Red oil on transaxle....

[GXP_vince]

Hey all, I have an issue with the GXP and I do not know what it is. The car drives fine, no A/C though and is leaking reddish oil onto the transaxle (I can see it from the drivers side of the car) and onto the ground. I do not know where it is coming from though- can you guys give me a clue on what it may be?

Not moving the car until I know what is going on.

[crash93ssei]

Red oil would be transmission fluid, no idea where it would be coming from though dripping ON to the trans, usually it would leak under and you would see it on the ground, but not on top of it.

Any chance for a pic?

[GXP_vince]

Hey Crash! The A/C quit working... it blows just not cold air. Would this have anything to do with the oil? I took a picture last night didn't come out to good, so I will take another right now.

[GXP_vince]

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/35389955/image.jpeg

this location is below the brake booster more center of the car, Looks to be an engine mount there too.. Left Side of the picture is towards the drivers side wheel.

[crash93ssei]

Definitely odd... I snagged up a GXP to part out, I will go out and take a look at that area on it and see if I can find anything there that would leak fluid. Almost looks though like it is a bad seal on the shifter rod letting fluid seep out over time. Is it dripping a lot or just a few drips here and there?

BTW, good to see you around here again, hope all is and has been well!

[GXP_vince]

Thanks man! Its tripping a lot.. why would a tranny leak affect my A/C though. :/

[GXP_vince]

Well, I am gunna take it to a mechanic on Monday see what he says.

The thing only has 60k on it.

[crash93ssei]

I would think it is just a random coincidence that the A/C quit, probably a slow refrigerant leak. As for the fluid leak, I looked in that area and didn't see anything there that could leak other then maybe the trans vent which is close by but a little further up front or the seal for the shifter rod. See what you can do to clean the area as good as you can, but try not to use a pressure washer or any solvents directly where the shifter rod enters the trans just in case it is the issue. This should give a clear view as to what is leaking when it leaks again.

How fast is it leaking? Is it a steady drip or just a drip here and there every now and then?

[myfirstbonnie]

Are you sure it is not the dirty color of the orange dexcool?

[GXP_vince]

myfirstbonny! Hey, so we are looking at it right now.. Checked trans level cold=good... Coolant level LOW... It is dexcool inside the coolant tank... Where would it leak from back there? I appreciate your guys help!

[myfirstbonnie]

Not familiar with the N*, but I do recognize the dex.

[GXP_vince]

It does look orangish... Thanks for bringing that up. I still don't see where it is coming from though.

[crash93ssei]

I never even thought about it being dex. There is a coolant crossover that runs from one side of the block to the other under the throttle body and I have heard of those gaskets leaking, that could be the source.

[CMNTMXR57]

1) R-134a is colorless as it is a inert gas.
2) A/C systems use a tracer die that is usually pigmented with a neon'ish color. usually green. This way by using a black light (or similar device), leaks can be easily found.
3) It is a coolant leak. If I recall, there are two cooling lines that come out from the water pump (which is on the front bank on the drivers side), and run back over the transaxle.
4) If it is not a bad/loose hose or bad fitting, and is leaking from somewhere on the engine. Go to a GM parts department and purchase these (part # 12378254);



If it is a hose (old? cracked?), worn out, or rusted tension clamp, or bad fitting, fix as neccessary.

[GXP_vince]

I appreciate you guys. Thanks!

[GXP_vince]

Just an update on this situation..

Coolant is coming from the crossover pipe in the rear of the engine: quoted 6.5hr/labor
Rear valve cover leaking (i'll tighten these a bit - what is the correct torque?)
Oil Switch - Quoted 3hrs
Engine oil Cooler Lines leaking
Oil pan leaking 4.5hrs (really!?!)

Now they have replaced the front mount once before but I believe I am getting symptoms from it being broken again- Please tell me if I am wrong;
-clunking noise when cold (sounds like something is hitting the firewall)
-shift from drive to reverse clunk, and vice verses
-engine moves quite a bit when shifting reverse to drive
-hitting bumps in the road will make it clunk also.

Could any of the above problems (cross over lines, oil lines, ect) be cause by a malfunctioning motor mount with the shifting of the engine)

[GXP_vince]

Another update... Went to the shop checked out where everything is leaking. Everything is leaking it seems..

He quoted like 7 hours for the oil pan gasket... Does it really take that long to do an oil pan gasket.. Sounds ridiculous to me.
I'll tighten that first before I change it see if that helps. Rear VC is leaking a bit. Oil lines leaking also.

The thing I really wanted to check out was the front motor mount. It was on the lift so we can view it from underneath when someone was power braking it. It was moving about 2-3inches each time power braking it and shifting Drive to reverse. Not cracked, leaking or ripped. Is it possible to break without tearing? Keep in mind this shop did the repair before. He told me "I don't know whats happening" I then said I guess I will take it to a different shop. He finally agreed to call GM on Monday see what they have been doing for the Caddy's.

Its really getting to me that this thing keeps clunking when I shift it to reverse. Coolant leaks, oil leaks fine I will deal with that this is pissing me off.

[GXP_vince]

To add to the issues that I am having already- My Coolant temp gauge is also acting up. Instead of pulling and putting in a new cluster panel I was wondering if any of you solved this issue via OBD II gauges? I was looking a scantool http://www.scangauge.com/products/scangaugeii/ But interested in what you all came up with.

[GXP_vince]

I am now just updating for others that may be in my spot and will benefit from my situation and what I did:
Both front and back mounts replaced. $626 the front had some what of an warranty on it (they charged me 273 for the fronts). It does clunk a little bit still but only over bumps (and not from park to reverse) so sounds like that will be the struts/strut mounts. I will deal with that later.

I added those pellets to my coolant also. Seemed to help I havent seen any puddles lately.

Next is the oil lines and oil pan. Oil pan doesnt look to difficult to do, I dont know what I need to do for those oil connections though.

[GXP_vince]

I also have the front and back mount in my garage. I may cut open the front mount to see if there is damage/stress indicators inside. It wasn't torn at all.