Hello yesterday I towed a travel trailer about 40 miles and left the overdive off. (or is it on? I drove at the lower rpm) When I got home I was leaking coolant right by the front driver tire. Was it possibly leaking out the top of the reserve tank? When I looked at it, it had stopped but there was fluid down the inside of the drivers tire as well as by the reserve tank. I topped up the colant as it was now 2-3 inches below the cold fill line, and took it out today and got the engine and no leak. Any ideas? Would it have been better to have it in od? Could it possibly come out the top of the reserve holder?

Thanks from a newbie tower.

 

It would help to know what year truck, but I don't think it had anything to do with overdrive.

 

2008 f150. 5.4 with tow package.

 

My 08 5.4 ...the coolant tank is on the passenger side ??

 

Doubt the OD had anything to do with it.
With the tow package, should not have been a towing issue either. (How heavy was the trailer? WD Hitch?)
Did you happen to top it off before you towed?
Maybe it was just overfilled.
Forty miles is not a long way.
Since you are concerned, I assume this is the first time you have noticed coolant leaking.
Did your temp guage show running hot?
Maybe it was an overflow tube rather than the reservoir?

 

Sounds like OD was on if it was at lower RPM
Sometimes towing with OD on can cause the trans to shift more and run hotter.
Since the trans cooler is actually a heat exchanger in the radiator it can cause the engine coolant to overheat.
But the other questions from humblerb are still valid.

 

I just went and double checked and my coolant is on the driver side close to the windshield. The trailer only weighs 4000 lbs. I did not know the level before towing but have never noticed any leaking before. I topped the coolant back up to normal level (2 liters if I was to guess) and seems to be maintaining that level so far. Maybe the cap? Taking it to ford on Friday. Is the cooling system part of the power train warranty?

Thanks.

 

Just went outside and noticed a small puddle under the truck. So I guess it is leaking slowly.

 

probably one of the hoses is weather checked and leaking. might be the tank is old and cracked but it don't sound like its a big problem if your not over heating. that tank is a over flow not a reserve so i wouldn't worry about it till i see the temp gage jump up. maybe do a flush and replace the hoses and look for leakes in the tank

 

Towing with OD on flat ground is fine if your trailer isn't heavy and the truck holds gear. If you are driving hills or the tranny is shifting constantly, definitely turn OD off.