I have a 1987 camaro. It’s a 2.8l v6 automatic. It started leaking transmission fluid after I drove over a pothole I failed to notice. I’m not entirely sure where exactly it’s leaking fluid from but I love this car so I need to find out.

My question is, how do I add transmission fluid?? I don’t see a cap for it anywhere. Is it added via the same tube where the transmission dip stick is? I want to add some fluid so that I can see where it leaks from. I’ve tried searching for videos or other forums but have had no luck.

Hopefully it’s not a super expensive fix.


Thank you in advance for any help!

 

Sounds like one of your cooler lines may have popped out of it’s fitting. To add trans fluid yes you have to use the dipstick tube. If I were you I would find the cooler lines on your radiator first and see if one may have popped out. If not I’d jack the car up if you can and see if it popped out of the transmission end of the line.

 

I don't see a pot hole causing a problem with the hard lines to the cooler. I would be inspecting the transmission pan for damage or an impact that could have broken a fragile, shrunken, hardened pan gasket, etc.

GD

 

I’m not an expert, you just helped me on my thread as well What you said sounds like a possibility too. Again I’m just trying to help, not go against what you say, but I don’t think a whole lot of fluid would be lost from a bad gasket. Just my opinion doesn’t mean it’s right. OP: I’d say don’t put any fluid in. Do what GeneralDisorder said as well and inspect the pan. Regardless you shouldn’t run it until you find the culprit and fix it.

 

I mean - a line malfunction is certainly *possible* but the stock lines (assuming they are stock) are hard lines from the trans all the way to the radiator and back. Most ATF leaks I have seen on GM's of this vintage involve either the pan gasket, slip yoke (driveline) seal, shift rod seal, or possibly the pump/TC seal. It is relatively uncommon to have a hard line malfunction.... on newer cars that often use rubber hose for the ATF cooler lines this is more common to see.

Given the information on the "pot hole" (must have been something of serious noteworthy size to have stuck in his mind) then we have the real possibility that the pan is punctured, etc.

GD

 

Most common leak I see on those transmissions is, the full tube seal.

Yes, you fill it through the tube where the dipstick is, with a funnel of course.

The fill/dipstick tube is about an inch dia; goes into the transmission case at the front right corner; is above the fluid level when running, but below the level when not running. It has a kind of boot thing that is notorious for failing.

Driving over a pothole though, sounds like you might have put a hole in the pan. Best thing to do is take it to the quarter car wash, put it up on jack stands, get up underneath it with the wand, and wash everything down around there real good; then once it's clean, the leak should be fairly obvious.

 

Sadly I don’t own a car jack (yet) so what I did was tape my phone to a stick and record underneath.

I couldn’t find any holes on the actual pan, but I did see where it’s leaking from.
Its leaking only from the upper left side of the pan, all of the other sides and nuts are clean.

The leak is very slow too. I’ve actually been driving it for a few days now. It only looses about less than 1/4 of a quart of fluid every day.

I’m not sure if it’s the nut that is loose or maybe the gasket got damaged? I’ve attached a picture from the recording.

Thanks again for any and all help!

 

Well there's the problem right there - you drive a 33 year old car and don't own a jack and basic tools.

Get a floor jack and invest in some basic hand tools. Trust me you will need them.

GD

 

So I gotta ask ; is this a new to you car ? If yes , then I can tell you with all certainty that your new to you car has had a transmission leak for a while before you bought it . See that RTV silicone "Spooge" looking stuff that's been slathered all around your transmission's dipstick tube ? That's someone's hack attempt at a repair , and I don't believe the pothole is the exclusive fault of your leak . Oh , and , for your sake I hope it actually IS silicone , from the looks of it "JB Weld" is an outside possibility , and you'd best pray it ain't that

 

Looks to me like they spooged the fill tube boot, and that's where it's (still, in spite of the hack job) coming from.

Change the fill tube boot.