Ecotec transaxle not vented..

[MadMaxAtom]

I attended my first track event with the MadMax Atom since the full engine rebuild..and could not have been happier with the running..however, I found about a teaspoon of gear oil accumulating on the top of the transaxle every session,making a mess. At first I thought it may be the reverse switch cracked,but on close inspection,it looked fine. So,I put up with a bit of gear lube drooling down the case so I could run a few more sessions and waited till I got home today to dig a bit further.
I removed the transaxle fill plug and put about 2-3psi of air into the transaxle and soaked the top where the oil had been accumulating with soapy water. Bubbles! Sure enough, I forgot to fully tighten the 12mm head bolt that holds one end of the shift cable bracket to the housing. It was then I realized that the transaxle is designed to run with NO vent! I have always thought that most any gearbox/differential is vented to the outside,brt apparently not Saab (or Audi) gearboxes,as someone from the event called to see what I had found and informed me that Audi transmissions are non vented as well. Hmm…I wonder why?

Great event..perfect weather..nice to be back in Max at speed after so many years. Passed everything but the pace car…

Everyone loves the Atom...even and "old" Chevy/Saab powered one…

[Positron]

Without vid's/pic's it didn't happen..

There is a vent and this trans very sensitive to level. The harder you run it and slosh it the more it spits up if over full. I don't remember but I had a specific amount that was full but didn't emit.

[MadMaxAtom]

Level was checked. You say there is a vent..where?The only place I didn't check was under the identity plate,which is riveted on. I talked to a trans rebuilder who stated many newer transmissions do not have vents. After tightening the loose bolt,the transaxle would hold 2-3psi easily,for minutes,with no drawdown,so IF there is a vent, it isn't working. I tried the same pressure technique on my other Atom transaxle,and same results..it holds pressure...so I am of the conviction the transaxle has no vent.

No pics..no vids..all just a dream I guess.. There were a few photographers at the event,so maybe pictures to follow...but not if I have to pay for them. I don't need no stinking pictures...

There was a car at the event with no less than 12 cameras on board. I started to call it the Googlemobile..and it was driven at about the same speed. Rolling road block...one session I lapped him twice..

I sure do love my Atom2..

[Atommatt]

Glad to hear your back !!!

[MadMaxAtom]

I'm not sure what it is about the Max Atom that feels so special..maybe it's the fancy schmancy Moton shocks..but it sure feels faster,more secure in corners and hard braking than the Doc Atom…(which has revalved Konis and same spring rates as Max).. the only real difference are those Moton dampers. Money well spent I guess..


Free picture...NEQ_14-5904.jpg

Another freebie...RxfEfHb0ZnjAyFYfrkMY2eOMGJrXmxD2Z4OhYSpi9lY,JyjijO9DFZCsvtrtBbHF5x34c13j_xBofj3Y8yB5I5I,ekW8OtOh.jpg

[MadMaxAtom]

Update on this thread in case anyone else encounters a loss of gear oil out the top of their Ecotec transaxle during track use:

Last weekend I was at Thompson Speedway and still getting a 1/4 teaspoon of leakage every session…but it only happened during HOT (>80 degree) track days..which are rare here in the northeast..but this year has been happening regularly.(love it!)
Even after finding the loose bolt mentioned above,I was getting some seepage of gear oil during hard track use.Not as much,but still leaking.
I finally isolated where the oil was coming out during extended (>30 minute sessions..) track use; it was leaking by the shift shaft seals, and decided to vent my transaxle,as the shaft seals were fine..they were just being overwhelmed by built up inside pressure.
I eliminated the (newly replaced) reverse switch and used the hole for a remote vent to the engine catch can. Very simple and has totally eliminated ANY gear oil leakage. I ran over 3 hrs(!!) on track at speed yesterday at Whiskey Hill and was thrilled to see NO gear oil seepage.

I hate oil leaks,So I decided to try venting..and it worked.
Happy days!

reverse switch access hole...CIMG4729.jpg

vented into engine catch can...CIMG4730.jpg


When Max is happy..Mark is happy… th_7c0_COMSCC_20150717_B5D39175.jpg

[Atommatt]

Nice, good idea

[Lane]

I've observed the same problem with trans fluid being forced out of the trans case in unexpected locations. For those that want to do this modification, the thread size for the reverse switch is M18 x 1.5mm. I picked up an adapter on eBay to 1/8 NPT for $10.

s-l500.jpg

I put some pics in my site's photo gallery here (see end).