i flushed my auto trans in this 245 i just got not too long ago and followed the directions and all....and i checked the fluid yesterday (about a week of driving since i flushed it) and i was low more than a quart.. i didnt see any serious leaks under the car, but maybe its worse when driving... sooo where do these things typically leak from? i dont see any fluid at all coming from the back end or the lines up to the radiator....so if there is a leak than it would be on the front 2/3 of the trans somewhere... i just dont want to drop it until i have a clue what to look for first. Thanks!

forgot to say that ATF can seep out from the pan bolts, as someone already said. it seems the rear three pan bolts seep slightly, and here is what I did. I made some rubber washers using a very thin piece of rubber I had lying around and cut it into circles 1cm in diameter. it's better to make it smaller as the pressure of the metal washer will squash the rubber wider that some parts will stick out. (I'm sort of a perfectionist; everything has to look neat) but I really couldn't make it smaller because the center hole in which the bolt goes through would almost take out too much rubber. I then used a paper hole puncher and punched a hole in the center. the bolt fits nicely through this hole. it works pretty well. it's a temp repair until I can find washer material that won't deform once I tighten the pan bolts.

Last summer my AW-70 developed a fairly substantial leak. I'd already replaced my tailshaft bushing/seal and checked the cooling lines - no go - so I was stumped! Read here that the pan bolts can back off - voila! problem fixed!!

Not sure if this helps as you said the leak is coming from the front. Easy fix, though. Tighten in a cross-pattern and DON'T overtorque!

Oh yeah, just thought of one more thing. Someone here recently had a leak somewhere in the dipstick tube (near front - BTW) area. Do a search for "Scorch", I believe it was him.


G'luck,

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90 244DL 252K - original engine/drivetrain :)

The Tail Housing Bushing is usually what needs replacing.

For what it's worth, in our case, I saw no drips under the car.
But, we had a significant leak at tailhousing bushing.
Happened on our other 245 also, fixed w/bushing replacement.

Someone here should state how to inspect to check the bushing - I'm out of my depth on that.

I suspect it leaks primarily when driving. Makes a mess on car's underside wherever the airflow blows the fluid, but you see little or none on the ground when parked.

The rubber seal is a fairly inexpensive job. However, to really seal the leak (if that'w where it is), the tail housing bushing needs replacing. That takes some time.

Ours was so bad that it fouled the O2 sensor and so caused the "Check Engine" light to come on. Bushing replacement and new O2 sensor cured the "Check Engine" light! We'd had the sensor replaced just a month or two earlier, it died early due to tranny fluid attack.

You can test the bushing by grabbing the driveshaft at the front and shaking hard. It should move a little (normal), but if it moves a lot then the bushing is bad.

They sure do make a mess when they go! ATF everywhere! Makes it a little tough to determine the location of the leak.....

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90 244DL 252K - original engine/drivetrain :)

If you leaked out "more than a quart" there should be some evidence under the car or in the driveway. A quart on an automatic is LOT of fluid. Drive the car, park it and slide some cardboard under it and let it drip. The cardboard should make it easier to see where the fluid is hitting the ground.

The only leaks I have ever had were at the tailshaft and where the lines are clamped to the front cross member. The clamp block rubbed a hole in my return line and I had a little drip but where it hit the concrete it looked like a gallon even though really it was just a drip.

Good luck,
Tony T
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Tony Turner 89 Volvo 240DL 257K, 92 Jeep Cherokee 250K, 93 Jeep Grand Cherokee 215K, 1980 Mercedes 240D 360K

well until just recently have i had it insured to drive, so the car sat without being driven for about a month after i flushed the system, i was thinking that this past week of driving that the fluid just then reached all the placed....torque converter etc.. that havent been reached in the regular flush. i have watched how much is leaked underneath the car and it isnt that much really, at most a tablespoon's worth in my driveway in the past week...it seems to be dripping out of those vents on the underside of the bellhousing..which could then be coming from a front seal....converter....who knows where exactly...thats why i am now asking.. Thanks!

If it's coming out of the vents front seal is high on the list.

Tony T
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Tony Turner 89 Volvo 240DL 257K, 92 Jeep Cherokee 250K, 93 Jeep Grand Cherokee 215K, 1980 Mercedes 240D 360K

you mean the plastic mesh vent things that is in front of the tranny pan? I'm interested because if it is wet near them it's usually brownish in color and more like motor oil. can ATF leak from those places? eeek. I'm very interested and almost concerned.

Yes I am talking about the "mesh Vents" in the bell housing. ATF can leak out of them if the front transmission seal is bad. ATF is more of a redish color, motor oil is brownish. The thing is, both can leak out those vents. If the rear crankshaft seal is bad or if the flame trap is clogged (more likely) the rear engine sealcan leak and drip out the mesh vents. I wouldn't panic or lose sleep over either one they are not that big of a deal. They can take a bit of trouble to replace but it's really straight foward.

Good luck,
Tony T
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Tony Turner 89 Volvo 240DL 257K, 92 Jeep Cherokee 250K, 93 Jeep Grand Cherokee 215K, 1980 Mercedes 240D 360K

I think the primary culprit is the tailshaft bushing and rear seal. Mine, on the other hand, is leaking from just about everywhere. We're going to work on it tonight, so I'll post an updated list of all the leaks we identify.