ATF leak: C36 300TE
 

This is on a C36 power-train into a W124 wagon.

After a 200-mile round trip, I noticed smoke coming from ATF burning on the exhaust near the first O2-sensor.

I saw small drips (nothing steady with engine on) on the passenger side of the tranny pan. But no source.

None of the two tranny cooler hoses were leaking, and the tranny dipstick tube where it mates with the actual tranny was also dry.

I did notice that the plastic vacuum components looked wet on the passenger side of the tranny.

I checked the ATF tranny level, and it was normal.

I cleaned-up everything with "Purple" degreaser, hosed her down, and took her for a 10-minute drive to evaporate all the water.

I checked, and nothing yet.

My service tech did change the tranny fluid (including torque converter), filter, and gasket about a week PRIOR to the trip, and during that week of communting i(24-miles per day round-trip), I haven't seen this smoke until the 200-mile trip.

He commented on how clean the ATF fluid was, and how dry the tranny was.

BTW: the tranny shifts 100%, and no slipping.

Any ideas ?

Should I add ATF tranny U/V dye ?

Would overfilling cause this ?

Thanks,
:-) neil

PS: I run Swepco 714 20wt. ATF fluid per the Porsche 928 automatic racers . . .

Sounds like over filling.

On a COLD trans the level should be 10mm below the bottom line!

Thanks Doc.

I mentioned it to my tech, and he agrees that he probably overfilled by 1-pint.

I drained out 1-pint, we shall see.

:-) neil