I traced a fluid leak (which I first thought was brake fluid because of color) on my 87 auto to a split high pressure hose connected to the drivers side front of the transmission. The fluid was dripping from the heat shield above the cataclysmic converter on the passanger's side and after dropping the exhaust and heat shield for inspection and following the line back to the transmission I discovered a split hose. It's not the low point where I'd expect the fluid to leak so it could be leaking in more than one place. I can replace the hose(s) easily enough but I'm not sure how to check if damage has been done. Any ideas? Is this fluid seperate from and different than the transmission fluid? If so, how is it filled and with what? I've never seen anything but red ATF. Any help will be appreciated. <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

 

The transmission is cooled by pumping a portion of the fluid forward to a cooler in the end tank of the radiator, and then back to the transmission, so the lines contain only transmission fluid.

It is very unlikely that there is any damage to the transmission, unless you lost enough fluid to affect the operation of the transmission.

It is, however, important that you check the fluid level now and regularly in the future.

The car should be level.
The transmission should be at full operating temperature.
The engine should be running, and the transmission should be in park or neutral.
Kneel by the right rear wheel, and use a flashlight to look at the transmission just forward of the wheel. Find the small fluid tank, and find the three marks on the tank. (It may be necessary to get under the car the first time, so as to clean the tank and to get a good idea of where the marks are and what you are looking for.) The fluid should NEVER be lower than the bottom mark nor above the top mark with the engine running. With the engine running and the transmission warm, the fluid level should be between the upper two marks. It take very little fluid added to move the level from the middle to the top mark, and it is important that the fluid level never be above the top mark with the engine running.

You can use a tube on a funnel to add the fluid, putting the funnel outside the wheel well.

 

Thanks Wally. What type of ATF fluid is used? The puddle I saw under the car wasn't red. It looked more like brake fluid but lighter in color.

 

The 928 uses Dextron in both the transmission and the power steering.

Dextron from different manufacturers varies in color, but is often amber.

 

I had one of the trans. lines on mine split all of a sudden a few months ago right above the cat. conv. shield and made one heck of a smoke screen, I replaced both supply and return lines which I bought from 928 Spec. The original hoses had a protective heat shield/ sleeve on them but the new one's didn't come with any, I bought a 6' roll of 1" diam. from a local speed shop and slid them over the rubber sections of the lines before installing, remember to order new crush washers with the new hoses.

 

Eric, thanks for the advice. I'll probably replace both lines as well. My hose split back where the line goes into the transmission. The line above the cat looks good except it may be leaking at the compression fitting. It looks like the PO replaced one of theses lines already because the compression fittings don't look quite the same.