Yesterday I was driving my 2001 Navigator a lot around town on the first hot day of the year here in Oregon, it was not overly hot just about 80-82 degrees.

Once I got home I parked it and about an hour later I moved the navi cause I was going to wash it and I noticed a spot of transmission fluid about the size of a quarter, so I just hosed off my car and took it around the block to dry it off.

When I got back I looked under the navi and I saw transmission fluid dripping from where the transmission meets the engine, so I drove down the block where it is flat to check the fluid level and when I checked it the fluid was past the do not fill mark.

I then looked under the navi again and is was dripping a ton of fluid (see picture)
I thought maybe the transmission was over full some how and the warm day and the town driving caused it to overflow but every time I have checked the transmission fluid it has always been in the normal range so I do not think it could have been over full.

I drove the navigator around today until it got to temp and then checked the fluid and it was in the normal range and I just had one small drip for the transmission.

Some background on my navigator. It has 55,000 mile, it is a 4x4 and has been meticulously maintained.

What could have caused this to happen?

 

Wow, I see lot's of views but no responses. I can't imagine the low 80's affecting that much heat to allow it to puk out unless it was really full and you indicate that's not the case.
Maybe get back under the truck, wipe down the mess and start it back up while under there. Pan bolts, rear seal, but I can't imagine ATF coming out of the filler tube and find it's way to the rear of the tranny without dripping further forward.
Tough one here.

 

There is a seal between the rear of the tranny and the transfer case. Sometimes this seal lets go and fluid will pass back and forth between the two. This could result in an overfill in one and an under fill in the other. If the tranny is overfull then the hot condition could be causing the fluid to expand and get pushed out. Just my 2 cents.

 

A couple of months after I bought the navigator (almost three years ago) I had the input shaft seal between the transfer case replaced, the transmission was pushing fluid into the transfer case causing the transfer case to be over full.

Since the repair I have put on less than 10,000 miles

 

Yesterday I drove it for about an hour in hilly and around town conditions, I stopped about every 15 minutes to check the fluid level and check for leaks. Their were no leaks and the fluid level was perfect, I am stumped!

I don't know rather to take it in to have it check which would involve pulling the transmission and costing probably around $600 or just watch for leaks.

 

Did you check the fluid level in the t case?

 

I did, about 2-3 oz came out

 

Any chance this was power steering fluid and not tranny fluid?

 

I thought the same thing, looked all over and know leaks from the power steering, and the power steering fluid is not low.

 

My guess is that it is the front transmission seal that is going bad, while the shop has the transmission out what are some other seals I should have them replace for preventative maintenance?