Found a (red) puddle!!

[mnessari]

As title states found a decent size puddle under car I daily drive. Looks like it’s coming from the hose that mounted on one of the oil pan bolts. Please see picture what hose is this? Trans cooler? Help!

 

[TerryA]

If it goes to the radiator it’s a trans cooler hose. Are you sure what is leaking? Trans Fluid or motor oil. Was the puddle red in color or just dark ?

 

[mnessari]

If it goes to the radiator it’s a trans cooler hose. Are you sure what is leaking? Trans Fluid or motor oil. Was the puddle red in color or just dark ?

I haven’t had a chance to follow the line but puddle was red

 

[gsxr]

That is the high-pressure hose for the SLS (self-leveling system), from the tandem pump to the hard line on the passenger side. It is VERY unlikely the hose is leaking. And, SLS fluid is yellow/clear, not red.

Much more likely is that you have a power steering fluid leak (this will be red if ATF was used for power steering fluid). The P/S system is a very common leak. Check the P/S fluid level, it's probably low. Search the forum for details, first check is the short hose between the reservoir and the top of the tandem pump.

 

[mnessari]

That is the high-pressure hose for the SLS (self-leveling system), from the tandem pump to the hard line on the passenger side. It is VERY unlikely the hose is leaking. And, SLS fluid is yellow/clear, not red.

Much more likely is that you have a power steering fluid leak (this will be red if ATF was used for power steering fluid). The P/S system is a very common leak. Check the P/S fluid level, it's probably low. Search the forum for details, first check is the short hose between the reservoir and the top of the tandem pump.

Thank you for the info! The short hose behind/below reservoir was replaced 1 year ago and checked that out with no leaks. I wiped the hose I have a picture of, and it immediately gets wet as soon as I let the vehicle idle. I’ll check fluid levels when I get home. I don’t think my car has sls.

 

[gsxr]

What year / model car do you have? All E500E have SLS as standard equipment.

 

[mnessari]

Sorry, it’s a 95 e420. I’m not cool enough for a 500. Not yet at least

 

[gsxr]

Hmm. I'm confused... the ATF cooler hoses don't have clamps, and I see 2 clamps in your picture. If that photo is from your car, can you post the VIN? Or send it via PM? Or look it up on on LastVIN to check for SLS in the datacard?

 

[mnessari]

Hmm. I'm confused... the ATF cooler hoses don't have clamps, and I see 2 clamps in your picture. If that photo is from your car, can you post the VIN? Or send it via PM? Or look it up on on LastVIN to check for SLS in the datacard?

That is my bad, it’s raining here in socal so I couldn’t get under, but there is a similar hose, mounted on the passenger side of oil pan that’s super wet. I messed up and got that pic from an oil level sensor write up but didn’t notice multiple clamps/mounting points to oil pan

 

[mnessari]

That is my bad, it’s raining here in socal so I couldn’t get under, but there is a similar hose, mounted on the passenger side of oil pan that’s super wet. I messed up and got that pic from an oil level sensor write up but didn’t notice multiple clamps/mounting points to oil pan

 

[gsxr]

Ah... got it. The photo in your first post is from a 500E with SLS.

The photo in post #10 above is the transmission cooler hose. Replace both of 'em if they are old or original. OE or OEM (Conti). Cheap and easy, but messy...

 

[nocfn]

In the mean time, wipe down the hose sufficiently, give the upper end of the hose connection a good torque on both lines.

 

[mnessari]

In the mean time, wipe down the hose sufficiently, give the upper end of the hose connection a good torque on both lines.

Thank you all for the info, the hose was the culprit. It’s replaced, now I’m kinda stumped. If a full drain (pan and torque converter) is 8 quarts, how much fluid do I need for just a drain and refill if just draining the trans pan? 2-3? I can’t measure how much I drain due to driving unknown miles with the leak.

 

[TerryA]

@mnessari,

A little trans fluid goes a long way. If I were you I would warm up the car drive it slowly a couple of blocks. Park it on level ground, shift it through all of the gears and check the dipstick level. Add about 1/2 qt at a time until you’re up to middle of the dipstick markers. Test drive it again and check the trans oil level until your satisfied.

Good Luck

 

[gsxr]

Wait - did you drain the pan, and now need to refill only the pan?

Or do you want to try and add a little to make up for what leaked out?

 

[nocfn]

if it were me, I would accept that the genie is out of the bottle. With no records to rely on, I would drain the Torque Converter, replace the filter with the SL style, add a magnet to the pan and refill accordingly. Starting from a known quantity is best. YYMV

 

[mnessari]

Wait - did you drain the pan, and now need to refill only the pan?

Or do you want to try and add a little to make up for what leaked out?

I drained the pain thinking it would be easier to only because my trans fluid, filter, etc was done less than a year ago

 

[gsxr]

I'm not sure exactly how much drains from the pan only. Roughly 2-3 quarts? Try adding a couple quarts and then check the dipstick (with engine running), add until it's near the 30C temp marks (if your dipstick has cold + hot markings), or a half-inch below the MIN mark (if your dipstick only has one set of marks for 80C temp). That will get you into the right ballpark.

Then you'll need to check / adjust the level so it's near MAX at full operating temp, after driving 20-30 minutes at freeway speeds in summer (longer in cool temps / winter).

 

[mnessari]

I'm not sure exactly how much drains from the pan only. Roughly 2-3 quarts? Try adding a couple quarts and then check the dipstick (with engine running), add until it's near the 30C temp marks (if your dipstick has cold + hot markings), or a half-inch below the MIN mark (if your dipstick only has one set of marks for 80C temp). That will get you into the right ballpark.

Then you'll need to check / adjust the level so it's near MAX at full operating temp, after driving 20-30 minutes at freeway speeds in summer (longer in cool temps / winter).

Thank you! I put in about 2 quarts, I was on the low side even warm and added another .5 and brought where I needed to be. On a side note while I tried doing some cleanup of all the trans fluid I found a vacuum line melted on the the passenger side down pipe coming from manifold. Traced it down to the EVS on one end and a black vacuum line with a black rubber adapter on the passenger side of trans mission dangling with a melted white piece of vacuum line attached to it. This car will literally not have something that does not need attention…. BUT I LOVE THIS DAMN THING!

 

[emerydc8]

I think that‘s the line that goes to the upshift delay module on the passenger side of the transmission and delays upshift when cold.

 

[mnessari]

Yes! You are absolutely right! That’s exactly where Jt goes

 

[mnessari]

Yes! You are absolutely right! That’s exactly where Jt goes

I swear this car is worse than a high maintenance girlfriend! I got some trans fluid leaking from rear of the passenger side of trans pan now. Overfilled? Did I warp pan? I’ll check to see if there’s anything above that may leak?

 

[gsxr]

The rear passenger corner of the transmission is sort of the "low point" of the gearbox, so a leak further forward somewhere can drip at the back corner. Unfortunately there's no easy way to locate leaks other than degreasing everything, then stuffing clean paper towels at each possible leak point, and driving until you find which paper towel turns red. Loads of fun.

 

[mnessari]

The rear passenger corner of the transmission is sort of the "low point" of the gearbox, so a leak further forward somewhere can drip at the back corner. Unfortunately there's no easy way to locate leaks other than degreasing everything, then stuffing clean paper towels at each possible leak point, and driving until you find which paper towel turns red. Loads of fun.

Understood, thank you. I’m gonna get under the car and check the dip stick o-ring and etc. Let see what happens

 

[gsxr]

The dipstick O-ring is not a common leak point, but is easy to rule out since it's forward and high up. The Bowden cable O-ring likes to leak, as do the B1 and B2 covers, and the kickdown seals... pretty much the whole stupid transmission is a leak point. Mercedes did a good job with the replacement 722.6 electronic trans, almost all external seals were eliminated. Much better design.