converter in place. Yes you can remove them.

 

Yes, I've change the transmission fluid once, but i don't remember exactly at what miles or how long ago. I know its more than 50K miles. Currently i have about 114K miles. It's would be time to change again, but i wanted to find out where that leak is coming from first. Oh, I've tried to tighten those bolts on the picture above and they don't move at all.

So what you are saying that i don't have to drain my torque converter transmission fluid like other models because my model don't have a drain plug? I was reading about other post how other members discuss about draining the torque converter but i don't see where they mention about the drain plug for it. Anyways, once i find the culprit, i will perform the tranny fluid change as i bought the gear for it already.

BTW, can you please let me know what this horizontal long cylindrical black thing on this picture is?


Thanks

 

Listen Chris, you have problems reading and interpreting the English language, just like your other post about the noise with your A/C compressor.. I did not say you can't drain your Torque Converter. I said your year does not have a drain plug on the torque converter.

That black thing is your starter.

 

 

You still haven't supplied a photo of the paper towel after blotting the oil leak. I still cannot understand why it is yellow.

If it is a rear main leak, seals tend to become hard and lose their pliability, especially under heat.

 

 

You will have to use your eyes and check everything. Start with the valve cover gaskets and work your way down.

 

Thanks for the quick response, luckily i just did both my breather valve cover and gaskets. They were leaking for a while and oil and dust made it dark. From top and toward the side of engine, all are clean with no oil. No more leaks for over 2 weeks. No leak coming from engine oil pan where i normally drain. It's just the oil leak from the area of the rear main seal that i have to deal with now. Is there another oil pan that is near the rear main seal? Do you by any chance have a pic of what it is like. If so, can you possibly help explain how it could leak where it is on my car that the 2nd local mechanic that works on mercedes and bmw cars cannot determine. Thank you.

 

Leave everything as it is. Oil may have collected somewhere in the trans. and is slowly draining outside.

Just clean it weekly and see if it lessens. If not, I would live with it.

 

 

Here is the procedure.The copper fitting is the correct one .

 

Rear main is a common failure at this age, sucks that you need to remove the trans to change it, but the good part is it's fairly easy to drop the trans on most late model benz vehicles.

 

Did you check your Oillevel sensor? That thing is sneaky, had that on my ML55 im restoring and had really hard time finding the leak, leaks very slow only when car is running. clean up around it and let the car run for a wile then use ur finger around it and if its wet, BINGO you found it. Good-luck

 

 

First you wanted the procedure to drain the torque converter, and by the way you didn't even say thank-you, and now you want another procedure for the upper oil pan.

Is there a leak at the upper pan?

 

I believe I mention "thank you very much" at the end of the request. If you prefer me to click on "Thank You" button I will do that too. You not only been very helpful to me but to MBWorld community as well.
Again, thank you for all your suggestion and golden advice.

BTW, I mentioned i went to a 2nd local mercedes mechanic and they couldn't determine if it was the rear main seal or upper oil pan was leaking. So i bite the bullet and have the rear main seal replace for $700. This is due to I don't have appropriate tools and experience to tackle the problem. Couple days later, i check and still see oil leaking at the same place. It must have been leaking at both location internally somehow and flow down thru the seam where i post picture above as i don't see any oil leaking around the upper oil pan externally. Now that this problem hasn't been fix, that is why i request for the procedure to understand it's difficulty. If I determine that it is not to difficulty, I will do it myself to avoid any local mechanic and dealership. This local mechanic did a sloppy job. Even though they replace the rear main seal, they didn't even bother to clean up the residue and fingerprints they left around on my car.
Thanks again.

 

It would be on the passenger side upper oil pan under alternator. but you saying its not from that area, so it might be what you talking about. Good-luck on that job, hope the guy will do a good job for you

 

Let me ask you a question, is it still leaking in the same area?

You normally need a lift to remove the upper oil pan but if you want to do it on the ground, then that's your choice.

Here are the instructions. Make sure you get the sealant before you start. You will also need the proper socket to turn the crankshaft.

 

Hi Maj. Dundee,

Thanks, for the instructions and tips. I believe you meant to say to use sealant for the lower oil pan as well as for the upper oil pan?

Yes, the leak still exist in the same area after local mechanic replace the rear main seal. They claim the rear main seal was leaking when i asked them. I also asked them if oil pan was leaking and responded that i have to drive at least 100 miles to see if there are leaks. After I drove home, I went under the car to inspect, and there were oil residues in the same area. I clean it up. Next day drove to work and back home. Went to inspect and oil was still leaking at the same location.

Thanks for all the help.