Transmission Bell-housing Leak?

[HKP7PSP]

Installed skid plates this week, so I decided to check on the bolts to ensure they haven't come loose from a week of potholes and driving.

I noticed this yellow/greenish thin oily grease around the bell-housing and decided to look closer. It does not look or feel (or smell) like motor oil, gear oil or transmission fluid, so all I can think is it may be some assembly oil. We used to douse slides for M9 / 92FS pistols with an assembly oil during the machining process, and it was just as tacky / smelly feeling as this. I've washed my hands and can still smell it slightly on my fingers.

Has anybody else noticed this stuff in the same area? I found a thread where somebody had a rear main seal leak and had the oil residue in this area, but their pictures showed a darker, thicker fluid as one would expect with dirty motor oil.

Update: grabbed my 1000 lumen flashlight and gave another look up into the crevice, there is some thick yellow grease around the bolt in that area. Hopefully this helps someone else out, as it appears to just be some assembly grease sweating down.

 

[Nails]

Yep, I have that too. And a few others. It’s trans fluid. And the coloring is dye. Time to make a drive to dealer

 

[HKP7PSP]

Yep, I have that too. And a few others. It’s trans fluid. And the coloring is dye. Time to make a drive to dealer

I ended up looking closer with a better flashlight on the night I noticed it. In my case, it's definitely a dollop of grease on the bolt that you can somewhat see in the actual bellhousing, if you look in the small opening between the two pieces. The grease is simply heating up (it was 80 here on Friday finally), and running down somewhat. It even looks, feels and smells like a grease, not ATF.

 

[HKP7PSP]

Pictures taken this morning. All that's left (and I did not wipe anything down beyond what happened when touching it) when I just checked. You can see the yellow grease on the pin or bolt that's inside the housing in one of the pictures. It's a cool 45 degrees this morning, compared with 80 when I took the pictures on Friday night, so the grease has become more solid.

 

[Nails]

Take a black light to it. Trans fluid is filled with dye from factory. It’s also ZF fluid so it’s a greenish color and doesn’t smell like domestic ATF.

 

[Nails]

All I’m saying to have it looked at and documented for any issues that could accure down the road if they choose to say it’s no issue. CYA

 

[HKP7PSP]

All I’m saying to have it looked at and documented for any issues that could accure down the road if they choose to say it’s no issue. CYA

Went and tried the black light thing. Not good, definitely has dye in it. Making an appointment for tomorrow morning.

 

[HKP7PSP]

Well, dropped the truck off this morning and had the dealer check out the "leak" as well as some noise I have in 4WD Auto.

Good news is, even after seeing the pictures I provided, the tech confirmed it was simply some assembly grease. He even drove my truck around for a good half hour to check for the 4WD auto noise on turning, and confirmed it's normal. We'll see - but at least it's all documented.

Attached is a picture of some military gun grease I've had for a while, and didn't think to do this test with until now... As you can see, it gets fluorescent with the black light, just like the grease I found on the transmission.

 

[Nails]

Very cool!! Glad it’s all good and thanks for the info.

 

[Larmo]

Welp this happened to me today also..2019 ram 1500 700 miles brand new.., I was checking things out under the truck, and noticed the same leak in the same spot as everyone else ...so just to confirm, before I calmly raise polite hell at the dealer, this is most likely assembly lube..?

 

[AndreiV]

I had the same assembly grease/lube and after wiping it few times it never returned.

 

[HKP7PSP]

I had the same assembly grease/lube and after wiping it few times it never returned.

Good to hear. That is essentially what mine did. It's not returned in months.

 

[RamCares]

Welp this happened to me today also..2019 ram 1500 700 miles brand new.., I was checking things out under the truck, and noticed the same leak in the same spot as everyone else ...so just to confirm, before I calmly raise polite hell at the dealer, this is most likely assembly lube..?

Hi Larmo,
We certainly understand your frustration. If you would like to be connected with a Case Specialist to work with you and your dealer to address this, please send our team a private message.
Alex
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Nails]

I will say, if I haven’t already. I had dealer look at it some time back. Did a extensive cleaning on it. I do have a few 100 miles till I do an oil change to truly confirm. All times I’ve looked since then nothing has returned.

 

[Larmo]

Hi Larmo,
We certainly understand your frustration. If you would like to be connected with a Case Specialist to work with you and your dealer to address this, please send our team a private message.
Alex
Ram Social Care Specialist

Thank you , I'll be going to the dealer Friday 9/6 to make an appointment, hopefully this is nothing serious...

Hi Larmo,
We certainly understand your frustration. If you would like to be connected with a Case Specialist to work with you and your dealer to address this, please send our team a private message.
Alex
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[RetMSGT]

Mine had the same thing for about the first 2K miles, then it just stopped dripping. I assume it was just excess lube. It’s still dry, I just checked and I’m around 7K miles now.

 

[robeward]

Would love an opinion on these images. When I first saw it I thought rear main seal. After some searching up here it seems a trip to the dealer is needed for sure.

 

[whetrick1]

Yeah that definitely needs to be addressed.


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[AndreiV]

Would love an opinion on these images. When I first saw it I thought rear main seal. After some searching up here it seems a trip to the dealer is needed for sure.

This is mine at 7,660 miles, after wiping it ones at 1,250 miles when I did oil change.

 

[RetMSGT]

Definitely see the dealer. The drip I had was not like your pics. I did hit it with some brake cleaner at 2K and it never came back.