So I don't drive my truck much in the winter around here unless we get a ton of snow. I do try and start it once a week but sometimes can't get around to it. Today I started it and drove it around a little, but when I got back I noticed a small amount of trans fluid on the driver side of the trans pan. Not much, but I have heard that if you don't drive the truck much that it will actually leak from sitting there. Is that true? I never had a problem with the trans and love it to death just wanted to make sure nothing is wrong with it.
Thanks

 

Probably coolant. Check the hose on the passenger's side behind the turbo. Tighten the clamp, done deal.

 

Have not herd that. Don't know why it would be true.
Fluid should stay in valve body due to check ball in the lines. Guess after a long time sitting the fluid does drain down and won't run properly, unless you idle for a few minutes in neutral... to refill all the lines.
But why this would cause an external leak make no sense to me???

RJ

 

that hose under the turbo leaks just behind the front axle and down the right (passenger)front corner of the tranny pan not drivers side

 

I had the leak, I know where it leaks. And when you drive it sprays all over the place, soaking the trans cover, the oil pan, etc. Then you stop and the fluid drips from wherever it is.

That said, a fluid leak from the trans is pretty rare, but a coolant leak from an 06 looking like a trans leak is pretty dang common.

So I just bypassed all the 'go check this' and 'do that' and asked him to check the coolant hose. We'll see what he says....

 

I should have mentioned that I just replaced that little coolant hose and the clamps a couple weeks ago, so I know that is not the problem. I had heard before about possible drain back, but was not sure if it was true. The only reason I thought about that is because the truck has been driven once in the past three weeks. Still drives and shifts perfect so I don't know.
thanks

 

Okay, now we're getting somewhere!

Next question: are you sure it's tranns fluid?

 

I am pretty sure its trans fluid. I didn't get a ton of time to look at everthing under the truck, but I did not see a leak from anywhere. It was a small amount of fluid but never had that problem so not sure what else it could be.
Thanks

 

Was the tranny serviced at all? Maybe gasket damaged or not bolted up correctly? Drainback I have witnessed and it will make the truck feel like it is in neutral until converter has fluid back in it. It will not drainback onto ground.

I would check lines in case something has rubbed and worn thru and pan gasket in case bolts loosened or leaking from pan.

Best of luck.. Merry Xmas!

 

Okay I'm back to coolant. Small amount, didn't notice where it's coming from, not sure if it's tranny juice.... You just changed the coolant line a few weeks ago, and you only drive the truck every couple of weeks....

Coolant.

 

I have same thing. I also do not think it is coolent. i did have the coolent leak a year or so ago and this web site id it and i fixxed, thanks everybody!!!!!
i cleaned up the trans with a rag, not really dirty, so i could see were it was coming from. also my rig was sitting for about a month. it looked like it was leaking from the adjustment band plug on the drivers side. i have been watching it and only when it is parked and sits week or more do i see it?

 

I am about to go crawl under the truck and take a look around. I just don't know where the coolant would be coming from. The new hose is not leaking at all I know that. I thought it was trans fluid because it seemed a little thicker than coolant would be. Maybe the trans bolts are a little loose? I don't know but I am going to go check.
Thanks for all the help.

 

Dave is the best! He called me this morning to go over what might be leaking after I left him a message last night. Gotta be the best service around I mean its Christmas. So he believes it is either leaking from the dipstick seal or the shift linkage seal? Only leakes when it sits for a while so thats why he believes it is one of those two seals. I will try and check, but now its raining here weather can't make up its mind.
Thanks
Merry Christmas!

 

My 06 started leaking after setting a spell. At first I wasn't sure whether it was transmission fluid or coolant because the fluid was pinkish or light red. Put some of the fluid on my fingers and rubbed them together a few times and decided it was coolant because it did not stay slick as I rubbed. If it had been transmission fluid it would have stayed more slick as I rubbed my fingers together. When I got under the truck with a work light I saw that it was leaking where the rubber heater hose connects to a metal pipe just below and to the rear of the turbo. I tightened the clamps and no more leak. The reason it only leaked after sitting awhile was the metal pipe would shrink after cooling down. At least that was my theory.

 

Yeah we're waaaaaay ahead of you on this one Burlhall.... Read the thread and you'll see he already changed that little hose....