np208 leaks - best fluid?

[will e]

My '81 wag has a leak from the TC.

What's the best fluid to use?

It appears to be leaking from the drain plug. I tried to tighten it a little but it still leaks. How tight can i make this? I do some wrenching so an answer like 'about as tight as a spark plug' or 'about as tight as a wheel lug' will do.

What is the case made of? I really don't want to strip it. If it still leaks do you all have any suggestions? Teflon tape?

My oil sending unit leaks too. If I can get rid of these two leaks I will be drip free!!!!!
Then I can park on peoples nice clean driveways and watch the look on their face :)

thanks for the help

[ January 19, 2002: Message edited by: will e ]</p>

[joe]

The case is aluminum so don't get too over zealous with the torque. 18ft-lb is all it should be. You might try a 'little' bit of pipe dope on "clean" threads if it won't seal. If it's been cross-threaded you're in need of a heli-coil repair kit.
You don't say "what" x-case you have but if it's the 219 it came with ATF Dexron type II,III. If you have the 208 it prolly came with 10w-30 motor oil in it in 81. That was changed later(in 81 or 82) to ATF Dexron type. Even if yours came with motor oil I would use ATF in it.

[joe]

Opps...I was going by the first lines in your post rather than the subject header. I guess you did say which x-case you have smile.gif

[will e]

Thanks joe.

The oil that is leaking looks just like that: oil. Definitely not red like AT fluid.

The owners manual said to change the manual transmission and the TC oil at the same time kind of indicating that they use the same fluid. (My truck has an AT). They show my TC and how to fill and check but do not specify a fluid.

There is another section for QT TC changing. It specifies 10W 30 motor oil.

THe section that shows all of the AMC lubricants does not show anything for the TC. (Maybe I should go to my AMC dealer and ask them ha ha ha).

Thanks for the advice on the drain plug. I thought I read that it was an aluminum case. The leak is just a very small drip so I don't think I am cross threaded and I sure as heck am not going to strip it!

Any thoughts on the easiest way to get the fluid in that little fill hole while I am lying on my back on the garage floor?

[ January 19, 2002: Message edited by: will e ]

[ January 19, 2002: Message edited by: will e ]</p>

[joe]

Huh...I went back and looked in the TSM's and yeah even the early 219's ran motor oil. AMC called for motor oil even in their light weight transmissions S-4, T-5 etc but those and all the x-cases switched to ATF in 82. Same gear boxes just different lube. I'd go with the ATF.
You can get a pump(any parts store) that fits on a gallon jug and works like a mustard/catsup pump in your less-than-finer restauarants. It comes with a hose and a little clip that keeps the hose in the fill hole. Pretty easy to use. If the truck is sitting on a level surface just pump till fluid comes back out of the fill hole.

[will e]

thanks joe.

I think I will go with the ATF.

Do you see a problem with the fact that regular motor oil was in there? How 'drained' out should I get it? Is there a problem with them mixing?


Good to know that I could use either in an emergency.

Thanks for your input. I really tried to find the answer myself in the owner manual but sometimes you gotta ask your friends

[joe]

Will'e you'll want to get it as drained as possible. I'd drive it for awhile to get the juice good and hot and then drain it and go back in the house, have a beverage and let it drip out.
Leaving a couple of tbs of oil in there won't hurt anything though.

[joe]

Oh..BTW that's a really nice looking 81 Wag! I lean more toward the earlier rigs myself but an 81 w/o the tacky country club-shelf paper stuck all over it looks really nice smile.gif

[will e]

thanks for the compliment.

It has just a small 'wood' trim going down the side. She's in real good shape. ZERO rust and no dents. Been hit in the back once, bent the bumper. All the electronics work except the cruise control

110K and in pretty good shape. I picked it up cheap (Free) about two years ago. Tranny, carbs, tires, power steering pump, AC compressor, water pump (easier to replace than I thought it would be) etc. Etc. Etc. Needs a radiator and the seats done.

Hopefully I will have some time to put in a lift kit. I don't take it out much now but 4" and some 31" should make it a pretty good trail rig.

What do you think about putting atf in a TC that spent 110K with motor oil? Do you think it might be a little too light for it?

[joe]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by will e:
What do you think about putting atf in a TC that spent 110K with motor oil? Do you think it might be a little too light for it?<hr></blockquote>
The only possible drawbacks I could imagine is possibly the seals "may?" start to leak but I don't know that. I would suspect it only to be a prob if the x-case has been neglected and you've got 100,000 miles worth of old thick oil and gunk and sludge packed up in the seals. I've heard the same theory though about never run syn oil in an old motor but I ran it in an original 360 in a 69 F-250 and it never leaked a drop in 5 years...&lt;shrug&gt;.
If the juice has been changed every 25,000 I don't see a prob. ATF is thinner than 10w-30 motor oil(I think in the 5w range?) but it disapates heat really well.
If it were me I'd go ATF but since you're in AZ(read: really hot) maybe you'd be better sticking with motor oil but I don't really know that cause all 82+ Jeeps down in AZ run ATF in there x-cases so it shouldn't be a prob. Either way you go Will'e you should be fine. If you don't want to temp fate by all means just run motor oil again. It's worked well for 110,000 miles it should continue to...

[Lugnut]

The drain plug on my NP208 has a copper gasket. But then your leak may be from the rear seal. Mine has a little seepage from there and it's not really detectable at first glance.