Transmission fluid trail
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Kansas
Transmission fluid trail
2000 EXCURSION 7.3 Powerstroke
Automatic Transmission
My son was trying to back up my empty 12' flat bed trailer up a hill (approximately a 25 degree hill). Why'll I was at work, my wife said he was having alot of trouble, and it was taking him awhile. She said she saw transmission fluid on the ground and stopped him immediately,and he turned off the engine. There is a trail of fluid on the driveway about 100' long and a 1/2" wide. This transmission has allways been solid, and only leaked a few drops on the driveway in almost 300,000 miles. Can anyone please tell me what probably happened, and what I will need to do to fix it. I have allways worked on all my vehicles. But I know better than to get very deep into a transmission.
Thankyou for any help!
Automatic Transmission
My son was trying to back up my empty 12' flat bed trailer up a hill (approximately a 25 degree hill). Why'll I was at work, my wife said he was having alot of trouble, and it was taking him awhile. She said she saw transmission fluid on the ground and stopped him immediately,and he turned off the engine. There is a trail of fluid on the driveway about 100' long and a 1/2" wide. This transmission has allways been solid, and only leaked a few drops on the driveway in almost 300,000 miles. Can anyone please tell me what probably happened, and what I will need to do to fix it. I have allways worked on all my vehicles. But I know better than to get very deep into a transmission.
Thankyou for any help!
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,051
Likes: 1,549
From: Media PA
Sounds like another trans front seal, for some reason they don't like to push trailers uphill in reverse when they are hot. Dropping it into 4 Low will help some. Once cooled off it may be fine, some folks have had it happen and then were fine for many miles after, others have seen a small seepage from the seal after an event like yours. There is a new redesigned seal available and if all else checks out OK that may be all you need.
I'm sure more members with a lot more transmission smarts than me will weigh in here shortly.
I'm sure more members with a lot more transmission smarts than me will weigh in here shortly.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Tom's right, it's the front pump seal. But most of the time this happens they seal back up once the transmission cools back down. I would drive it and see if it still happens. Do you have any way of tracking your transmission temperature?
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,722
Likes: 2,648
From: SE Florida
First off, a 25° degree slope is so steep you probably can't stand on it.
Backing up a steep grade is very hard on the torque converter. If he's doing it for a long time the converter gets HOT. When it gets too hot the torque converter hub seal gets hot and softens. When it is soft it can't hold and it leaks. Once it cools off it usually works again.
If the truck is backing up a big load, and that includes a small trailer up a steep incline, for a long time you MUST cool the torque converter every minute or two. Do that by idling for a minute or two in park or neutral. Fast idle works even better. Idling in gear will not cool the converter.
There is a better seal available in the aftermarket. It is made from Viton and seals to a much higher temperature than the stock seal. The trans has to come out to install this seal.
Backing up a steep grade is very hard on the torque converter. If he's doing it for a long time the converter gets HOT. When it gets too hot the torque converter hub seal gets hot and softens. When it is soft it can't hold and it leaks. Once it cools off it usually works again.
If the truck is backing up a big load, and that includes a small trailer up a steep incline, for a long time you MUST cool the torque converter every minute or two. Do that by idling for a minute or two in park or neutral. Fast idle works even better. Idling in gear will not cool the converter.
There is a better seal available in the aftermarket. It is made from Viton and seals to a much higher temperature than the stock seal. The trans has to come out to install this seal.
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