What's the red fluid?

[zzmac]

Sorry, dumb question. I get a small amount of red fluid on my garage floor after parking the car. It would be somewhere below the back of the engine in the middle. When I drove the car the other day shifting into 2nd got harder and I just assumed it was tranny oil (it's not). I'm now thinking it's clutch fluid. The reservoir is near empty, just a bit of oil in the neck but it appears more brownish than red.

Would this be what it is? If so, how high in the reservoir should it be filled?

If not, what else might it be? (I haven't been driving it much and need to pay more attention to these things!)

Thanks!

[KirkV]

Sounds like you may have a leaking o-ring in your throw out assembly. You can usually see a fill to line about 3/4 ways up the reservoir to refill the bottle to.
At some point you need to repair the leak yourself or have it serviced as it will only get worse and there’s nothing like being somewhere stuck in one gear because the clutch pedal has dropped to the floor.
Hope this helps.

[zzmac]

If that's what it is, is it a big job?

I've got another problem now, day's not going the way I planed. :-(

I thought I had the car level (eyeballing it) when I checked the tranny fluid and a bunch poured out before I got the plug back in. Then I took a level put it on the air cleaner and then on the bottom of the tremec and everything seemed level. I open the plug slowly and more started coming out. lol What's a easy way to level this thing?

[Blas]

You will want to determine if it’s the slave, hydraulic line, fitting, or the reservoir. If the fluid is red or brown it’s LONG past due for replacement anyway. Go under the car and slip the rubber boot of the slave. If it’s wet inside that’s most likely is your problem. But you can’t rule out multiple issues.
Blas

[Blas]

A 3550 should be filled to about 1/8” below fill hole, about 2.7 quarts. Maybe the unit was overfilled initially. Bet they filled it from the top or with one side jacked up to gain access when filling the unit.
Blas

[zzmac]

Thanks guys!

I haven't gone near a transmission since Moby Dick was a minnow. I found a pic online of a slave cylinder, so just pull the rubber sleeve back and check?

I had a guy a few years back change the tranny fluid. He's a pretty smart guy but I guess he might have overfilled it. I'm going to put a pan under there and just let it come out. If the car is level it should stop at just about the right level, right?

About leveling the car, any suggestions? Thx!!

[Mark IV]

What trans?

If a TKO the fill plug is actually too high, they should be about 1/4" below the plug level. They tend to pump some fluid out when hot if filled to the plug.

[zzmac]

The tranny fluid is either coming out because it was previously overfilled or I don't have the car level when I opened the fill (not drain) plug. I want to make sure the car is level so I can properly check it and refill it, if needed, to the proper level.

Any tips on leveling car?

[zzmac]

I levelled it as best I could and a bit more fluid came out so I'm presuming it was overfilled. Good thing I checked after all. Thanks guys!

[incoming]

Filling while cold and getting it hot will make it puke. 2c

[Moritz55]

Just to share my experience.... I had a leaky Speedo Cable... tranny fluid is Red .. so you may want to check this area as well. I put a new O-Ring on the Speedo cable assembly and made a small gasket to fit inside the cable to prevent tranny fluid from getting thrown/blown up the Speedo cable and then dripping out after I stop the car.

Good luck and keep us posted....