So I towed a little more weight than I probably should have, about 320 miles worth. (a 1968 Impala 4 door on a car transport trailer) Everything ran smooth, no issues there. Easily 70MPH interstate the whole way, no shifting problems, even in the mountains of TN I had no issues. When I got home, I was backing the trailer into the driveway, I parked and noticed that my Navi was taking a leak in the driveway. (a big leak, like a full stream) (I went from Atlanta to Nashville no trailer, Nashville back to atlanta trailer + impala)
I got up this morning, dropped off the trailer and went to the shop. 2.5 quarts low. FIlled it up, no leaks after running.

Question is, did I just overload it and it got a little pissed off and let some loose or is that front seal leaking and gonna leak some more? Reason I ask, I have another 350 miles to go this afternoon from Atlanta to CHarleston SC. I don't want to get halfway and run into issues. ANyone else ever experience this?

 

uh???


leaking what???


2.5 quarts low where???

 

Uh, tranny fluid? Anyway, I have driven it around this morning after adding the 2.5 quarts and it hasn't leaked a drop. Talked to a couple of my local buddies who work at the shops near mine, we've all concluded that it was simply overheated and coming out of the blowoff up top, then running down the bellhousing inside and out. All appears fine, it shifts good and normal, and it hasn't even dripped since then, and I've run 50 or so miles on it just to make sure.

 

Classic overheating scenerio. Your gonna get the fluid pretty warm towing even in OD with a locked TC, but the death blow is to start backing up after a long trip. See it all the time in campgrounds when people are doing the truck shuffle to park a monster fifthwheel. Nothing builds more heat then reversing a trailer.

You are gonna wanna get that fluid flushed ASAP as it offers little protection after being burnt once. If this will be common to tow that much, invest in a bigger cooler and one of these.



Adrianspeeder

 

I have never in the two years I have had it towed even half that much, and most likely never will again. I had thought already though of getting a temp gauge. (the wife's car remember, and she doesn't want all those guages in the cab) Damned if you do, damned if you dont

 

Adrian is right on. Change the fluid now. Put in synthetic blend to raise the breakdown temp. I don't know if Ford fluid is syn since I don't go to a dealer to get it.
If anyone does a tow of that kind weight without an aux cooler, expect any result during or after towing.
I equipped with a larger radiator, blend fluid, two aux coolers and a temp gauge before my towing began.
The worst part of my pull is the hill I have to get up to get to my home. Low gear can't get over 3500 rpm due to steepness and nearly 12,000 lbs gcw.
This is the indicating factor that this is all this truck can pull and is the limit.
Yet the setup I have has not failed in about 16 trips of 220 miles round trips and there no indication of an operational problems. My fluid will be changed shortly.
Hope this give some reference for serious towing with Screw/4.6/3.55 F150.

 

Yeah, get the fluid flushed, especially if you're gonna tow some more with it right away. Get it done before you go any further. Most Auto maintenace places like Tires Plus will be able to do it (they are $109 I think) Advice if you're gonna tow that much again is to keep your speed down and I keep the OD off. (I think this last bit will help your temps some, others might have more feedback on this).

From reading your post again it looks like you've probably already been back on the road. Hopefully you got it taken care of and everything went ok.

 

It makes the same amount of heat in 3rd as 4th as long as the TC is locked. Not towing in OD with a E4OD, 4R70w, or 4R100 just wastes gas.

Adrianspeeder

 

Cool, thanks for clarifying.

 

I don't think you pulled to much weight. I pull 4x4 trucks on trailers, a 5000 lb bobcat, a 47 hp tractor, a 17 ft boat and 19 ft boat, and alot of hay. Some of the trips are over 100 miles one way.

The only time I have seen fluid blow out the tube was years ago on a 100 degree day towing a 40 ft trailer loaded with hay, never got out of first all day. We were loading square bales in the field in a section with alot of hills. This was with a F250 diesel.

I agree that the trans overheated and should have the fluid changed. I now you said you were on the interstate but on the last part of your trip to your house did you tow in 1st or 2nd before you made it two your house? This possibly could have been where the heat build up occured.

 

I do not believe you overloaded your transmission, provided it was healthy to begin with. I pull a gooseneck with upwards to 10,000 pounds (airbags are a must) in a 2003 supercrew with no problems. It may be that your trans is in need of work.

 

I flushed it before I hit the road and went another 350 miles the next day. Of course, since I have all this stuff in my shop I do it myself, and of course, since I was in a hurry while I was doing it, I managed to not completely engauge the quick disconnect line and when I moved it away from the electric fan, it disenguaged and shot tranny fluid a solid 30 feet. WHat a mess, and I had all of 15 minutes to clean it, finish the flush, and go pick up my kid from preschool. Anyway, I flushed it and drove it 980 miles roundtrip and had no issues whatsoever. I have noticed though, that the shifts are kinda hard in the 90MPH range