93 Alpha 1 gen 2 oil leak

[markhodges78]

ok so I noticed that my reservoir was low on oil so I decided to do a pressure test.. I unhooked the reservoir and installed a gauge and tire valve there... I put 10 psi in the lower and it held over night so I left it for a few days and it dropped 5psi I figured that could be from temp change .. but when I lowered the drive I noticed that oil was in the prop area and it came from the water intake...Any suggesting's on where and why it would hold pressure but oil leak from these locations ?

 

[Rick Stephens]

Can't do a pressure test with oil in the drive. Needs to be empty. You are pushing out very viscous oil - slowly - instead of hissing out air.

 

[achris]

Does nobody read the stickies??????

 

[markhodges78]

Can't do a pressure test with oil in the drive. Needs to be empty. You are pushing out very viscous oil - slowly - instead of hissing out air.

Sorry the drive had been drained before the pressure test ..... and it held pressure over night so I left the gauge on and it dropped to 5 psi after a few days ..... my ? Is.... my understanding is that the over night test was sufficient in saying drive was not leaking but before the test was performed there was oil in the prop area and the water inlet so I was asking for you guys thoughts...

 

[santino44]

1. Remove the drive.
2. Check the selector shaft seals and the seals under the water pump on the shaft.

 

[markhodges78]

Yes agree seals under water pump or upper gear housing seals but why if holds pressure over night .... I conducted the test again last night 15 psi No oil in drive and (10 hours later) this morning gauge still showing 15psi

1. Remove the drive.
2. Check the selector shaft seals and the seals under the water pump on the shaft

 

[markhodges78]

Does nobody read the stickies??????

View attachment 350273

achris trust me thr stickys are the first place I go but I wasnt really looking for an answer to where its leaking so much as to the fact that it held pressure overnight and then I would check it randomly over a few days and it dropped 5psi within a few days .... my initial thoughts was temperature but the reason I was checking was due to seeing the resovoir low and noticing oil coming from prop area and oil coming from water intake area... also the drive only had 1qt of oil when drained ... so I guess should I be worried or should I refill it and run it .....

Thanks Mark

 

[achris]

Yes agree seals under water pump or upper gear housing seals but why if holds pressure over night .... I conducted the test again last night 15 psi No oil in drive and (10 hours later) this morning gauge still showing 15psi

Because you don't understand how lip seals work. More pressure, better seal. If you have a very slight leak, use LESS pressure! It even states this in that stickie, if you'd read it.

Chris.......

 

[markhodges78]

Because you don't understand how lip seals work. More pressure, better seal. If you have a very slight leak, use LESS pressure! It even states this in that stickie, if you'd read it.

Chris.......

Ok I do understand lip seals and I understand more pressure less leak however what I don't understand is that it holds 10psi for several days then it dropped to 5psi and stayed there for over a week now granted on hot 100 degree days it would go up to 9-10 psi ... so I guess my next step is to put 3 psi and see where im at ....

 

[Rick Stephens]

You know you have a leak. That your current tests don't show doesn't change that. No test procedure is perfect, especially pressure and vacuum testing. IMHO, you should not use the drive until you find and fix. Otherwise you will be replacing toasted upper gears and bearings.

 

[markhodges78]

Ok so put around 3psi or so in the unit last night 2 hours later it was still holding... I checked it this am and it had dropped to almost nothing which presumably is due to the temp since it dropped like 20 degrees over night .... .... but when I got home this evening it was back up to where it was originally... so my ? is do I have a leak ?

 

[santino44]

Ok so put around 3psi or so in the unit last night 2 hours later it was still holding... I checked it this am and it had dropped to almost nothing which presumably is due to the temp since it dropped like 20 degrees over night .... .... but when I got home this evening it was back up to where it was originally... so my ? is do I have a leak ?

If the fluid level drops, it's up to you to decide if you have a fluid leak.