I recently put new steels and clutches, along with a new pump in my TH350. Today I put it in, got everything buttoned up and added fluid. It just started to leak pretty severely from the pump without even starting the motor.

Two questions - should I have used any sealant on the pump gasket? I think not, since you don't want anything floating around in the fluid. And secondly, what torque should the pump bolts be? I had no idea, so I torqued them to 25 ft lbs.

If both of these are correct, what could be causing the leak?

Thanks for any help.

 

No sealant on the O-ring. Vaseline.

25 ft-lbs smells about right for 5/16" bolts.

It's probably not coming out of the pump, with the motor not running; the fluid level should be well beplow that. Check your fill tube O-ring or seal thing, depending on which style of fill tube you have.

You didn't say how much fluid you added. You should put in about 5 quarts, then start the engine, then add 4 more as quickly as conveniently possible. Then run the gearshift through all the gears, and top it off. Should take less than one more quart. Assuming a stock pan of course.

 

if it is leaking from the pump i'd guess you put the vee seal that goes around the pump in backwards. like rb i'd suspect the o ring on the fill tube is leaking. how can you even see the pump to know that it's leaking?

 

I was able to see the pump because I didn't have the dust shield on and it was leaking from right behind the TC. I'm pretty sure it was the pump because I could feel fluid in the housing. If it was the tube, it would be leaking outside the housing.

I put in 4 quarts, stock pan.

 

if you're sure it's the pump leaking then all you can do is pull the pump. like i said i'd guess the seal got put in backwards or got cut when you installed it.

 

Don't know what the problem was, but it seemed to clear up. I noticed this morning that the dipstick showed full (before I ran the motor to circulate the fluid). Okay, let's put more in. No leak. I ran the motor to operating temp and checked the dipstick. About a quart low. Expected. Put a quart in and it stays full with no obvious leak. Only time will tell, but it looks okay so far.

Thanks for your input.

 

i love cars that repair theirself. good luck