ATF flow direction through the radiator?
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Senior User
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From: Honolulu HI.
ATF flow direction through the radiator?
When the ATF lines come into the radiator, which one is the "in" for a 2001, 5.4L, 2WD, auto ...
On my old '98, iirc, the "in" was on the driver's side... but that was a long time ago and I got lucky with my first guess on that one.
I recently got an '01, and the trans fluid is just a little high... but it holds steady.
There's a slight rumble when I come to a stop in drive, and my new suspect is that fluid level in the trans...
On my old '98, iirc, the "in" was on the driver's side... but that was a long time ago and I got lucky with my first guess on that one.
I recently got an '01, and the trans fluid is just a little high... but it holds steady.
There's a slight rumble when I come to a stop in drive, and my new suspect is that fluid level in the trans...
Lead Driver
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How you can tell on any vehicle is do a stall test while cold.
Start engine, apply foot brake 'hard' to prevent movement, shift into gear, apply near 1/2 throttle for 15 to 30 seconds only.
This heats the fluid in the converter such that a hand feel test of each line at the radiator, one will be warm.
That one is the inlet 'from' the converter.
The cooler one is the return line back..
Usually inlets on the top and drops downward for return.
Check fluid level on dip stick only after fully heated from driving because fluid expands.
It will give a false level other wise when cool.
Start engine, apply foot brake 'hard' to prevent movement, shift into gear, apply near 1/2 throttle for 15 to 30 seconds only.
This heats the fluid in the converter such that a hand feel test of each line at the radiator, one will be warm.
That one is the inlet 'from' the converter.
The cooler one is the return line back..
Usually inlets on the top and drops downward for return.
Check fluid level on dip stick only after fully heated from driving because fluid expands.
It will give a false level other wise when cool.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Florida
I would recommend never holding stall for longer than 10 seconds at a time. The temperatures rise FAST inside the torque converter when you do this. You're running the risk of heat damage if you go longer than 10 seconds.
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From: Honolulu HI.
The level is about an inch or so above HOT the range...
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From: Honolulu HI.
I just got this truck recently, and the little "rumble" I mentioned is kinda like a big cat purring. It's not loud at all. Sometimes it does it the whole time, and sometimes it's off and on with about one second intervals. I can feel the vibration in the brake pedal, but it goes away as soon as I let off the brake. The idle is at 650 when it happens.
The truck runs fine though. Shifts are solid and it doesn't lag when I want it to downshift. In fact, it seems to downshift a little quicker than my old '98 did, and it's the same trans (4R70W).
And yes... I have it warmed up, in park, on level surface to check the fluid.
Thanks again,
Jim
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Cargo Master
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Why, exactly, are we thinking an overfilled trans will cause a rumble noise? Is this really a thing?
On the C6s and E4ODs if truly overfilled they'd just puke out the breather. NOT a reason to NOT use the dipstick as intended but it was also one of those mostly self-correcting problems in the sense of God watching over children and fools.
Will the 4R70W actually make a noise at idle if overfilled???
On the C6s and E4ODs if truly overfilled they'd just puke out the breather. NOT a reason to NOT use the dipstick as intended but it was also one of those mostly self-correcting problems in the sense of God watching over children and fools.
Will the 4R70W actually make a noise at idle if overfilled???
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Florida
I don't know, maybe someone wants to try it out. I don't have a 4R70W to experiment on.
Cargo Master
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When the ATF lines come into the radiator, which one is the "in" for a 2001, 5.4L, 2WD, auto ...
On my old '98, iirc, the "in" was on the driver's side... but that was a long time ago and I got lucky with my first guess on that one.
I recently got an '01, and the trans fluid is just a little high... but it holds steady.
There's a slight rumble when I come to a stop in drive, and my new suspect is that fluid level in the trans...
On my old '98, iirc, the "in" was on the driver's side... but that was a long time ago and I got lucky with my first guess on that one.
I recently got an '01, and the trans fluid is just a little high... but it holds steady.
There's a slight rumble when I come to a stop in drive, and my new suspect is that fluid level in the trans...
Thanks Mark, I'll have to get after that on Saturday.
I just got this truck recently, and the little "rumble" I mentioned is kinda like a big cat purring. It's not loud at all. Sometimes it does it the whole time, and sometimes it's off and on with about one second intervals. I can feel the vibration in the brake pedal, but it goes away as soon as I let off the brake. The idle is at 650 when it happens.
The truck runs fine though. Shifts are solid and it doesn't lag when I want it to downshift. In fact, it seems to downshift a little quicker than my old '98 did, and it's the same trans (4R70W).
And yes... I have it warmed up, in park, on level surface to check the fluid.
Thanks again,
Jim
I just got this truck recently, and the little "rumble" I mentioned is kinda like a big cat purring. It's not loud at all. Sometimes it does it the whole time, and sometimes it's off and on with about one second intervals. I can feel the vibration in the brake pedal, but it goes away as soon as I let off the brake. The idle is at 650 when it happens.
The truck runs fine though. Shifts are solid and it doesn't lag when I want it to downshift. In fact, it seems to downshift a little quicker than my old '98 did, and it's the same trans (4R70W).
And yes... I have it warmed up, in park, on level surface to check the fluid.
Thanks again,
Jim
Cargo Master
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So if we go with our rumble being a vibrator....are we then suggesting a 4R70W will make the ladies happy if overfilled?
This also doesn't track with me and my initial questions stand - is this a thing?
I feel like fluid level is being blamed for something completely unrelated. No?
This also doesn't track with me and my initial questions stand - is this a thing?
I feel like fluid level is being blamed for something completely unrelated. No?
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Honolulu HI.
So if we go with our rumble being a vibrator....are we then suggesting a 4R70W will make the ladies happy if overfilled?
This also doesn't track with me and my initial questions stand - is this a thing?
I feel like fluid level is being blamed for something completely unrelated. No?
This also doesn't track with me and my initial questions stand - is this a thing?
I feel like fluid level is being blamed for something completely unrelated. No?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Honolulu HI.
This is after a 20 minute ride with medium highway traffic; so she's warmed up, idling in park, on level ground.
---
When I draw some fluid out, I'm gonna check it for coolant/water.
On my previous F-150, the radiator failed and it let a lot of water into the trans. That wound up ruining the trans, so I'm watching this closely.
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From: Honolulu HI.
I wouldn't even worry about it because the truck runs fine... But this truck is new to me, so I'm paying close attention to every little thing at this point. If it's a sign, I want to nip it in the bud.
I asked about that purring in a different thread, and the only suggestions were to check vacuum lines. The brake booster line is fine, but I did replace one other hose that goes into the top of the intake. It didn't make any difference.
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From: Honolulu HI.
Testing for coolant in the ATF
I called the local shop a while ago, and asked if they could test for coolant in the ATF...
The guy told me an old-school method of putting some in a tin can, heat it up with a torch, and see if it "pops".
I just heated some ATF to the point of smoking, and it started roiling a little bit, but it didn't "pop"... After removing the torch, some small bubbles came up for a few seconds. I heated the ATF so much, it turned brown.
I'm not sure what to make of that.
To be continued....
I called the local shop a while ago, and asked if they could test for coolant in the ATF...
The guy told me an old-school method of putting some in a tin can, heat it up with a torch, and see if it "pops".
I just heated some ATF to the point of smoking, and it started roiling a little bit, but it didn't "pop"... After removing the torch, some small bubbles came up for a few seconds. I heated the ATF so much, it turned brown.
I'm not sure what to make of that.
To be continued....