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lamoz1's avatar
lamoz1
Explorer
Aug 05, 2019

Where did my tranny fluid leaked from??

1999 F53 with 55k miles on it and a Ford V10

Traveled to the lake this weekend and all was fine until I got
to the campsite and as I attempted to get close to the water
I must have gone over a soft spot but immediately sunk in.
My front end all the way to the frame. I tried to reverse out
but it did not budge. Another camper tried to pull me out
and as he tried in reverse I was on the gas, but did not budge
My tranny smoked and we stopped trying. I then see the I loss
a lot of transmission fluid. I AAA came and pulled me out, my rv
did not drive. So I poured 3 quarts and got it to move. No leaks
It was not driving well and felt like the tranny was slipping.
So I put another 4 quarts and then another 3 and made it home.
I don't think is full as of yet ( takes 16 quart ) I'm wondering
where did my fluid leak from?.. After putting in about 12 quarts
I didn't see any leaks and yes the trans feel like it will need service. I must have burned or glazed by clutches for 1st and 2nd gear.
Class A
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    Aug 06, 2019
    Lamoz,

    What you are describing is a common issue with all automatic transmissions. You did leave a big puddle of ATF somewhere and yes, you did probably damage some clutches and bands.

    All transmissions collect water and it only leaves when the temperature makes it leave.

    What happens when drivers are not aware of the situation is that the water that is in the transmission plan can accumulate to the point that if the ATF in the pan gets to near boiling point (that day at that altitude) it can boil. When it boils, it expands about 1600 times. That is plenty to blow all the remaining fluid out of the pan.

    Matt
  • lamoz1's avatar
    lamoz1
    Explorer
    Aug 06, 2019
    rhagfo wrote:
    PastorCharlie wrote:
    Over heated and blew it out the vent tube.

    Check the fluid level with the dip stick while at normal temp in Park.


    ^^^^^. This ^^^^^
    It scares me the OP didn’t do this when adding fluid in the first place. :S


    Forgot to point out we were in the middle of no where
    and only auto part store only had 3 quarts available. Had to stop
    3 other time and buy all they had.
  • Larrysr1957's avatar
    Larrysr1957
    Explorer
    Aug 06, 2019
    I had a major leak 3 weeks ago. transmission fluid poured about 4 or 5,quarts (estimating) out after an 8 hour drive and 20 minute idle. Had transmission rebuilt. As this is not normal.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Aug 05, 2019
    PastorCharlie wrote:
    Over heated and blew it out the vent tube.

    Check the fluid level with the dip stick while at normal temp in Park.


    ^^^^^. This ^^^^^
    It scares me the OP didn’t do this when adding fluid in the first place. :S
  • PastorCharlie's avatar
    PastorCharlie
    Explorer
    Aug 05, 2019
    Over heated and blew it out the vent tube.

    Check the fluid level with the dip stick while at normal temp in Park.
  • 1968mooney's avatar
    1968mooney
    Explorer
    Aug 05, 2019
    And your reman will do the same thing if you put it in the same conditions. Change your fluid, install a trans temp guage, along with a aux trans cooler. Keep your fluid below 200 deg. and continue on with your camping.
  • dodge_guy's avatar
    dodge_guy
    Explorer II
    Aug 05, 2019
    If you were in Rev when it started smoking then it overheated the fluid and it pumped it out the front pump seal. When was the last time it was serviced? Should’ve been done at least once, not that it would’ve mattered because even new fluid would’ve gotten hot enough to leak out.

    Sound like it’s time for a reman.

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