Doctor_T

I'm new to the Audi World, and with my recent purchase of a 91 V8 Quattro, I dove right in.

I noticed that it leaks transmission fluid from (I believe) the front seal. My questions are;

1: How difficult is it to change this seal?
2: Can I add something like Lucas stop slip as a temporary help and where do I add this?

I know the transmission and the final drive take separate. And I don't want to go dumping fluid into thing that don't need it. I'm just trying to be cautious with things, since this is my new baby.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

yodasfro

Are you sure it's the transmission leaking and not the rear main seal on the motor?
What do you mean by front seal? I would avoid adding any snake oil like lucas stop slip.
Is it gear oil or ATF?

Doctor_T

It's not the seal at all I've found. There is a small hole where the fluid seems to be coming from. Attached are pictures of this. It's looks like the metal was blown from the inside out. I'm pretty sure it's ATF coming out of the hole but there is also oil underneath as well. Probably from me spilling (hopefully).

The pictures are taken from the drivers side, if that helps to orient you.

yodasfro

Looks like the the rear main seal to me. Either way the motor or tranny have to be removed to fix it properly.

Doctor_T

Is it possible that this is a purpose placed hole? For relief of pressure if the transmission is over filled? I had a couple of people that I work with say that it's possible this is what is for. Hopefully so, would certainly make my life easier.

yodasfro

No it's just a weep hole in the bellhousing. Nothing to do with pressure relief or overfill relief.
If you don't have a tranny dip stick get one and check the level if you are concerned with it.
Quick and easy thing to do would be to drain the pan and then re-fill w/ 4 quarts of the mobil 1 synthetic atf that will make the ATF level correct.

Doctor_T

That sounds more like what they said. Where do I add the fluid once it is drained? I didn't think it was the shifter since the final drive requires 90w or something like it?

Doctor_T

And thank you for the good news and all the info. The yoda profile pic is well deserved.

yodasfro

ATF fills through the ATF dip stick tube.

toml99

I'll second the drain tranny/refill with 4 quarts if nothing else to get some fresh fluid in there/see how nasty it is. For lack of dipstick, it's 22-1/2" as I recall from top of fill tube to middle of low/high mark on dipstick and can be measured with a piece of wire. All the V8 parts cars I've bought were because of dead tranny/low fluid. If you're sure it's coming out of the weep hole, I'll also second the rear main as pretty much every V8 I've ever had in my possesion has at least weeped, if not leaked there. If you intend to deal with rear main seal, I'd pull motor/tranny as a unit rather than trying to remove tranny in place. Remember that all the hard to get at seals are probably original, and are at they're usable lifespan. Most of the oil leaks tend to end up in that general area(distributors/passenger cam cover thingy near passenger distributor, and the ever present NLA rear drivers breather hose. Car originally was said to hold 10 quarts, then was amended to 8.5 or so, but they never reissued a new dipstick, so run yours at the bottom of dipstick/switch to 20/50 if you don't live in a really cold place and the oil leaks might just stop....Ha. Good luck, and welcome to the tribe....Tom