My bolts arent backing off, in fact the leaks are through the bolts. I never use gasket sealer (Permatex) or RTV on the tranny case because it's aluminum and I don't want to scar it. It's always worked out fine for me before. I finally put some Permatex #2 on the bolts and threaded them back in. That held them in place and cut the drips down to a couple of drips total. I only find a drip about the size of a nickel, but that's too much for me. Before that my garage floor was clean, now I have to keep a board under my truck, but the loss is not enough to register on the dipstick.

 

Hmm. Another good thought lol.

Maybe I need to spray the undercarriage down with purple power and then wash it all off. The entire underside is saturated with ATF at the moment.

 

unlike my old chevy that leaked t-fuild like a sieve, my 01 has been really good to not leak. i've used cheap cork gaskets from autozone, and good rubber gaskets from napa and have not had any leaks in several changes.

a couple things that i think contribute to the leaks are bent/warped pans and indented bolt holes from overtightening. check the pan lip on a flat surface, and use a hammer to flatten out all the bolt holes. the pan lip gets warped from loosening one end and letting all the weight pull down on it. installing a drain plug stops that problem, and also reduces the mess.

 

Hmm, lol I'm gonna have to print this page out lol.

I do know that I have managed to scrape the pan a couple of times, and I don't know how the rebuilder that took care of the build treated it. For all I know, it could have an ounce of RTV on one side and that is what's leaking. Hopefully, I will be able to drop the pan tomorrow and see what is going on. I also have a brass drain valve that I'm putting in.

Oh, 2ndgen, Thanks for the sig.

 

The next time I take it off I may look at the straightness of the pan. I have always used the method of dropping one side to let it leak out and never had a problem. I guess they are probably using cheaper, thinner aluminum now. I've thought about putting a drain in mine also but didn't want to have a leak or cause an internal problem. Where did you get your drain plug DV? You should create a DIY for installing a drain plug since you have experience.

Laramie, I have been holding my tongue trying not to say anything about that. I don't know what possessed you to quote that particular bit of my humor, but you are one crazy SOB, and you're welcome.

 

Here is what I got for the pan: http://www.quickoildrainvalve.com/Pr...oductCode=F106

I don't think it really needs a DIY on how to do this since there is already a DIY for a drain bolt.

On that Quote, it's not breaking any Forum rules, and it's hilarious, but not as much if people haven't read the whole thread that it was in.

 

here's some good info.
i got a universal drain plug at my local auto parts store. it was about $7-8.
i mounted mine in the center of one of those square panels, sort of in the middle, and away from the solenoids at the rear. i was afraid the plug might touch one of them if i got underneath it.
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/trans.php

 

This makes me kinda scared to change my fluid and filter this week...
NAPA has the gasket and filter in stock for the 46RE @ $13.
My pan is leaking so I need to change it, although it just started recently.

Also, AllData says ATF+3. Should I use ATF+3 or ATF+4?
Additionally, it says ATF+ for the transfer case...

 

IIRC the approved fluid that is used by most all here is the ATF-4.

 

ATF+4 Only. Anything else will affect the shifting, and most likely cause TC shudder.

I took that Wix back and got the right filter, to rolls of shop towels and got $9.xx back. The Wix kit is $17.xx if anyone wants to entertain the idea of using it. The filter that I go this time was $6.xx.