1994 5.8l E40D
So my trucks just been hanging out in the garage while other vehicles get driven and I notice a little puddle forming just below the trans, my question is : there is a plastic/rubber stopper that it looks like it seeping out of, is this plug supposed to be there or was it just a quick fix by the PO? Also can someone tell me what size bolts are right above the first bend in the exhaust (before it goes to the middle of the truck) almost even with the back of the front tire on the drivers side, I guess taking a picture would help as to which ones I'm referring to so I guess I'll be back in a minute with pics of the plug and the two missing bolts.

Plug

Missing bolts above exhaust

Two more missing bolt above the transmission, don't know if something is supposed to go here or if the bolts just fell out. Any help would def. be appreciated.

 

that plug is supposed to be there

 

Don't Know about the bolts but, yes that plug is supposed to be there. Mine has been out ( shoved it inside the housing) for some years now. I think its to allow access to something, not to hold in fluid. That's coming from somewhere else.

 

The rubber plug is a dust cover for the inspection hole. The last picture looks like the holes for the bolts that hold the manual linkage and plate to the side of the trans. No 4x4 then no biggy, they're there just in case.

For the missing bolts are you sure they are missing and not broken off in the holes? Look at the same area on the passenger side, belt housing bolt positions are usually pretty symmetrical so there should be some on the opposite side. You could always take one of the other bolts out and take it to a hardware store to get the same size and thread grade 8 bolts. I'll look at mine later and snap a couple pics for you if you need it.

 

Thanks guys.

No they aren't broken of I can see into the threads, I wasn't sure about removing any other bolts to try them there but I guess since I'm not driving it I will do that today.

Also yes, no 4x4 so then that spot is supposed to be empty. I was like wtf is going on with all of the missing crap but at least that wasn't supposed to be there.

It seems the trans has been dripping for a while as there was all sorts of build up on the exhaust pipe, bet I scraped enough off of it to fill a coffee can just from the mount to the housing where the exhaust bends to the back of the truck.

 

Just so you know those two missing bolts on the bell housing, check for bolts from the front side. From the back on mine they look empty but its two short bolts from the front that hold the plate to the bellhousibg

 

That plug is just a cover on the bell housing. Inside is the torque converter. If I were you id pull out the plug real fast and do a visual inspection of the inside. you shouldn't be leaking fluid from in there, maybe the drain plug on the converter is loose or stripped.

 

Called it, you think they would have put in longer bolts.

Now to track down this pesky leak...

 

That plug is for when you service the transmission you can drain the bell housing as well as the pan.

It's normal. If it's seeping like that - next tranny service get a new one put in.

 

Um. No. On pretty much everything you just said. Yes, you can use it during a service....to drain the TC. The bell housing doesn't hold fluid so it doesn't need to be drained and unless the e4od has some feature I missed you can't drain the pan through the bell housing. Getting a new dust cover does not fix his leak.