Auto Trans Fluid In Transfer Case

After a week of wheeling in Moab, I noticed gear oil leaking out of the transfer case vent tube. When I removed the inspection plug in the transfer case to check the level, red transmission fluid poured out of the hole. I'm obliviously getting fluid transfer from the automatic transmission into the transfer case. This was likely compounded by many steep up hill grades I traveled while in Moab. My 700R4 Transmission is mated to a Dana 300 transfer case by a Novak adapter. Has the rear seal in the transmission failed or perhaps the input shaft seal in the transfer case, or maybe both? I believe there is a seal of some type in the adapter but it's been 15 years since I put everything together and I really can't remember. I'm waiting on a call back from Novak with their thoughts. Any opinions before I yank the entire drivetrain?

 

You did the right thing to contact the maker of the adapter. Hard to believe that the seal is not kaput. Get the seal number and separate the trans and TC to replace it.

 

Is this a Jeep 300 or Scout 300? If Jeep then it's interesting the fluid bypassed 2 seals to get into the transfer case. I would check the transmission vent to make sure it isn't plugged. If it is a new seal will not solve the problem.

 

Thank you for the replies, it is a Jeep Dana 300 transfer case and I had not considered a plugged transmission vent line. The transmission is a junk yard purchase that I put in 15 years ago with intentions of rebuilding but never got around to. It's performed flawlessly but long overdue for a refresh, now it's time to get busy.