Towing large hills and leak
 

After towing for about 3 hours today, up some very large hills at interstate speed I noticed a transmission fluid smell. After pulling over at a walmart parking lot it looked like the leak was coming from the fill tube for the transmission. Anyone seen this kinda thing after towing? The truck is shifting fine and fluid level looks good. Also noticed the crossmember had quite a bit of transfluid on it.

Was towing near branson mo if that helps anyone understand the grade of the hills around here. Quite insane really.

Thanks for the help!

did you check your fluid level when running in neutral?

Did you turn the overdrive off the whole way? you could have overheated the transmission.

I checked it in park after running though all the gears.

I only turned od off once I smelled fluid. I would try to make sure the truck shifted out of od when i was about to approach a hill.


Dropped the truck off at Ford this morning, it appears the leak is from the dip stick tube. 250 bucks but I guess I dont have much of a choice. What seems odd is why would there be pressure around the dipstick tube?

I think the fluid is normally not that high, but if the transmission overheated, fluid expansion or foaming could push it up there.

Towing large hills and leak
 

Is it just the dipstick tube o-ring? Or the tube is broken?
I ask because if it's just the o-ring, that is an insanely high price! You could easily change it for a couple bucks.
When I replaced my timing components and took the dipstick tube out, I had some fluid leak out.

Never use OD when hauling heavy loads on upgrades.


At the very least, I'd be performing a transmission fluid change.


Do you have a transmission cooler?

Yea I think its the entire tube I guess, ill ask when I pick the truck up. I dont have much of a choice as I am on vacation and cannot really afford to work on it here.


Go ya, I think I have the transcooler, here is a pic Attachment 508256

Is there a way to monitor the trans temps from the onboard computer? If so what are normal and high temps? Also if i give it gas at the bottom of the hill and rpms jump to 2500 does that mean I am out of OD? Or do i need to push the od off button. Also is OD just hard on the trans or is it a power thing? Just wondering why it isnt good.

Spoke to the shop they said the tube had a rust whole in it..