Trans oil pan?

[JViking]

I'm starting to develop a relationship with my '92 XJ 4.0, unlike any relationship I've had with any other car I really enjoy this old dame

In the process of getting to know her, I crawled under the car (first time ever underneath a car) and I noticed that there was (to me at least) a lot of oil. I've tried to find out what it is I'm looking at under there, but I'm not sure.

It seems like a pan or something located in front of the transfer case and behind the oil pan. Transmission fluid pan? It's flat and its screwed on from the bottom.

The oil leakage(?) is located in the back of this thing, about where there's a bar that goes across the car.

Sorry about the poor description, just know the basics about cars and after 30 years in Norway, English isn't my primary language anymore....

I'm not sure if this is a problem or an old problem that the previous owner had and fixed, there's not drippings under the car when I stop.

I guess I'll just clean the area and check after driving if it appears again, but I would like to know what this is. If it's the transmission fluid pan, Haynes says to first tighten the bolts and if this doesn't work change the gasket, guess I'll do that unless I'm wrong in terms of what this is.

Thanks!

[praisethelowered]

What color is the fluid? Transmission fluid is red in color. If the oil is brown ar black like motor oil, it may be oil blowing tward the back of the vehicle as you drive.

[JViking]

Originally Posted by praisethelowered

What color is the fluid? Transmission fluid is red in color. If the oil is brown ar black like motor oil, it may be oil blowing tward the back of the vehicle as you drive.

The oil is black, but that might be because of all the dirt. I wiped the area clean in order to check on it later after driving a while. Hopefully it's something that the previous owner fixed, at least there's no oil under the car where I park.

[sector95]

Good idea about wiping it down.... see what happens.

You are describing the transmission pan... should be a drain plug in it too.

You probably could use a filter kit; it comes with a new transmission filter and a pan gasket. You could try tightening the rear bolts but I suspect the gasket has dried out. If you wrench too hard on those bolts all you'll end up doing is warping or dimpling the pan around the bolt holes.... then it won't seal well even with a new gasket. You can take it into a shop and have them do the filter/pan service or do it yourself. How well do you really wanna get to know your "old dame"?


mike

[Saudade]

My '88 seemed like it had a transmission leak in that area as well but the oil didn't smell like transmission fluid. After clearing everything from the mount forward to the front of the oil pan (this was an extremely messy job), I discovered it was my rear main seal that was leaking. The engine oil was blown back onto the transmission pan by the wind as I drove until it dripped off the back. With everything cleaned, I could see the trail of fresh oil.

I had jacked up the car on one side and used some strong degreaser, an old brush and my hose. It took several passes to get down to "clean metal". At least, everything was pretty clean for changing the seal.