Need help to ID possible leak near flex disc joint

[littlex5]

Lately I noticed the drivetrain of my 2005 4.4i would kick (jerk?) into gear when accelerating hard. I got underneath the truck to inspect the flex disc joint. It looks okay and there's no play when I hand twisted the drive shaft. But I noticed there's sign of leak to the left of the joint. Can someone tell me what that is?

[andrewwynn]

That is so little oil it could be from a spill when adding oil or some incredibly slow leak from a gasket. Is there any sign of a drip? I only saw wet


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[Ricky Bobby]

Is that not the transfer case or transmission venting?

[SlickGT1]

Looks like Tcase actuator right there. Not sure how it would get wet, it doesn't really sit in oil or anything. Must be coming from somewhere further up. Transmission.

Maybe that electrical sleeve is leaking? Its actually fairly common. I replaced mine when I did my solenoids.

[tecboy99]

I've seen it on a few X's. The transfer case vent is right above it. Probably where its coming from..

[David.X5]

Maybe the rear seal on the t-case could be slinging oil onto it. Check the t-case oil level. Seems like an annoyance more than anything. It is pretty far behind the tranny and behind the t-case. Hard to believe it is tranny fluid.

[bcredliner]

The source of a leak can be very misleading. Lubricants of the motor, transfer case and transmission look and smell different. I would start there. If that doesn't help then clean the area and check after 25 miles of driving or so when it will be easier to find the source. You can also check the transmission and transfer case fluid levels easily. Unless you are seeing oil spots on the ground after your X has been sitting for overnight or more, that can be an accumulation of a very small leak that you won't likely find until it gets worse. The leak may be as far away as a valve cover leak.

One check of the joint is going from neutral to drive, neutral to reverse at an idle while holding the holding the break and see if you hear an unusual noise. There is some play that is normal and it could also be a problem downstream. Driveline issues often include vibration.

If the problem is only when the transmission downshifts under hard acceleration it could transmission or torque convertor related.

[StephenVA]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

The source of a leak can be very misleading. Lubricants of the motor, transfer case and transmission look and smell different. I would start there. If that doesn't help then clean the area and check after 25 miles of driving or so when it will be easier to find the source. You can also check the transmission and transfer case fluid levels easily. Unless you are seeing oil spots on the ground after your X has been sitting for overnight or more, that can be an accumulation of a very small leak that you won't likely find until it gets worse. The leak may be as far away as a valve cover leak.

One check of the joint is going from neutral to drive, neutral to reverse at an idle while holding the holding the break and see if you hear an unusual noise. There is some play that is normal and it could also be a problem downstream. Driveline issues often include vibration.

If the problem is only when the transmission downshifts under hard acceleration it could transmission or torque convertor related.

Damn, there you go again with logic and a simple step by step process to find the problem.
Don't you know this is a guess from a far forum? I was going to go with the dead opossum leaking away on top of the trans myself.

NOTE: ALL SARCASM

[Joshdub]

Yup, clean it like BCredliner suggested. It's too little and in too weird of a place to see where it is coming from. I'd guess output seal, but oil typically obeys the rule of gravity and the area right under the flange looks pretty damn clean.

[littlex5]

Thanks for all the feedback. Will try cleaning the wet spot and check back later.