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Old Mar 7, 2014 | 03:02 PM
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Default 94 E4OD fluid excessive pressure

What would cause excessive pressure in the pan and dipstick of an E40D trans?

I have a 94 F-250, 5.8L, 4x4. The trans pan has 20 bolts and I believe it to be an E40D. The truck is an old school district truck with 68,000 miles on it. The truck has a plow and I don't know if the trans was ever rebuilt.
I've used the truck for almost two years with the trans functioning okay although the low to 2 shift has always been hard.

Here is the issue- I went out last week and the low to 2 shift slipped excessively but by letting off the gas, the shift completed and went through 3rd and OD. when I got to my destination 8 miles away, I decided to check the fluid level. I pulled the dipstick and fluid shot out under pressure onto the underside of the hood and clear out past the front of the truck. (there was a small fire but that's another story).
After the pressure was relieved, I drove the truck home and the shifts were normal.
I went out this morning and drove away, I had to manually shift from "D" to "2" then back to "D" for the low to 2 shift- after that the shifts were fine. I drove about 8 miles again and checked the fluid level (carefully this time) and again the contents were under pressure, fluid came out the tube.

I cleaned up the mess and drove home (shifts were normal) at home I pulled the stick- there was again pressure but no fluid this time. The stick indicates a low fluid level.
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Old Mar 7, 2014 | 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by birdogz
What would cause excessive pressure in the pan and dipstick of an E40D trans?

I have a 94 F-250, 5.8L, 4x4. The trans pan has 20 bolts and I believe it to be an E40D. The truck is an old school district truck with 68,000 miles on it. The truck has a plow and I don't know if the trans was ever rebuilt.
I've used the truck for almost two years with the trans functioning okay although the low to 2 shift has always been hard.

Here is the issue- I went out last week and the low to 2 shift slipped excessively but by letting off the gas, the shift completed and went through 3rd and OD. when I got to my destination 8 miles away, I decided to check the fluid level. I pulled the dipstick and fluid shot out under pressure onto the underside of the hood and clear out past the front of the truck. (there was a small fire but that's another story).
After the pressure was relieved, I drove the truck home and the shifts were normal.
I went out this morning and drove away, I had to manually shift from "D" to "2" then back to "D" for the low to 2 shift- after that the shifts were fine. I drove about 8 miles again and checked the fluid level (carefully this time) and again the contents were under pressure, fluid came out the tube.

I cleaned up the mess and drove home (shifts were normal) at home I pulled the stick- there was again pressure but no fluid this time. The stick indicates a low fluid level.
Just to be sure, you're checking it while its running right?
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Old Mar 8, 2014 | 12:40 PM
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Yes it was running and in park like it said on the stick.
I was looking on Google and found that the trans has a vent up on top, I am going to check that. It's not building enough pressure to blow the dipstick out on it's own and I don't think it's a temp problem. I had the tunnel cover off inside the truck six weeks ago to replace the four wheel drive selector and I don't know if I damaged the breather. I only use it for plowing and firewood so it doesn't get driven a lot. I am going to check it as soon as I get motivated- I'm on midnight shift right now and that sort of zaps my energy...
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Old Mar 8, 2014 | 05:42 PM
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E40D is famous for this and a myriad of other problems -- it may be as simple as an overfill combined with overheating.............I've had them in F-450's, other vehicles and they never performed right until after being upgraded with new pumps, solenoids, internals, alum parts with steel, etc..............here's a decent diagnostic thread:


http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/...d.php?t=122096
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Old Mar 9, 2014 | 01:23 PM
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Thanks for the info, the trouble shooting guide was very informative especially regarding my hard shift L to 2. I have an OBD1 reader and I'm going to see if there are any codes stored that are associated with limp mode.
I did pull the tunnel cover yesterday, there was a machinery type breather and the breather seems that it was blocked by rust (steel cap on a steel nipple). The cap was solid to the nipple with rust. I pried the cap off and cleaned everything with a wire brush. I reassembled it- the cap now has clearance and wiggles, Wednesday I'm hauling a load of branches and shrubs to the dump so I'll see.
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Old Mar 10, 2014 | 02:59 PM
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Default Case closed...

The pressure issue was due the vent being blocked. I took the truck out today and had no pressure build up at all.
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Old Mar 10, 2014 | 10:34 PM
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Congrats !
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