Uh oh... pulled into an RV campground (barely)

[Sea Six]

last night and found my transmission is dripping fluid on the ground, and I'm not getting much power to the wheels.

I kept the speed below 70 mph while towing for two hours, but this stretch of interstate highway has so many hills the transmission kept downshifting a lot.

Any ideas what may have happened? I'm hoping it's something simple, like the tranny overheated and just blew a gasket.

This morning I'll bum a ride into town to get some more fluid, and see if bringing the trans fluid back up to the normal range will allow me to drive it the 3 miles to the nearest transmission shop.

Or should I just have it towed?

[VatorMan]

Sounds like you were running a hot tranny. :leaving: Do you smell burned fluid? YOu might be able to fill it up and limp to a tranny shop.

[Sea Six]

I didn't smell any burned fluid, no.

[mrvette]

Fill it and drive, with NO TOWED trailers.....

you need a HUGE cooler in front of that thing, I prefer junkyard a/c condensers IF I could, I would run my auto trans at 30f, they always act much happier the colder they are.....

IF you have to have it rebuilt, make damn sure you get a TRANS GO shift kit installed....

what type trans is it?? what vehicle?? GM/Dodge/Ford???

:waiting:

[Sea Six]

Fill it and drive, with NO TOWED trailers.....

you need a HUGE cooler in front of that thing, I prefer junkyard a/c condensers IF I could, I would run my auto trans at 30f, they always act much happier the colder they are.....

IF you have to have it rebuilt, make damn sure you get a TRANS GO shift kit installed....

what type trans is it?? what vehicle?? GM/Dodge/Ford???

:waiting:

It's a 2001 Ford E350 super duty.

[Blademaker]

Oh man, thats gotta suck.

[Bucwheat]

last night and found my transmission is dripping fluid on the ground, and I'm not getting much power to the wheels.

I kept the speed below 70 mph while towing for two hours, but this stretch of interstate highway has so many hills the transmission kept downshifting a lot.

Any ideas what may have happened? I'm hoping it's something simple, like the tranny overheated and just blew a gasket.

This morning I'll bum a ride into town to get some more fluid, and see if bringing the trans fluid back up to the normal range will allow me to drive it the 3 miles to the nearest transmission shop.

Or should I just have it towed?

Had my transmission go out towing my camper in the mountains also this past summer,the kind folks at Jacky Jones Ford,informed me I needed a new one at $ 3500.00 ,real nice camping trip. Hope yours is minor,but when you are out of town and have no transportation you are at their mercy.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Pull the dipstick and check the look and the smell of the fluid on it. If it's brown and smells burnt, you may have big trouble. BUT....if you top it up and get to a oil change shop for a fluid change and maybe a seal replacement (usually at the trans due to the long drive shaft setup due to vibration from worn hanger brgs. or out of balance shafts), you may get lucky. :seasix:

[Sea Six]

$10 for three qts of transmission fluid and I was told I'm good to go!

Trans overheated when I pulled into the park and pushed abt three qts out the front seal. No burned fluid and it's holding fine this am. No leaks. Gonna drive it really good before I hook up and tow home.

[Bucwheat]

That is good news.

[VatorMan]

$10 for three qts of transmission fluid and I was told I'm good to go!

Trans overheated when I pulled into the park and pushed abt three qts out the front seal. No burned fluid and it's holding fine this am. No leaks. Gonna drive it really good before I hook up and tow home.

That tells me your cooler is inadequate. Do you have a trans temp gauge?

[Sea Six]

I just now found out I'm supposed to keep the overdrive off when towing. I never knew that. I drove nearly the whole two hour trip in overdrive. :doh:

That's probably what caused the overheating.

[Sea Six]

I don't have a trans temp gauge.

[Stangkiller]

I don't have a trans temp gauge.

Time for a bigger cooler and a gauge. Glad it was an easy fix!

[VatorMan]

I just now found out I'm supposed to keep the overdrive off when towing. I never knew that. I drove nearly the whole two hour trip in overdrive. :doh:

That's probably what caused the overheating.

Yea, hunting back and forth between 3rd and 4th gear will heat it up.


I don't have a trans temp gauge.

You need to get one installed. Seriously.

[Marc]

OD is a no no when towing. Don't make us get NNNNil8ter over here to skool you. :D Good luck :cert::cert:

[Blademaker]

I just now found out I'm supposed to keep the overdrive off when towing. I never knew that. I drove nearly the whole two hour trip in overdrive. :doh:

That's probably what caused the overheating.

I did the same thing once.

Once.


Glad you're OK :seasix:

[Sea Six]

I did the same thing once.

Once.

Glad you're OK :seasix:

Thanks, Steve.

I've put some mileage at 55 mph on it. It's shifting perfectly.

Trans housing is still dry as a bone. Front seal is holding just fine.

[Sea Six]

Fluid is bright, looks like a cherry red color. Not brown.

[Bucwheat]

You can tow in OD just start out with the OD off then go to OD when traveling .And like in previous post get a Trans temp Gauge.

[Sea Six]

How much should a trans temp gauge cost, including installation?

[Doug28450]

How much should a trans temp gauge cost, including installation?

$1,000,000

[justind]

Buy one at the parts store for a few bucks and toss it in yourself.

[Bucwheat]

I think I got one on line for about $25,make sure it comes with a probe,what type truck do you have?

[VatorMan]

How much should a trans temp gauge cost, including installation?

I did one like this on my 91 1500. REALLLY easy to do.

1.Mount filter and gauge
2. Cut lines, install hose and wires
3. Profit !!

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSDyTi8qqpMJBJviyFqaLpWJCTNyy4R-Fwtljt_-XrSaIAC-UBcxQ

http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Derale/D13091.html

[mrvette]

Glad you seem good to go, now get a serious cooler on that thing, take it outta the engine radiator, all that does is warm it up, something you really don't need to do, especially in FLORIDA......as for a temp gauge, stop by your auto parts store and buy any temp gauge, I happened to have one hanging around and so sweated the fitting into the trans pan, and just screwed the sense bulb home....it has read as high as 200f in stop/go traffic, I need a bigger cooler YET...
You sound as if you don't work on your own cars much if at all...but I have been for 1/2 a century.....you do have to watch the placement in the pan as so the probe don't touch any parts of the trans, like filters/brain/solenoids/etc....:seasix::cert:

[Bucwheat]

I put a TRU-COOL 4921 on my F-350 Diesel ,money well spent.

[RED-85-Z51]

Get the pan dropped and a new filter put in asap, no doubt the constant dropping in and out of OD ate up some clutch material.

[The_Dude]

Get the pan dropped and a new filter put in asap, no doubt the constant dropping in and out of OD ate up some clutch material.

:iagree: If it got that hot, there was some wear. I'd do a service asap.

[Gozar]

It's a 2001 Ford E350 super duty.

Gasser?

:leaving:

[mrvette]

Gasser?

:leaving:

SOME comments say YOU are.....trying to recall clearly....and shit....


:rofl:

[OddBall]

You F'cked it up ALREADY?!?! :slap:

[Sea Six]

Gasser?

:leaving:

Ahhhhhhhhh...... Fer FUK'S SAKE........








Gah DAMMMITTT










yes.

:leaving:

[Rotorhead]

Sounds like you were running a hot tranny.

:rofl: And then blew a seal. :leaving:

[lspencer534]

OP, never ask a tranny to do anything you wouldn't do. Would you put it in overdrive and get all heated up just to watch a tranny fluid spill on the ground? Well...I guess you would...but it's not a good idea.

[Sea Six]

:funniest:

[mrvette]

YFG turn in a legit tranny question into something to do with sex and various orientations, not that there is anything rong with oriental orientations....


:rofl::rofl::rofl::cert:

[JRD77VET]

I just now found out I'm supposed to keep the overdrive off when towing. I never knew that. I drove nearly the whole two hour trip in overdrive. :doh:

That's probably what caused the overheating.
Unless it was designed to tow in OD, that's a big trans killer.

I don't have a trans temp gauge.
Get one, if you can smell hot trans fluid, it's too hot.

OD is a no no when towing. Don't make us get NNNNil8ter over here to skool you. :D Good luck :cert::cert:
My '01 2500 is designed to tow in OD. Depends on manufacturer.

Fluid is bright, looks like a cherry red color. Not brown.

Get it changed.

How much should a trans temp gauge cost, including installation?
Do it yourself, the unit vatorman listed is easy to do and a good set up.

I did one like this on my 91 1500. REALLLY easy to do.

1.Mount filter and gauge
2. Cut lines, install hose and wires
3. Profit !!

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSDyTi8qqpMJBJviyFqaLpWJCTNyy4R-Fwtljt_-XrSaIAC-UBcxQ

Derale Remote Transmission Filter Kit w/ Temperature Gauge Derale Accessories and Parts D13091 (http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Derale/D13091.html)

Get the pan dropped and a new filter put in asap, no doubt the constant dropping in and out of OD ate up some clutch material.

Truth