AKPP seal and pan-gasket leaks

Tags: #automatic-transmission · #oil-leak · #seal · #gasket

Input seal installed backward. At a service shop, the transmission input seal was installed backward, causing about 1 liter of oil loss from the gearbox over 3 days¹. The seal's metal retaining ring must face inward — the shop had to pull the seal and reinstall it correctly to stop the leak²³. One commenter notes this happened at roughly 230,000+ km and considers occasional service-shop mistakes like this fairly common, which is part of why they prefer doing their own maintenance ("costly experience if you mess up, but a win if you don't")⁴⁵.

Pan gasket quality matters. In a separate case, an owner replaced the AT pan gasket twice: the first time with a cheap gasket sourced from kitzap.ru, which subsequently leaked; a shop then sourced a genuine VAG (Volkswagen Group) 1:1 cross-fit gasket and topped up the fluid, which resolved the leak⁶. The owner also reports an intermittent, occasional shift hunting between 1st and 2nd gear (shifts back and forth) that persisted after the gasket fix; plan was to have the level checked/topped up at the next shop visit⁶. Recommendation: don't default to the cheapest aftermarket gasket — a VAG-equivalent gasket held where the cheap one failed⁷⁸.

Pan gasket part number cross-referenced and verified. Part number 35168TFA050 is identified as the correct automatic transmission pan gasket for the FAW X80. This Audi-compatible part number has been cross-checked via Chinaspare.ru and by direct visual comparison with factory reference photos; multiple users confirm close visual similarity across these cross-reference parts and report correct fitment when ordering by this number^{910111213141516}.

Drive-axle seal/bellows part number and normal weepage. The drive-axle seal/bellows on the automatic-transmission model has part number AT 90311-40A014, available from kitparts at roughly 770 RUB (RU market, Feb 2025). This is a common wear point; a small amount of leakage — roughly 150-170g over 2 months — is considered normal rather than a fault requiring immediate repair. Only the OEM seal should be used here: Mazda-sourced alternatives are reported not compatible despite the shared engine/transmission platform¹⁷¹⁸¹⁹.

Input shaft spline rust — cause and remedy. The transmission's input-shaft splines are often found completely dry and rusty even with an adequate fluid level — this dryness itself is considered a normal design characteristic (the splines aren't meant to be fluid-bathed). However, rust on the splines specifically indicates water ingress, meaning the input seal should be replaced as a preventive measure once rust is observed, to stop further water intrusion. This is described as a normal-but-preventable condition rather than an emergency, provided the seal is addressed^202122232425.

Manual transmission (MКПП) right-side oil seal — OEM vs. budget alternatives. OEM right-side manual-transmission oil seal part number: FAWF00327238C. A budget alternative, Corteco 19016578B, costs roughly 5x less than OEM. Aftermarket Mazda-branded seals reportedly failed after only a few months in some cases, whereas higher-quality branded seals stayed dry long-term — about three times better performance than the cheapest alternatives²⁶²⁷²⁸.

Manual transmission sump ventilation. The manual transmission has no pressurized sump like the automatic — pressure stays atmospheric. The transmission relies on a sump vent to prevent vacuum buildup; if the vent is blocked, oil can be forced out through the seals as pressure builds²⁹³⁰.

Left drive-shaft (МКПП) seal — routine weeping, and a hard replacement job. The left transmission drive-shaft seal routinely develops a slight weep/sweat. One owner reports the seal "weeping" (потный) again after just 8,000 km, similar to its condition when the car had 48,000 km. Replacement is labor-intensive: it requires removing the wheel, suspension arm, stabilizer-bar link, upper ball joint, and brake-hose clamps, then extracting the drive shaft through the strut. Replacement part: Corteco 19016578B (a SAT-brand equivalent is available for the right-side seal)^31323334.

Right drive-shaft (МКПП) removal procedure — Mazda 6 GG reference. Removing the right transmission drive shaft requires disconnecting the strut fork, the stabilizer-bar link, the upper ball joint, and all hose clamps from the strut, then unbolting the hub and moving it aside — the procedure mirrors the Mazda 6 GG service manual. One owner summarized the complexity as roughly "4x the hassle" compared to their previous car³⁵³⁶.

МКПП input-shaft seal — part number. The manual-transmission (МКПП) input-shaft seal part number is F00327238C, available on Ozon. This applies to manual-transmission X80s only, not automatics³⁷³⁸³⁹.

Oil smell under hard acceleration — front transmission seal weeping (unresolved). Some owners report an oil smell (пахнет как пыльнули маслом) during hard acceleration (4500+ RPM), intensifying in rain. A possible root cause is the front transmission mainshaft seal (промвал справа) weeping/sweating, combined with a wet hose running under the intake manifold. The exact source requires further investigation but may indicate transmission-seal degradation⁴⁰⁴¹.

Front drive-shaft seal — automatic transmission part number. Drive-shaft seal part number for the automatic-transmission X80: 90311-40A014, used in the front axle drive assembly⁴²⁴³.

AKPP sump-pan gasket — supply-quality variability under the same part number. Separately from the pan-gasket quality issue already documented on this card: AKPP sump-pan gaskets sourced from aftermarket suppliers ("gastronomi") show highly variable quality, and the same listed part number can ship a physically different gasket on different orders due to upstream supplier changes at the seller. Fitment and material quality can vary between otherwise identically-listed purchases. Recommendation: buy from an official FAW distributor to ensure consistency rather than relying on the part number alone. One source specifically names YulSane as a reliable official-distributor source for a good-quality gasket^44454647.

AKPP seal part number — confirmed suppliers (earlier, independent report). An earlier, independent confirmation of the automatic-transmission (AKPP) seal part number already documented on this card, 90311-40A014, tested on a 2017 model year X80: it is available from multiple Russian suppliers — kitzapchasti.ru, kitparts.ru, kitzap.ru — with the same part cross-referencing consistently across all three sites⁴⁸⁴⁹.

Output-shaft seal weeping at 237,000 km — preventive replacement recommended. At roughly 237,000 km, one owner noticed the output-shaft seal (the long-side drive shaft, passenger-side seal — sometimes called the "long drive" or right-side seal) beginning to weep oil externally, a sign of impending seal failure. Recommendation: replace proactively before complete failure to avoid oil loss and potential further transmission damage. Genuine FAW seals are available; shop around by OEM part number on auto-parts sites (e.g. Kitparts, Ozon) — prices range 700-1,700 RUB (RU market, September 2024) depending on vendor⁵⁰⁵¹.

Media

Photo showing weeping seal condition at 108.5k km mileage

Video showing the transmission input seal and its mounting location, demonstrating the incorrect installation and resulting oil leak

Photo comparing transmission pan gasket part 35168TFA050 with an Audi reference part, showing near-identical external fitment and dimensions

Photo comparing transmission pan gasket part 35168TFA050 with an Audi reference part

Photo comparing transmission pan gasket part 35168TFA050 with an Audi reference part

Photo comparing transmission pan gasket part 35168TFA050 with an Audi reference part

Photo of a quality AKPP sump-pan gasket without integrated bolt holes — bushings must be transferred from the old gasket

Related pages

• Burning oil smell from CVT drive-shaft seal weep
• Valve cover gasket leak — oil drip
• Valve cover gasket leak — warped cover cause
• Automatic transmission fluid — spec 3309
• AKPP filter and pan gasket — listings, prices

Sources

This page is compiled from 51 community messages. Every fact carries a numbered reference to its original author and message.

Last updated: 2026-10-29