Transmission Filter Area Leaking Clear Fluid?

If it is indeed clear water, it most likely is the normal drainage from running the air conditioning. If you can work your eyeballs in there from on top or from underneath, there will be a rubber tube hanging down, usually with a 90 degree bend in it, on the passenger side of the firewall, under the hood. You will also see water dripping to the left of the right front tire within a few minutes of turning the AC on.

If you see water dripping from that tube, you have a problem when that drainage stops. Almost always that's due to that tube being blocked by dirt or dried leaves. Sometimes that tube has to be removed to clean it. If the water is coming from that rubber tube, the system is working properly.

From what i read your supposed to change that filter every 30,000 miles, its supposed to have ATF running through it and it appears to be leaking from the top of that filter and no where else

Transmission fluid is dyed red. If you're seeing clear liquid, it isn't transmission fluid.

Transmission fluid is dyed red. If you're seeing clear liquid, it isn't transmission fluid. You may be right about replacing the transmission filter at the specified mileage, but that is not related to leakage.

so what do you think could be causing the leak?, i know my coolant is leaking but i only have to add some every 4-5 days or so.

What are you adding? If it's antifreeze, it is colored, usually green, but sometimes red, orange or yellow. If you've been adding straight water, you might be seeing the results of that leak. In that case, look for the wet areas on the engine and follow that up to the highest point. Having to add every four or five days is a pretty bad leak and is only going to get worse.

I told you of the most common cause of finding clear water dripping onto the ground. That is from running the AC, and is an important part of that system. AC systems are only expected to lower air temperature by around 20 degrees. The real comfort comes from removing the humidity. It condenses on the cold evaporator in the dash, collects in a tray, then flows out and onto the ground, just inside the right front tire. When you don't see that dripping water is when you have a problem with that system. It's not uncommon for the drain tube to become plugged with leaves and debris. That results in a sloshing sound in the dash and water splashing on the front passengers' feet.

If you've been adding only water to the cooling system for some time, there is likely no colored antifreeze in there now. In that case you would see only clear water leaking out. If the leakage is too slow to find, a common way to approach this is to add a small bottle of dye. Wait long enough for some leakage to occur, whether that's an hour or a day, then search with a black light. The dye will show up as a bright yellow stain that you can follow back to the source of the leak.

Most auto parts stores rent or borrow specialty tools including that black light. In my city, they make you buy the tool, then you get a full refund when you return it. If you choose to keep a tool, you still return it, then they give or order you a brand new one.

Another method is to use a cooling system pressure tester. That lets you build pressure in the system without having to get the engine hot. It's no fun crawling around on a hot engine trying to find a leak. The problem with this method is it may not produce the conditions under which the leak occurs. For example, some leaks, such as a water pump rubber lip seal can seal better and leak less when under pressure, then leak later when that pressure goes down. Some leaks are temperature-related. This would be typical of a cracked cylinder head. The metal expands when it gets hot. That expansion can cause a crack to close up and leak less, or open up and leak faster. Often we have to experiment with the pressure tester to find the best condition to make the leak occur.

I've had good luck with the dye and black light, but it isn't always a practical choice when you have to make the car owner come back a day later. It's also easier to use this method when you have the vehicle on a hoist.

I add about 50% water and 50% coolant obviously its not exactly 50/50, and like I said the leak is coming from the top of the filter its not leaking from above that filter on to it, the passenger floor also stays dry the whole time so i doubt its condensation.

I would think it is water from the AC drain.

The only time AC condensate will drip on the floor is when the drain tube is plugged. That never happens on most cars. We see that perhaps a half dozen times per year.

At this point I can think of two things to do. One is to stop using the AC for a few days, then see if the clear dripping fluid dries up. If it does, you're seeing what is supposed to be a byproduct of running the AC system. That, by itself, is nothing to worry about.

The second thing is to pursue the coolant leak. For this time of year, the actual percentage of antifreeze and water isn't that important.
Way too much antifreeze can lead to overheating because it doesn't hold as much heat, (BTUs), as does water, so it is very inefficient at carrying heat to the radiator. Way too little antifreeze is also not good because it contains additives to protect the system. That includes seal conditioners, water pump lubricant, and corrosion inhibitors.

Once the coolant loss is solved, check the freeze point, then add water or antifreeze, as needed, to bring it as close as possible to -35 degrees. Lower is not better.

Would it be possible to post a photo of the filter where you're seeing the leak? That might give us a better idea of how to proceed.

the photo is in the very first post i made on this thread, and im thinking my coolant leak is either a head gasket or its leaking somewhere else

Is that like, "he only acts like that when he's alone or with someone"?

Unfortunately, it's really difficult to put photos into context for a vehicle we're not very familiar with. It's much less common, but it is possible to have a head gasket leaking to the outside of the engine. This would be the perfect application for the dye I described. Also, that type of leak is commonly affected by engine temperature, so you may not see the leakage all the time. That's why we like the dye. It appears when the leak occurs, then the stain just sits there until you go searching with the black light.

I apologize for taking so long to reply. I'm only here an hour or two each day. Also, I have the Iola Old Car Show swap meet coming up. They have rather weak internet service, so you may not hear from me between Wednesday and next Monday. STRAILER may pop in in the meantime, until I get back.

well i think i found my coolant leak, i looked under my car after work today and can kind of see where its leaking from it seems like its coming from the engine by the serpentine belt but im not 100% sure and won't know for sure until i can get my car to my parents house tomorrow to jack it up

Dandy detective work. The most common suspect in that area is the water pump.

ok so the water pump seal is going out but its leaking through the weep hole so as of right now its not leaking into the oil, i will try to replace the water pump as soon as i have the money to

Sounds good, let us know if that fixes it.