Topic Sponsor
2004 - 2008 Ford F150 General discussion on the 2004 - 2008 Ford F150 truck.

Towing large hills and leak

Old 08-23-2015, 08:10 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
majerus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: St. Louis Mo
Posts: 156
Received 13 Likes on 10 Posts
Default 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!
Old 08-24-2015, 12:25 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
bill2014's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Western Mass
Posts: 452
Received 33 Likes on 28 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by majerus
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?
Old 08-24-2015, 12:49 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Fordfan2006's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Mooresville indiana
Posts: 3,266
Received 182 Likes on 168 Posts
Default

Did you turn the overdrive off the whole way? you could have overheated the transmission.
Old 08-24-2015, 05:06 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
majerus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: St. Louis Mo
Posts: 156
Received 13 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by bill2014
did you check your fluid level when running in neutral?
I checked it in park after running though all the gears.

Originally Posted by Fordfan2006
Did you turn the overdrive off the whole way? you could have overheated the transmission.
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?
Old 08-24-2015, 06:02 PM
  #5  
Sheep Dog
 
VTX1800N1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,127
Received 327 Likes on 196 Posts

Default

I think the fluid is normally not that high, but if the transmission overheated, fluid expansion or foaming could push it up there.
Old 08-24-2015, 11:38 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
lewissa81's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Posts: 1,068
Received 97 Likes on 96 Posts

Default 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.
Old 08-25-2015, 05:10 AM
  #7  
Moderator (Ret.)

 
Mod (Ret.)'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Lake Mary Florida
Posts: 9,460
Received 474 Likes on 374 Posts

Default

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?
Old 08-25-2015, 10:14 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
majerus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: St. Louis Mo
Posts: 156
Received 13 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by lewissa81
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.

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.


Originally Posted by Bucko
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?
Go ya, I think I have the transcooler, here is a pic Name:  transcooler_zpsxcmdvpvx.jpg
Views: 150
Size:  141.6 KB

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.

Last edited by majerus; 08-25-2015 at 10:19 AM.
Old 08-25-2015, 03:36 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
majerus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: St. Louis Mo
Posts: 156
Received 13 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

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


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Towing large hills and leak



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:12 AM.