This all started maybe 2-3 months ago. I started noticing a few drops of oil under the car every time I would drive it with some decent amount of gusto. I finally decided to check where it was coming from maybe two weeks ago(it really wasn't leaving much more than 2-3 drops after parking it so I didn't think too much of it). I knew it was gear oil, and it was coming from somewhere behind the front of the tranny(thank heaven because I fixed a leak up there a few months ago). Put it up on jack stands and went under to find that my tranny fluid level was fine, and the leak had something to do with my extension housing. So finally today, since my shifter has seemed to be increasingly hot to the touch, I pulled the boots to find out what was up. Oil all over the boots, and the into the insulation over the top of them. Removed my shifter to find that the fluid level was actually pretty high, as in higher than I remember filling it last time it was apart. Freaking hot and had a viscosity not much more than water I think I filled it last time with a synthetic blend valvoline. Why is the level so high after leaking so long? And why does it seem almost like water consistancy? I usually change fluids at least once per year, and I don't think it's been more than 6 mos. since I changed it anyway. Any ideas on what's happening here? I've also noticed while shifting into 2nd a little more of a pop to the shifter lever, and a slight feel of a grind although not heard. Should I be worried about this? Should I change tranny oil? I used Mobil 1 synthetic every time I've changed it, should I change that too? Help

 

change the trans fluid mine was grinding a bit and getting hot at the lever when i drove it. but changing the trans oil helped alot and its only a couple bucks for it so give it a try and see if it helps. good luck
(PS i am using valvoline high durablend synthetic blend and it seems too be working fine)

 

There's a seal on the shifter rod somewhere in there, probably close to the tower "box" structure that the shifter sits in, you think that might be it? Do you drive uphill a lot? (you're a little early with this thread, I should be taking that part of the tranny apart in the next couple of days, as part of a complete tranny rebuild I'm doing, so I could tell you exactly where it is)

 

A seal on the rod between the extension housing and the tranny itself you mean? Didn't really think of that, but like I said the tranny level is fine. I don't drive too much uphill I don't think . I'm just going to change fluid here and see what happens. I plan on cleaning the extension housing and shift lever and all associated bolts and hardware for the short-throw axis and stuff and reseal everything good when I put it all back together. I just ordered 5 quarts of Redline 75w90NS to put in this time, hopefully it'll do the trick. honestly I'm just trying to figure out why the oil in there seems so thin. I didn't think the gear oil I put in was that way. I knew this kind of thing would happen though. I'm putting a new suspension on this weekend. The car knows this, and just wants more money and attention because of the planned upgrade. Dirty punk car

 

what's up with the lack of reply status on that last post?

 

LOL, I think you're allowing the car a bit more intelligence than it has. But, that's why we call them "she", they have the temperament of a women, give us hell monthly, and suck down any spare money at a prodigious pace, lol...My apologies to any and all female rx-7 owners, I'm sure you say the same things about us ...

Yeh, Rattaan, that's the "rod" I was talking about, the proper Mazda nomenclature is eluding me...That's about the only way to "add" fluid to the shifter well, so there's gotta be a seal or two somewhere...

What you could do, after you drain the tranny fluid and clean the shifter area out, is leave the tranny drain plug off, then pour a little gear oil into the shifter well...Work the shifter linkage back & forth, and see if the fluid level falls, or you get fluid coming from the tranny drain...

 

replace put liquid gasket under the plate where the shifter is, blah ignore that unless u know what im talking about.

 

What are you talking about?

I'll try what you said about leaving the plug off Wayne, hadn't really thought about that before, but seems a pretty good idea. I'm waiting for my Redline to get here, should be tommorow or Fri. Doesn't seem like that could happen though because the fluid level in the tranny would have to filled to the level of the extension housing which is above the tranny right? The tranny can only be filled to the fill plug level which should be a lot lower too. I don't know, maybe this car has a ghostie in it.

 

As I was taking my shifter housing off the tranny today, I noticed there is SOMETHING in there that "seals" the housing, it's still all gunky in there, so I don't know what it is yet, kinda looked like a snap ring to me through all the "mud", but that wouldn't make much sense...

"The tranny can only be filled to the fill level which should be lower..." That's why I asked you if you go uphill any, LOL...

How the hell ELSE can fluid "add" itself to the shifter housing????

 

Haha. Now you see why I was having trouble wrapping my brain around that one. That would have to be one heck of a hill wouldn't it? Sorry, my brain shuts off 95% after driving home from work.