Losing trans fluid rapidly

[westpole]

I have a Perkins 4.108 with a combination oil/water cooler. I am losing about a quart an hour of transmission fluid. I am not seeing any leaks at all under the engine or into to drip pan. My assumption is that there is a leak in the inter cooler and the trans oil is going out with the exhaust water.

That being the case the easy fix is a replacement cooler for about $250 but I don't want to get that and later discover the problem is else where. Any different perspectives or confirmations would be appreciated.

[model 10]

Well you could be filling up your bell housing because most are sealed. But it would probably only hold a gallon. After that it would get into the starter and it would stop working or leak out. Isn't your intercooler fresh water?

[westpole]

Guy, you are right and I never thought of it. It is fresh water in the inter-cooler. I checked the fresh water for an oil slick and there was none so I am guessing that I just might be filling up the bell housing as you suggest. The other possibility is that the trans fluid might be going through a seal into the oil sump. Is that likely?

[model 10]

Some of these engines had a common oil supply between the engine and the trans. That is why the bell housing can hold oil. My engine is not like that and the engine rear seal on mine only leaks oil out of the engine into the bellhousing to the point that the starter gets gummed up and quits. To solve that I drilled a hole in the bottom of the bell housing and drained the oil into a cut in half oil jug,
Needless to say this repair project is on the the top of the list.