[jung4x4]

95.5 Tacoma SX, V6, manual tranny. "J"-style transfer case shifter.

It seems that my transfer case is leaking gear oil from the top and stinking up the cab. I took off the shifter boot covers and checked everything and popped out the shifter. Everything looked OK (EDIT: as far as the shifter seat). What seals the top and prevents oil from coming out? I didn't see a seal or anything.

EDIT: It is indeed a leak from the transfer case as all the oil running out from the top and down the sides demonstrates.

-Adam
NMTTORA

 

[AK98Taco]

There is no gasket or seal between the shifter base and the case, but there is an "oil defrector" which is supposed to keep oil from splashing up out of the shift rail area.

What I did when I installed my twin-stick was apply form-a-gasket to the shifter base and the top of the case. It still leaks a little from time to time. I need to lock-tite the shifter bolts.

 

[Oily]

Hmmmm..............
Did not even see any seepage? No wet oil? No dirt encrusted old oil? Did you check the oil level to see it it is lower than it was? Need a little more info.
Doesn't seem right. Maybe you have an issue with a warmer oil temperature which is causing the odor.
As far as the shifter seal, the oil is not under pressure and due the shifter location a seal may not even have been used. Not sure, you would think they would have one to keep water out.

 

[atwinda]

95.5 Tacoma SX, V6, manual tranny. "J"-style transfer case shifter.

It seems that my transfer case is leaking gear oil from the top and stinking up the cab. I took off the shifter boot covers and checked everything and popped out the shifter. Everything looked OK. What seals the top and prevents oil from coming out? I didn't see a seal or anything.

-Adam
NMTTORA

Check your rear axle seals.. Look on the backing plate below the axle, if there is fluid there, thats your problem. I know I can smell mine when they go... Check 3rd member seal as well.

 

[jung4x4]

Hmmmm..............
Did not even see any seepage? No wet oil? No dirt encrusted old oil? Did you check the oil level to see it it is lower than it was? Need a little more info.
Doesn't seem right. Maybe you have an issue with a warmer oil temperature which is causing the odor.
As far as the shifter seal, the oil is not under pressure and due the shifter location a seal may not even have been used. Not sure, you would think they would have one to keep water out.

Oh yeah, there's plenty of seepage, wet oil and encrusted old oil. The oil level seems OK now, it ran out of the fill hole when I checked it, so it's just slow enough to stink and make a mess.

-Adam
NMTTORA

 

[Oily]

Have you been wheelin ? There is a vent which may be plugged which might cause a pressure build up.

 

[jung4x4]

Check your rear axle seals.. Look on the backing plate below the axle, if there is fluid there, thats your problem. I know I can smell mine when they go... Check 3rd member seal as well.

Ummmm, no. I fail to see the connection between the rear axle and the transfer case......other than the driveshaft, of course.

-Adam
NMTTORA

 

[mudferret]

Ummmm, no. I fail to see the connection between the rear axle and the transfer case......other than the driveshaft, of course.

-Adam
NMTTORA

It's a stretch, but if you're baking some leaking diff fluid on your drums it could explain a bit of odour.

 

[jung4x4]

Have you been wheelin ? There is a vent which may be plugged which might cause a pressure build up.

Uhhhh, yeah, I've wheeled a time or two =)

I checked the vent while I had the shifter cover off and it was clear.

-Adam
NMTTORA

 

[Oily]

Oh yeah, there's plenty of seepage, wet oil and encrusted old oil. The oil level seems OK now, it ran out of the fill hole when I checked it, so it's just slow enough to stink and make a mess.

-Adam
NMTTORA

Ok......your transfer case may be overfilled. The oil level should be even with the fill hole. You are supposed to ckeck the oil level by removing the filler plug and seeing if you can touch the oil level with your finger. You may get a little run out when filling but if it was not filled correctly it can have too much.
When did this smell start ? Could oil be falling on a rotating part and get slung on an exhaust part or even the engine, ie a heat source?
I would first be sure the oil level is correct then clean all residue and recheck for leaks.
I am not a mechanic but I do remember some vent caps as being....uhhhh....
kinda loose and having a cap. Could be possible this is some sort of a check valve in that if it were submerged the cap will rise thus pulling up some sort of a seal inside. If so it could be stuck. Not sure though>

 

[Oily]

Uhhhh, yeah, I've wheeled a time or two =)

I checked the vent while I had the shifter cover off and it was clear.

-Adam
NMTTORA

I would not think the vent is on the shifter cover. Not sure.

 

[Oily]

BUMP

What did you find out ?

 

[97TacoDude]

It could be a bottle of gear oil in the back that has broken open. Sometimes when people go to Pep Boys a bottle of oil goes under the seat without them realizing it, and breaks open, stinking the vehicle up. I would check under the seats first.

 

[jung4x4]

Oily,

I haven't had time to take it back apart and look at it. I'm leaving for a big fourwheeling trip tomorrow so I'll worry about it when I get back. Thanks for your suggestions. Most of the other replies in this thread have been quite ridiculous.

Perhaps it is overfilled a little. I did change the oil not too long ago, but long enough ago that this shouldn't have just started now.....or so I would think.

There is a vent on both the transfer case and the transmission just like the one on the front and rear diffs. I checked the vent and it appears to be clean and able to flow freely.

I'll keep you updated.

-Adam
NMTTORA

 

[hytenor]

Oily,

I haven't had time to take it back apart and look at it. I'm leaving for a big fourwheeling trip tomorrow so I'll worry about it when I get back. Thanks for your suggestions. Most of the other replies in this thread have been quite ridiculous.

Perhaps it is overfilled a little. I did change the oil not too long ago, but long enough ago that this shouldn't have just started now.....or so I would think.

There is a vent on both the transfer case and the transmission just like the one on the front and rear diffs. I checked the vent and it appears to be clean and able to flow freely.

I'll keep you updated.
NMTTORA

I vote for overfilled as well; it doesn't take much. The front diff will do the same if even slightly overfilled.
there was a post a while back about the two breathers that you see on top of the tranny. My assumption was that one was for the tranny and the other for the tcase. It seems that both are for the tranny. the FSM does show a breather tube (not a valve like on top) coming out of the shifter cover. I'm gonna have to pull my console again just to check this out, LOL

what did you wind up doing with your bumper?

 

[jung4x4]

Hello Hytenor,

That's interesting about both breathers being for the transmission. I, too, assumed there was one for the tranny and one for the xfer case.

Kyle refused to ship the bumper and we both got nasty over the phone so I never bothered to call him back and try to work with him. I ended up selling it to a friend of mine who wanted to try to fab it to fit his Tacoma. My friend has a bumper, I have some of my money back, and Kyle doesn't have to deal with me anymore. I guess we're all happy.

-Adam
NMTTORA

 

[hytenor]

Hello Hytenor,

That's interesting about both breathers being for the transmission. I, too, assumed there was one for the tranny and one for the xfer case.

Kyle refused to ship the bumper and we both got nasty over the phone so I never bothered to call him back and try to work with him. I ended up selling it to a friend of mine who wanted to try to fab it to fit his Tacoma. My friend has a bumper, I have some of my money back, and Kyle doesn't have to deal with me anymore. I guess we're all happy.

-Adam
NMTTORA

I think his overall Tacoma experience pretty well sucked. I wound up having to tweak mine a little more after winching so much on the Dusy trail last summer. I had to plate the frame ends to keep them from caving in. I should have done that to begin with but was lazy. It works great now.