Ok new guy to the site I've read and searched the forum a ton and learned a lot. I wanted to ask some of you ford guys that know a lot more than me. This is my first SD truck and I love it. Question is my transmission is blowing fluid out of the dipstick tube and also from the top of it I suspect it's the vent but what causes this other than over fill which it has never been over full. The truck just started doing this on my last trip pulling the travel trailer. It was all back roads and not over 55 with TH on. Got to the house and there was fluid dripping. Anyways anyone know what could cause this thanks guys for the help ... also the truck has 206k on it

 

I have no idea really, but I have read here about transmission fluid puking out of the front pump seal and I think the reason is that it's overfilled but nothing happens riding around empty. But when they start towing it heats up and being overfilled it starts puking.
have you checked the fluid level?

 

Yes I check the level pretty much every time I take a longer trip. It has always been perfect. Also I have pulled other trailers a lot bigger than mine and never had this problem till like 2 weeks ago... it's driving me crazy nothing else on the truck leaks...lol

 

Do you have a way to monitor trans temp? Maybe it's getting hot, blocked cooler, debris between cooler fins blocking airflow?

 

That's what I thought first but I've been monitoring it with my H&S mini maxx and in 98 degrees stop and go traffic it was reading 205 to 208. I am still wondering if something is blocked just need to start the process of trying to find it i guess

 

Update today I pressure washed the underneath of the truck tried to clean it the best I could. It appears that it is now leaking from just the top of the transmission I am gonna get a mirror tomorrow and try to find out exactly where on top

 

[QUOTE=6.4 yo;18204503]Yes I check the level pretty much every time I take a longer trip. It has always been perfect. /QUOTE]
Do you check it with the trans warmed up, in park, with the engine idling?

 

[QUOTE=Mark Kovalsky;18208172]yes sir I check it after letting the engine warm up for a while usually engine temps around 180 or so.

 

From my experience I think your transmission is over filled. You need to drive it and get your transmission fluid over 150 degrees to check it properly. Just running the engine up to temp won't heat up the transmission fluid to the proper temp.

Paul

 

No, that's not right. Engine temperature has no bearing on transmission fluid level. You need to drive it at least 10 miles before checking the trans fluid level.

 

True Mark but what I'm saying is I've checked it after driving 100 miles 10 miles and even in between 30 hour trips to Wyoming and it's always been perfect. I haven't touched the fluid since I've owned the truck and have pulled trailers since I've owned it which is about 2 years. If it was over full wouldn't it have puked fluid out before. I guess I'm just wondering if I have something wrong with the trans ... checked it after driving today trans was 184 from about a 30 mile round trip it's low and still leaking out the top

 

You're saying that now, that isn't what you said before.

You're going to need to find out exactly where it's coming from. Mirrors may help. The only times I've seen fluid come out of a dipstick is when the trans was overfilled, or water got inside the transmission. A little bit of water can flash to steam and GREATLY expand, forcing fluid out of the dipstick.

 

you are exactly right Mark sorry I wasn't trying to sound like an a$$ hat and sorry for the late response it's been a crazy weekend blew a tire on the travel trailer and trashed the back end...lol... never fails.. anyways let's say I was checking it wrong and it has been over filled since I bought it am I understanding it correct if I was so say that even though I've pulled trailers before it was never 98 degrees it's always been in winter and my trans temps never got above 184 but this trip I worked the trans hard in stop and go interstate traffic it got to 208 and 210 pretty much stayed at 208 for a couple hrs this is why it blew fluid out it was hotter than before and it expanded? Also I've never changed the fluid and filter and I have no idea on the service of the truck a buddy of mine took me to his diesel mechanic and they looked it over when I bought it he said he wouldn't touch the fluid and filter because I don't know the history and if it's ever been changed. The truck has 207k on it now it shifts great but the fluid kinda smells like cat p when you pull the dipstick. In your professional opinion would it be safe to change the fluid and filter or do you think it will mess up the trans. Thank you all for the help I greatly appreciate it. And sorry for such a long bunch of questions.

 

It could have blown fluid out because it was hotter this time.

If the trans is in good shape new fluid can only help it. If the trans is about to die new fluid won't prevent it. Many places won't change fluid on an older trans because many people never service their transmission. Then something starts to go wrong, and they have the fluid changed. Net the trans fails. It failed because it was ignored for 200,00+ miles, not because it had the fluid changed. It would have died without the fluid change too.