When I'm not on APS, I sometimes lurk on and even occasionally participate in a forum about Jeeps. Yesterday we had a post by a person Using a screen name that includes no indication of gender, but it's probably safe to assume male) about his Jeep problem. It seems that he had recently replaced the (5-speed manual) transmission with one out of a slightly newer year. Those of you who have even a modicum of understanding about how cars work will probably get this.
The "new" transmission went in and, following the installation, he had a fluid dripping out of the bell housing that looked and smelled like transmission gear oil. (Which, for anyone who has never been introduced to it, has an unmistakable and uniquely awful aroma.) Okay ... that's not a good sign. But, what did he do about it?
He mentioned that he is certain he used the correct pilot bearing and clutch -- that's nice, but those parts don't use gear oil, so I'm unclear as to why this might seem relevant. He then related that, "to be safe" ("from what?" would be my first question), he replaced ... the crankshaft rear main seal, the oil pan gasket, and the valve cover gasket. The bell housing is still leaking gear oil, and he wants to know what he should do next.
How about looking at the part that uses gear oil ... like maybe the transmission.
There was a time -- or so I have been led to believe -- when schools taught us how to think. Now schools teach us what to think, and critical thinking (not that this situation requires much of it) is a commodity in very short supply.
