Rear main seal leak ATF?

[daantjie]

Hi guys
I've had a slow drip from the bellhousing for a while now, but the colour is largely red, as in ATF.  Is this typical of a rear main seal leak?
I would have thought the leak would be mainly engine oil
Cheers

[karmann_20v]

Hey Daniel, you are correct an RMS leak would be motor oil. I think I read somewhere (W126 forum maybe) that there the torque converter has a drain drain plug, the converter being in the bell housing a loose drain plug could be a potential cause for your issue.

[daantjie]

Thanks Florin this is a good tip, I totally forgot about the drain plug, hmmm, now I'll have to check it out.  That would be much easier to fix than a rear main seal

[karmann_20v]

No worries! I hope it's something as simple as that. Removing transmissions is never a fun job without a car elevator and transmission hoist.

[daantjie]

Nope, torque converter plug is good.  I think uncle Kent nails it here, I am pretty sure the leak is from the front of the trans, from either the torque converter seal or large o ring(or both) he shows in this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYs-5i3wgUE

Oh well, at least ATF has some detergents in it, so I'll just keep wiping it down   No way I am pulling the trans on this bad boy just for a minor leak...

Cheers

[Jed]

Ok, I give up.  whats with the orange juice?

[daantjie]

Ok, I give up.  whats with the orange juice?

I think it's just some grampa humour, I recall in one of the other clips he talks about just having a nice drink on hand while you tinker