Non-MC auto question

[81xsproject]

I have a question about my cage. When I start my truck and it has been parked for a while, I notice that the RPMs will go up when I push in the clutch. I think that the trans (manual) gets hot after a while, too. The ****er gets warm, too. Last winter I took it up in some moderately deep snow and noticed the stick was fairly warm and it smelled funny. I got out and looked underneith and everything looked fine so I tossed some snow at the trans and it sizzled and steamed of pretty fast.

I don't know much about trans's, but I didn't think they were supposed to get that hot. That combined with the clutch in idle increase makes me think maybe my trans bearings are going. What do you all think?

[John]

I would at least check the fluid level, and make sure it is the correct type for your vehicle. With the clutch depressed and the RPM's going up it does seem like the trans is putting a small load on the engine when it shouldn't.Bearings may also be a problem.

[bandet01]

sounds like maybe your throw out bearning might be sezzing up and putting a extra load on the engine and you might have a clutch issue causing a extra load on the transmission making it work harder making the transmission heat up

[81xsproject]

Bandit, I would think that if it were clutch/throwout bearing/pilot bearing, RPMs would go down when I pushed in the clutch. Or am I thinking about how it all works wrong?

[DiverRay]

I would agree with John. It is probably a low or no gear oil, and or bad bearings. Usually you can hear the wine from a bearing, but a low gear oil may not let you know until the transmission has seized.
You should have a pipe plug on one side of the trans, and there should be gear oil up to the bottom of the plug. If not, ad oil and see if that helps.
Ray

[81xsproject]

I recently changed the rear main seal because it had been leaking. No more leak, filled the oil when I was done. I don't hear a whine either. Maybe when it was leaky the fluid got low and caused some damage?

[81xsproject]

P.S., thanks for all the help. It is so nice to have someplace to go for help of any kind. People here can get answers from anything mechanical to computers. If only SWMBO could understand my "addiction," as she calls it, to this site.

[bandet01]

well that is what happened to my mustang the throw out bearning was draging and making the rpms go up when i pushed it in but you might want to check fluid levels because that might be your problem and not any clutch issues i didnt understand it either but thats how it was i thought the would of went down when i pushed the clutch it

[prometheus578]

Just put new throw-out bearing in my blazer last week. Depressing the clutch with make the RPMs go up, as the gears are no longer having to spin through the gear lube. Noticable in colder weather. And if it's really cold, you have hard shifting, as the gears and shift forks try to slide through gear lube mollasses. Hot tranny... either low gear oil, not the right type o' oil, or bearings somewhere. Throw out bearing would not explain hot tranny. (hot bell housing, maybe) Fix it before it seizes at highway speed.

[LoserShoes]

How close to the catalytic converter is the Tranny? Those suckers can put out a lot of heat, specially if the engine isn't running right.

Steve

[SG-Olli]

Before all

I would drain the trans oil and see if there is any metal debris in it.
If yes, it's too late, the trans is gone. It might work for a little longer, but you have to do something about it.
If the bearings are seized, they usually take the housing, the shaft and the neighboring synchronizers and gears with them.
The heat build-up in a manual trans is astonishing, we have tested up to 165°C in our transmissions, which is ok for a short time (10 minutes max.) Usually they run at about 100°C.
If you find metal in the oil, try to get another used trans from a wrecker.
Btw. if it seizes up completely even at highway speeds, it will just break the housing, it locks up the wheels for a split second, but they will break free again. The transmission is supposed to be a kind of "fuse" in the powertrain.

[ccogswel]

Now I'm not an expert but had messed with a few and thought I would throw in my two cents worth. It would also help if I knew what type a truck it is. As far as the RPM's going up I heard that with vehicles that you have to push the clutch in to start it that over time the main thrust bearing in the motor is wearing out. Its the one with the flange on the sides. You set the end play when you replace your crank. If any of you all had ever rebuilt a engine you know what I mean. That may be one thing that is causing the increase in the RPM. Could also be something else.

As far as the oil goes some use automatic transmission fluid or even 20/50 motor oil. Just be sure you check to make sure before you assume it use's 80/90 weight like allot of the old stuff did. You may try and to drain it and check for metal shavings like SG-Olli said. If you see none it may be low. Also you can try some of that Royal Purple. I never tried it myself but heard some good stuff. But who's to say. With the tranny so hot its hard to say. But if you had it in four wheel drive just keep in mind that now your tranny is working 4 wheels instead of 2. That will cause more heat build up. Especially at a close to highway speed. I think on some trucks it recommends not more then so many miles to drive in 4x4.

Well that's may two cents worth. Hope it was some help.

[81xsproject]

It is a '94 Toyota, 4cyl, 4x4. They have a clutch start cancel button in them that allows you to start w/o depressing the cluth and that is how I have always started it for the very reason of saving un-needed throwout bearing wear. On the same note, however, I got it with 130k miles and am only responsible for 42k more. What amazing machines. Even at 172k it still runs great.

[ccogswel]

I don't know for sure but if that is like most of the other trucks in that class the tranny and transfer case may be in one unit. If that's the case it will run a little hotter then others. You may already know if its a one or two piece tranny set up. If that tranny is a one peice unit it will cost you a easy 1500 plus to fix it if it goes out. Some of those setups had sh!tty gears and are very exspencive to replace. I don't mean to repeat myself but if you change the fluid just make sure you find out what was used in it. I ran across a few that used different types of oil. I had one gentleman bring me his tranny out of a 89 D50 dodge truck 4x4 for tranny repairs. He had changed the oil and put 80/90w oil in it. Not knowing that it used automatic tranny fluid. Dextron 3 if I remember correctly. To this day I still wonder why he didn't see the color difference. Well I hope everything works out for you as its hard to find a honest mechanic now a days. Sorry for any typo's as I read better then I write. LOL

[prometheus578]

He had changed the oil and put 80/90w oil in it. Not knowing that it used automatic tranny fluid

I forgot about that. Put a clutch in the Ex's 84 S10 blazer... Was surprised to learn that it took tranny fluid, and not gear lube like my big blazer.
As for throwin' off heat... "Ja, you betcha!" For some reason I had pulled the carpet and padding out of the truck before going on a trip. The bare sheet metal floor above the tranny... you couldn't put your hand on it for more than a few seconds!